This is amazing. I can think of several relatives who would absolutely love something like this over struggling with a touchscreen.
Yayagram
121–130 of 183 posts
Re: Yayagram
#122This is brilliant. A single device that does one thing, and does it (hopefully) really well. It is a much needed antidote to the "all in one" apps we are seeing more and more of. Touchscreens really embody the "all in one" design pattern, and lend themselves to those types of apps. That's after all what they're intended for: interchangeable interfaces. Nice to see a modern service being used with an analog interface.
Bothers me to no end how many once simple devices have gone this way. I feel like I would be willing to pay more for simpler appliances at this point.
Oh, god, this. Specifically simple appliances that are designed to be repaired.
Re: Yayagram
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is why I really enjoy the Kindle I just bought. A single use: reading books.
Doesn't the Kindle have a browser too? If you'd like to pay mess and be able to do even less, you can try reMarkable.
The Kindle browser is designed to encourage you to give up on the Web and read more books.
Re: Yayagram
#124This is the reason why I like Telegram so much more than WhatsApp. The fact theres an API and the possibility to write bots makes all the difference.
Re: Yayagram
#125Earlier quoted context omitted.
Look, let me put this another way, since I'm being downvoted. I think my 70 year old mum, who is a grandma, would find it patronising and sexist to have a device pitched to her as an easier to use version of the iPad she is a bloody master of in every way. She's far more adapt than my dad, bless him, but even he can use WhatsApp and the like fine after being shown.
It's called that because they made it specifically for their grandmother. Do we really need to state that it's going to depend on the particular person and their needs? Also, that grandmother is _96_. That is not even remotely close to someone in their ~70s. It is also dependent on the person: one of my grandmothers (around 70) doesn't like ipads, and can operate phones a little bit. My other grandma, similar age, lo…
Actually, I wanted to say something very similar. And when you said it was for his very specific _96_ year old grandma, I went back and checked if I missed the obvious. But a quick 2nd scan (and a search on the string 96) didn't bring it up. I'm not saying you're wrong, indeed I'm pretty sure you're right, but it's very-very far from obvious.
Also, the initial tweet itself talks about the issue in pretty generic terms: "a machine that helps our beloved elders to keep communicating with their grandchildren ."
My parents are around 80, and granted my father was an engineer and my mother a programmer they did have exposure to computers from their 40's and 50's. (Actually, my mother started around the age of 30, but my father only when he was 50.) Sure, another 15-20 years make a lot of difference.
However, plugging cables is more 1900's technology (reminds me of the manual switchboards). I doubt too many people alive today remember having to make a call like that as opposed to dialling. They did use radios that had push buttons and most of them for sure used ones with digital tuning. So while it looks very retro, a simple turning knob would have been a lot more sane. (Unless grandma used to be a switchboard operator :) and still has good hand coordination.)
The other thing I don't get is the thermal printer. I mean it's nice as a (very short term) archival device but an LCD screen (or even and e-ink display) would make a lot more sense. Of course, then you have to add scrolling (that could be a tuning wheel-like thing or just up/down buttons). Or well, maybe they would like to hear their grandchildren :).
But I digress: the point is that it was phrased pretty generally and I also think it's very patronizing. (My parents use skype, viber, email, fb chat as they did use SMS and their mobiles.) While sure, there is value in completely tailoring it to the needs of specific person. Just don't think it's in general a good approach.
Re: Yayagram
#126Re: Yayagram
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
Look, let me put this another way, since I'm being downvoted. I think my 70 year old mum, who is a grandma, would find it patronising and sexist to have a device pitched to her as an easier to use version of the iPad she is a bloody master of in every way. She's far more adapt than my dad, bless him, but even he can use WhatsApp and the like fine after being shown.
you put an ipad in front of my 80 year old grandma and she'll have NO idea how to use it. Even after training her and walking her through using it multiple times. She just won't remember. This device is basic and captures all the needs. I think the only other cool feature would be a way to receive voice chats back and play them to her
This is very far from being true as a generic statement. My parents are around 80 and they are not the only ones of this age I know who can use these devices pretty efficiently. (They both have an android smart phone plus they have a Linux laptop. They use these all the time. Oh, and they watch content and listen to internet radio on their Kodi running on a RasPi.)
Of course not all 80 year old will be able to use these efficiently or, for that matter will like using them, but that's a different story. You can still make those easier to use (e.g. with a customized android skin/ui) or build a thing that somewhat looks like an actual but specialized computer.
Re: Yayagram
#128Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wish I could buy and ship this to my mom. Don’t have the time to set it up and she lives far away.
I have bought this for my grandma that live on a senior home: https://www.noisolation.com/global/komp Just one knob to turn it on and adjust the sound. My other grandma have an iPhone that she barely know how to use (she still have the old one on the wall she love). I first call her, than tell her to tap the green button if she she want to use camera (switch to FaceTime). This works great for us to keep contact. Thou…
Thank you! Will check it out. One knob only sounds about right for my parents!
Re: Yayagram
#129This is brilliant. A single device that does one thing, and does it (hopefully) really well. It is a much needed antidote to the "all in one" apps we are seeing more and more of. Touchscreens really embody the "all in one" design pattern, and lend themselves to those types of apps. That's after all what they're intended for: interchangeable interfaces. Nice to see a modern service being used with an analog interface.
Bothers me to no end how many once simple devices have gone this way. I feel like I would be willing to pay more for simpler appliances at this point.
My wife can't "operate" the TV.
Of course, part of that is how I have it set up (connected to Mac mini, etc.).
Re: Yayagram
#130This is brilliant, but maybe I missed it: what happens when yaya's run out of thermal paper? It feels like the Achilles' heel of this design. Perhaps, a blinking LED for out of paper situation? Can yaya change the roll herself? I'm concerned about it because I loved this project in all aspects, I want it to be perfect.