PRS 700 perfect for old people

mos · 06-12-2009, 09:39 AM

Maybe some of you have the same "problem" a well loved person, that get's older and looses more and more the abilities he/she used to have.

A short while ago I made my granny extremly happy. More or less by coincidance. She is 93 and lives in a riterement residence. Can hardly walk anymore, hears very bad and her eyes are bad too.

When I visit her, she loves it, if I read her something from books or magazines. A while ago I wanted to show her my new "toy" my PRS 700. First she said, she is to old for that kind of modern stuff. So we fooled around with it and I showed her, that you can change the size of the letters.
Suddenly her face lighted up and she said, that she can read that. So she spend at first a while reading in size xl. Of course not much on the screen than

.

I showed her how to flip the pages and it worked very good. Basicly it is very easy to continue reading a book. You just have to switch the reader on on the top. Tip with your finger in the upper left corner and voila, here you are, being exactly on the page where you stopped reading.

Flipping pages is no problem for her old fingers, she has only a little problem switching the device or the lights on, but there is always someone there, that could help.

She realy enjoyed reading again by herself! I left the reader with her and when I came the next day, she was reading. I took it home with me and loaded some classic books on it.

Of course she cannot change books. At least not now. But we visit her a lot and when ever she wants to start a new book, she can tell me. She loves the "modern" thing very much, since it brings back a little quality in life for her.
Of course I have the problem now, that my reader stays very often in the retirement residence. So we will probably get one for her. Guess the PRS 700 is the only one, that comes up for that job, since it is the only one with a touchscreen.

Every other reader has to small buttons. Until now, she gets along with the reader very well. And she has something to brag around in the retirement residence. She is the star of the show there

.

Hope I don't have to order a bunch of PRS 700 readers now in the States, since you cannot buy them over here.

But for all who have old folks, just try it!

Andybaby · 06-12-2009, 12:02 PM

I think the 700 is the most usable device on the marked. its so easy to pick up and use. it is very intuitive.

the 505s menu is positively clunky. and the kindle is barely better.

benham · 06-12-2009, 12:12 PM

First you have to get us to admit that we are old!

Alphapheemail · 06-12-2009, 12:41 PM

::raising hand::

Alphapheemail · 06-12-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benham

First you have to get us to admit that we are old!

well by my logic...
you have a palm... florida...
HEY you might be half way there....

junkyardwillie · 06-12-2009, 12:57 PM

I think adding in the functionality of the kindle (wireless downloads of books) with the ease of use of the 700 could be a big market for Sony. Older people won't know how to go on their computer and download books but having a quick ability to look for books on your device and download them right away would be good for them, they also wouldn't have to worry about small fonts in printed books.

el.astrologo · 06-12-2009, 05:27 PM

Good point junkyardwillie

mos · 06-12-2009, 05:37 PM

No, I don't think so. Maybe our generation will be able to handle that, but not the "old" generation. I don't think my granny would be able to download a book or search a book online.
She is happy, if I select one for her.

el.astrologo · 06-12-2009, 06:05 PM

Yes, but think of it as a present for a grandparent. You don't give them a dvd player and tell them "I will come and press play for you everytime you want to see a movie".

The idea of an intuitive interface for online purchases might have an appeal there. Frankly I don't want wifi but as a saling point "for the elderly" it might have benefits.

junkyardwillie · 06-12-2009, 10:55 PM

True indeed, I usually find Wifi a bit overrated. Unless I'm in my apartment I've yet to find a good free wifi signal. I think its becoming standard practice to have it sort of like 10 megapixels on a digital camera, most people would be fine with 6 and don't even know what the megapixels do anyway but they see a high number and have to have it. Wifi is the same with electronic devices, most people will never use it but feel cheated if their device doesn't have it.

As a present for a grandparent you could probably just load it up with a 100 or so books and that will keep them happy for a few months, then once their done just reload it up. Personally I like connecting to my PC better than needing to find a Wifi signal but everyone is different with their electronics

FizzyWater · 06-12-2009, 11:20 PM

Mos, that's a wonderful story! I'm sure your granny loves both that you share your Reader with her and that you come to visit her often enough to switch out the books.

Andybaby · 06-13-2009, 02:17 AM

having a wireless connection on a device is a good thing. even if they don't get how to browse.

you can just PUSH books onto it when you buy it for them

rgeorg · 06-13-2009, 05:10 AM

Great story! I'd like to see if my parents (70s and 80s) would try it. I offered to set them up with audiobooks and an mp3 player, but I think it reminded them too much of the "audio-records" my blind grandmother had to listen to many years ago.

Maybe when I visit in the fall I can show them. I think the 5" screen is too small, but perhaps the Kindle DX? Since they are in the US it would be OK for them and I'm certain they'd be just fine with sticking to Kindle-store ebook purchases.

Does the Kindle DX have the read-aloud feature or has that been cancelled?

HarryT · 06-13-2009, 06:04 AM

I'm slightly puzzled why it is that your granny cannot change books. If she can read the text, she can also read a menu, surely?

Sweetpea · 06-13-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm slightly puzzled why it is that your granny cannot change books. If she can read the text, she can also read a menu, surely?

It's often more complicated than that... You have to do this first, then this, and finally this... That set of instructions often gets harder and harder to remember. And reading is just reading the text and going to the next page. Only one thing to remember (how do I get to the next page).

I really need to have a reader before I see my mother again. She now listens to a lot of audiobooks, because she has trouble reading (let's just say, I'm so glad I don't have my mother's eyes...)

06-12-2009, 09:39 AM	#1
mos Addict Posts: 392 Karma: 2200 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Germany Device: iphone 4, iPad, Nook softrooted	PRS 700 perfect for old people Maybe some of you have the same "problem" a well loved person, that get's older and looses more and more the abilities he/she used to have. A short while ago I made my granny extremly happy. More or less by coincidance. She is 93 and lives in a riterement residence. Can hardly walk anymore, hears very bad and her eyes are bad too. When I visit her, she loves it, if I read her something from books or magazines. A while ago I wanted to show her my new "toy" my PRS 700. First she said, she is to old for that kind of modern stuff. So we fooled around with it and I showed her, that you can change the size of the letters. Suddenly her face lighted up and she said, that she can read that. So she spend at first a while reading in size xl. Of course not much on the screen than . I showed her how to flip the pages and it worked very good. Basicly it is very easy to continue reading a book. You just have to switch the reader on on the top. Tip with your finger in the upper left corner and voila, here you are, being exactly on the page where you stopped reading. Flipping pages is no problem for her old fingers, she has only a little problem switching the device or the lights on, but there is always someone there, that could help. She realy enjoyed reading again by herself! I left the reader with her and when I came the next day, she was reading. I took it home with me and loaded some classic books on it. Of course she cannot change books. At least not now. But we visit her a lot and when ever she wants to start a new book, she can tell me. She loves the "modern" thing very much, since it brings back a little quality in life for her. Of course I have the problem now, that my reader stays very often in the retirement residence. So we will probably get one for her. Guess the PRS 700 is the only one, that comes up for that job, since it is the only one with a touchscreen. Every other reader has to small buttons. Until now, she gets along with the reader very well. And she has something to brag around in the retirement residence. She is the star of the show there . Hope I don't have to order a bunch of PRS 700 readers now in the States, since you cannot buy them over here. But for all who have old folks, just try it!

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06-12-2009, 12:02 PM	#2
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	I think the 700 is the most usable device on the marked. its so easy to pick up and use. it is very intuitive. the 505s menu is positively clunky. and the kindle is barely better.

06-12-2009, 12:12 PM	#3
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	First you have to get us to admit that we are old!

06-12-2009, 12:41 PM	#4
Alphapheemail .a ribbon around a bomb. Posts: 639 Karma: 4334 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: sigh... ny Device: PRS700	::raising hand::

06-12-2009, 12:57 PM	#6
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	I think adding in the functionality of the kindle (wireless downloads of books) with the ease of use of the 700 could be a big market for Sony. Older people won't know how to go on their computer and download books but having a quick ability to look for books on your device and download them right away would be good for them, they also wouldn't have to worry about small fonts in printed books.

06-12-2009, 05:27 PM	#7
el.astrologo Groupie Posts: 164 Karma: 462 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Device: PRS-700BC	Good point junkyardwillie

06-12-2009, 05:37 PM	#8
mos Addict Posts: 392 Karma: 2200 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Germany Device: iphone 4, iPad, Nook softrooted	No, I don't think so. Maybe our generation will be able to handle that, but not the "old" generation. I don't think my granny would be able to download a book or search a book online. She is happy, if I select one for her.

06-12-2009, 06:05 PM	#9
el.astrologo Groupie Posts: 164 Karma: 462 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina Device: PRS-700BC	Yes, but think of it as a present for a grandparent. You don't give them a dvd player and tell them "I will come and press play for you everytime you want to see a movie". The idea of an intuitive interface for online purchases might have an appeal there. Frankly I don't want wifi but as a saling point "for the elderly" it might have benefits.

06-12-2009, 10:55 PM	#10
junkyardwillie Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 570 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Onyx Note Pro, Kobo H20 and iPad	True indeed, I usually find Wifi a bit overrated. Unless I'm in my apartment I've yet to find a good free wifi signal. I think its becoming standard practice to have it sort of like 10 megapixels on a digital camera, most people would be fine with 6 and don't even know what the megapixels do anyway but they see a high number and have to have it. Wifi is the same with electronic devices, most people will never use it but feel cheated if their device doesn't have it. As a present for a grandparent you could probably just load it up with a 100 or so books and that will keep them happy for a few months, then once their done just reload it up. Personally I like connecting to my PC better than needing to find a Wifi signal but everyone is different with their electronics

06-12-2009, 11:20 PM	#11
FizzyWater You kids get off my lawn! Posts: 4,220 Karma: 73492664 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of	Mos, that's a wonderful story! I'm sure your granny loves both that you share your Reader with her and that you come to visit her often enough to switch out the books.

06-13-2009, 02:17 AM	#12
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	having a wireless connection on a device is a good thing. even if they don't get how to browse. you can just PUSH books onto it when you buy it for them

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06-13-2009, 05:10 AM	#13
rgeorg Guru Posts: 675 Karma: 3314796 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Europe & USA Device: K3/3G(2x), Glo HD, Amazon Voyage	Great story! I'd like to see if my parents (70s and 80s) would try it. I offered to set them up with audiobooks and an mp3 player, but I think it reminded them too much of the "audio-records" my blind grandmother had to listen to many years ago. Maybe when I visit in the fall I can show them. I think the 5" screen is too small, but perhaps the Kindle DX? Since they are in the US it would be OK for them and I'm certain they'd be just fine with sticking to Kindle-store ebook purchases. Does the Kindle DX have the read-aloud feature or has that been cancelled?

06-13-2009, 06:04 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm slightly puzzled why it is that your granny cannot change books. If she can read the text, she can also read a menu, surely?