Mastering daily life without a smartphone is hardly possible

The smartphone is long more than just a phone: It serves as a navigation aid, ticket, payment method, calendar, information source, and communication tool. Many everyday tasks can now be completed faster and easier with a smartphone. Without a smartphone, there is a risk of missing important messages or appointments.

Already in the morning, most people reach for their phone to read messages, check the weather, or review their schedule. On the go, the smartphone helps with orientation and enables booking public transportation or a taxi. Even when paying, the smartphone is increasingly used. For example, someone who wants to buy a ticket or pay in a store can often do so directly via an app.

The dependence becomes especially clear in communication. Friends, family, and colleagues are reachable at any time via messaging services like WhatsApp. Information is exchanged within seconds. Anyone without access to friends’ and family groups will eventually be left out instead of being in the loop. Much communication now takes place on so-called social media like Instagram or Facebook. To be part of this live, you need a smartphone.

To also open the door to the digital world for older people, suitable end devices are needed. One example is the SMART.8 from the Austrian manufacturer emporia (www.emporiamobile.com). This device avoids nested menu structures and instead relies on a clear user interface with large symbols and is also hearing aid compatible. It combines modern technology such as the 5G standard with safety features like an integrated emergency call button.