Three things iPads do well for seniors

Forbes has put together an interesting list of three things the iPad does well for seniors. The writer points out that Apple's iPad makes it easy for seniors with bad eyesight to adjust the text inside apps like Safari or iBooks. Safari's pinch to zoom text adjustment is especially easy compared to iBooks because there are no menu button commands to tap.

Forbes relates a touching story of a man in a nursing home whose hands were crippled with arthritis. Normally he wouldn't be able to hold pictures in his hands if he wished to look at memories of a family vacation. However, with the iPad's ability to navigate photos just by swiping a finger (or any part of a hand) over the screen, the man was able to browse all of the photos his family loaded onto the iPad.

Forbes also says Apple got one thing wrong. They say that most people over 40 don't like looking at pictures of themselves, and that facial reflections in a dark (sleeping or powered off) iPad screen are an oversight on Apple's part. That's an idea I frankly find ridiculous. However, maybe Forbes will overlook that when they see all of the gesture accessibility menu options that are added in iOS 5.

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Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joanlappin/2011/09/28/three-thin…

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Forbes has put together an interesting list of three things the iPad does well for seniors. The writer points out that Apple's iPad...

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mike.hill@mac.com

The suggestion that seniors would be put off by their reflection could only be made by someone so shallow as to feel that way themselves. Let's be clear - to notice your reflection in an iPad screen you have to focus on it - not the device content. The reviewer's understanding of the technology of the touchscreen is abysmal. Who would want a rough-surfaced touchscreen - and would it even work ? What a silly observation in an otherwise sensible article.

September 29 2011 at 10:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

YoMAMA

true, my mom who is 72 loves her iPad, she can navigate, email pictures, and FaceTime me without any issues. is great that i don't have to travel to her as much for tech support and that i can spend time with her instead of being there fixing things.

September 28 2011 at 6:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mwuk

The part about arthritis reminds me of one time that I was in my local Apple Store, mindlessly toying around with the latest iPod Nano (brand new at the time). A guy came up next to me and started using it. I glanced over to notice that he didn't have a single whole finger (whether the cause was genetic or due to amputation I do not know), but yet, using what he had, he was able to use the Nano with apparent ease. It's a testament to Apple's accessibility ethos and brilliant design.

September 28 2011 at 6:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply