Functions to Make Phones Easier for the Elderly
From: Gadgetwise - The New York Times Blog
By: Eric A. Taub

No matter how easy-to-use a manufacturer may believe its tech products are,
they may still baffle the elderly.  

That's been of particular concern to Clarity, a division of Plantronics, and
the largest maker of telephones for the hard of hearing and the elderly who
may have limited movement or reduced mental functions.  

To reduce frustration, the company has started selling two models, beginning
at $139, that dial customer service with the press of a blue button. More
important, the support agent actually knows what model of phone the customer
is using, can remotely diagnose problems and even alter some functions
remotely, like changing the dialing method from pulse to tone.  

In addition, the remote agent can program the phone with a customer's contact
names and numbers if the user finds the process too unwieldy.  

Later this year, the company will allow caregivers to program a person's
phone from a Web site, and also set up a schedule to automatically call an
elderly user to remind him or her to take medicine. If the phone is not
answered after a set number of tries, a caregiver will also receive a text
message about a possible problem. 

Submitted by Arne Folkedal

Read the entire article at:
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.retirement/browse_thread/thread/f21c4785a0e9e7a7

Links:
ClarityLogic

ClarityLogic Introduction (YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szhGIQuOCzI

ClarityLogic
http://clarityproducts.com/clarity-life-services/claritylogic/

Clarity Launches ClarityLogic with Remote Access Technology
http://audiology.advanceweb.com/News/News-Watch/Clarity-Launches-ClarityLogic-with-Remote-Access-Technology.aspx