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Comment by m000 | Hacker News Reader

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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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.

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.

An Android smartphone would have the same usability problems for geezers.

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.

It’s MacRumors forums, basically a definition of a monoculture/fandom.

Apple Watch fall detection. I believe it’s only fully effective if an iPhone is nearby.

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

Awesome, til

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