11-20-2012, 11:45 PM | #1 |
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K4NTB works for older person?
Q: Is a K4NTB right for older person?
I am trying to find an e-reader for my mother-in-law. She is in her low 70's, retired, and used to read a lot (and I mean a lot). A few years back her eyes got bad enough as to make reading her (mostly) paperbacks very complicated. She stopped reading, and now my wife and me are trying to get her to read again - mainly for something to do and for improving her disappearing memory. My theory about it is: Don't use it, you lose it. (brain, memory, thinking, ...) I showed her the KT, and she can comfortably read it even without her glasses at 4th or 5th smallest font-size. She likes the idea of beeing able to read again. Not so sure about a touch screen though - the most advanced technology in her house is a cd-radio and the remote of her tv. She got no idea what to do with a computer, tablet, smart phone, internet. Is a K4 intuive enough to figure out how to look for a book, open it and read it if we were to show her what buttons to press? The books she likes we would need to preload for her and put in some kind of collections. The Kindle would just be standalone, no wifi no computer to charge it. What are your thoughts - is that a feasible challenge, or am I better off not trying to bring her into this century? Anybody has experience with seniors like mom, that read on ereader, but are otherwise oblivious of electronic gadgets / computers? Does the K4 have a similar range of fonts and sizes as the KT? |
11-21-2012, 12:43 AM | #2 |
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If she can use a tv remote, then she can use a pre-loaded K4. My low tech father has no trouble with his pre-loaded K3. The ability to increase the font is a miracle for older eyes.
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11-21-2012, 12:55 AM | #3 |
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Thank you very much. I will wait until friday, see if Amazon got any deals and order a K4 with wall charger for her. If it doesn't work out for some reason, I can probably find some use for it as emergency spare.
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11-21-2012, 01:57 AM | #4 |
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For an older person I say the K3. It's has the keyboard which makes it easier for them to search. If i tried to get my MIL to use my K4 she would probably throw it but she loves the K3. I think her daughter plans to buy her one.
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11-21-2012, 02:11 AM | #5 | |
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Thank you, Blossom |
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11-21-2012, 02:31 AM | #6 | |
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Other readers is the Sony T1 or now the new T2. Then there are the Nook Simple Touch with Glo light. My former paster who I grew up with and is now 80 loves his Kindle Fire. The non HD is only $159 so Tablets are another thing to look into. |
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11-21-2012, 02:41 AM | #7 |
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My Mum gets on fine with her basic non-touch Kindle 4. She is in her late 80s and decidedly non-tech! She likes the lack of buttons. My sister has the Amazon account in her name and Mum orders the books she wants and then gives my sister the money. They bookshop together online since that might be a bit difficult for her (though my Mum did manage to buy a Kindle book by accident last month, but she still can't figure out how she did it). She has little sensation in her finger tips so finds the on-off button and the 5way controller a bit tricky but manages them and really values being able to make the font size larger and having something light to put in her handbag when she travels (which she loves to do).
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11-21-2012, 02:54 AM | #8 | |
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11-21-2012, 03:26 AM | #9 |
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I would think a touch screen would be easier. I know it is for me. I have arthritis in my hands. It just easier to tap the screen then push a button.
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11-21-2012, 05:47 AM | #10 | |
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Thank you for beeing so insistent in trying to sell me the idea of touch is better than finicky buttons. Trying it out doesn't hurt, especially since we already have a touch - I am waiting for a PW for myself. update: Changed my mind about wanting to try a touchscreen for my MIL. Sorry Blossom, I mean no disrespect. See post #14 for more details. It is good that the touch screen works better for you. Last edited by DuckieTigger; 11-21-2012 at 09:01 PM. Reason: updated information |
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11-21-2012, 09:57 AM | #11 |
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If you get the basic kindle, make sure you get the black one. It has better contrast and a more pleasant background than the silver.
I would recommend either the basic or the Paperwhite. WIth the basic, you still have a bit of a learning curve, since there is more than one button. My non techie sister got used to it, but I think the PW will be much easier for her to operate. Also, you can see the covers on the home screen of the PW, so it may make it more appealing if you try to get her into reading. If you get the 3G version, shopping for books would be easy even for a very old nontechie person - assuming she does not have a wifi network or computer set up. Shopping is extremely intuitive on it, even though that was not one of your requirements - just letting you know. I never wanted a touch device, and now that I have been using the PW, my poor basic kindles are collecting dust. You may want to go to Best Buy or Staples and play around with them both. I know, I am totally stating the obvious here! Last edited by xendula; 11-21-2012 at 09:59 AM. |
11-21-2012, 10:45 AM | #12 |
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My 85(almost 86) year old non-tech mom hates touch screens!! She is constantly accidentally touching it, making page turn, bringing up menus. She got rid of her Sony T1. She has very severe arthritis in her hands, by the way. She LOVES her K4NT. The buttons just make sense in her brain. She has no problem pushing the buttons to turn pages. She uses it daily, for hours at a time.
S |
11-21-2012, 12:00 PM | #13 |
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Have you talked to your MIL's occupational or physical therapist about this? (Assuming she has one.) If she has age-related dementia -- the disappearing memory you refer to -- it is going to be difficult for her to learn new skills. So the simplest eReader will be the best for her. A touch screen probably won't be easy to master if she's never used a device that doesn't have physical buttons. Also, unless she'll have someone like you or your wife nearby to help, it could be very frustrating for her if she gets "lost" while using the device, e.g. navigates to the wrong page or wrong book and can't figure out how to get back.
We on this forum love our eReaders but in your MIL's case it may be more humane to get her large print books from your library than to give her a device she won't be able to use. That's why I think a professional opinion would be helpful. OTOH, K4s are easy to resell if it doesn't work out. Just plan to help her through the first few days of use and be ready to give it up if it proves to be too frustrating for her -- those with dementia experience plenty of frustration already without feeling pressured to learn new skills when their short term memory is essentially non-functional. |
11-21-2012, 08:48 PM | #14 | ||||||
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Wow, did not really expect this thread to take off like this. I do appreciate all the helpful input. I think I will go with the K4 for my MIL, and if she does not like it then I will take it back and find some use for it. Either way, I will post an update about how it worked out (or did not work out).
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Learning new skills is not easy for her - we are not completely sure if it is her being stubborn, unwilling to learn, incapable, or resistant to change. If something tickles her interest though, she does seam to understand better and remember better. I agree that teaching her to use a touchscreen might be way over our heads. Yes we can help her, see last part of my post below. Quote:
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Last edited by DuckieTigger; 11-21-2012 at 08:51 PM. Reason: typo |
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11-21-2012, 09:55 PM | #15 |
eBookworm
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You may also want to write some basic help functions (like use this button for this) with a sharpie on the back of the device. Or tape a post-it to the back.
Let us know how she is making out - I find it fascinating how ebooks can change a non techie's life Last edited by xendula; 11-22-2012 at 11:45 AM. |
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