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A comment on I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone.

Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by m000 on Friday October 03, 2025 @04:41AM (#45460559)
From a quick read in TFA and the comments, it is interesting that nobody questions iPhone as the right device for seniors. It is pretty much unquestionably presented as the only device option, even though it is pretty obvious that a lot of seniors are just not interested into its features.

I'm not sure where this can be pinpointed. Monoculture? Mimicry? FOMO?

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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by gloxkiqcza on Friday October 03, 2025 @04:48AM (#45460604)
It’s MacRumors forums, basically a definition of a monoculture/fandom.
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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by unethical_ban on Friday October 03, 2025 @05:04AM (#45460714)
Let's assume a smartphone is the requirement. Secure communication via text and video, as well as email access.

Who do you recommend otherwise? Particularly for professional assistance when I am not around?

Every Best Buy and Apple Store is trained on it. Samsung would be the only other option.

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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by m000 on Friday October 03, 2025 @11:18AM (#45463957)
Literally any Android smartphone should do:

  - install one of WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Signal
  - install one of Gmail, Outlook, Proton Mail
  - protect/hide away settings and app store
  - lock homescreen icons
Done.

It's a pretty foolproof setup. And I'm not sure why you would need a brand specialist to get help for such basic stuff. Walk with a Motorola into a Samsung store, I'm pretty sure they will be able to help you, especially if you are a polite senior.

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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by keanb on Friday October 03, 2025 @12:29PM (#45464764)
An Android smartphone would have the same usability problems for geezers.
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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by unethical_ban on Friday October 03, 2025 @12:38PM (#45464863)
In my experience with technophobe seniors, concierge service would be a bonus.

And I wouldn't assume competing brands would help each other beyond "is this thing on" level checks.

But he's there are ways to lock the system so things don't move around much.

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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by sigwinch on Friday October 03, 2025 @10:07AM (#45463198)
Apple Watch fall detection. I believe it’s only fully effective if an iPhone is nearby.
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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by m000 on Friday October 03, 2025 @11:44AM (#45464248)
I'm not sure that's the case (see [1]):

  Fall Detection requires a satellite connection, cellular connection,
  or Wi-Fi Calling with an internet connection from your Apple Watch
  or nearby iPhone. You can use cellular models of Apple Watch to make
  an emergency call in many locations, provided that cellular service
  is available.
If an iPhone is indeed required even if your Apple Watch has a cellular connection, then that's just a lock-in "feature".

[1] https://support.apple.com/en-us/108896

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Re:I spent the day teaching seniors how to use an iPhone by sigwinch on Friday October 03, 2025 @02:44PM (#45466308)
Awesome, til
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