A few friends and I are in an incubator (Next36 in Toronto) and wanted poll YC for some input.<p>Our scope is mobile (cellphones, tablets, other) and we've taking a liking to the 65+ market (retirees, boomers, seniors). We think that this market is underserved by the current mobile industry, which focuses instead on the more tech-savvy 15 to 40 year-olds. We have a few ideas, but would love your input.<p>If you're 65+, what are your pet peeves about cellphones? Do you own a smartphone or a tablet? Why? What do you use them for?<p>If you're younger, but have friends or family that are 65+: Do they own mobiles? What do they use them for? What issues do they face? It'd be great if you could fill out our quick survey: http://goo.gl/rybn6<p>Thanks, and Happy New Year!
Not over 65, but have friends who are. Helped one of them get a cell phone, a Jitterbug.<p>Biggest issue I've run into with people older than me (I'm 53) is the belief that they are not able to understand the technology. Had an older friend who was put off by Tivo, but after some encouragement (and my printing out step-by-step illustrated instructions) she's now amused by the idea that she ever thought it was difficult.<p>I don't think things need to be dumbed down. The problems are not cognitive (for the most part; there certainly are older people with mental impairment, but I'd consider them a special case).<p>Older people are not dim, they're just from a different culture.<p>You have to address issues with vision and possibly motor coordination. (This is what makes the Jitterbug phone so nice. Big buttons, big text.)<p>Biggest use-case I see for the older people I know would be text chatting (maybe) or automatic phone conversation transcription (definitely).<p>Many have hearing loss, making phone conversations frustrating or impossible. I'm skeptical that older people (65, 70+) are going to get into texting or IRC (but I know of exceptions) so inexpensive high-quality voice-to-text would be a major win.<p>BTW, the age range typically defined for the term "boomer" is so large as to make it meaningless. There's a big different between 55 and 75. It's a marketing term I wish would die.
From my experience teaching basic computer literacy skills to individuals in the 60+ age range there have been several instances where people have exclaimed that they don't understand the symbology used for buttons etc simply due to lack of exposure.<p>So for example the floppy disk icon is synonymous with the save function, magnifying glass = zoom etc.<p>This is also combined with a reluctance to 'just try' incase they perform a function they cannot undo.<p>It maybe the case that clear labelling using text is used in place of icons.
I have a few elderly relatives who I help with their technology issues. Clamshell phones are by far the most comfortable devices for that age group. They don't feel comfortable with pressing the green button to receive a call, but opening the clam is immediately second nature.
iBall primarily a firm which manufactures computer peripherals has entered a similar market segment in India. You may want to check it out : <a href="http://iballmobiles.co.in/product_senior.php" rel="nofollow">http://iballmobiles.co.in/product_senior.php</a>