Question A phone for the blind ?

[mihen]

My Dad is blind and uses a flip phone to make and receive calls. Recently Google dropped support for making calls through Google Assistant Go. A stripped down version of Google Assistant. The flip phone doesn't meet the requirements for Google Assistant, and now he can't make calls easily.

I was wondering what a good phone solution for the blind is? It was working well when someone called to simply flip open the phone to answer, and close it to hang up. To call someone press the assistant button and say call so and so.
I can't really find a solution that works that well. Its either a flat smartphone that is difficult to find buttons to answer and hangup. Or it's limited in its ability to make calls.

 

[COLGeek]

Have you looked at any specialty devices like this?

MiniVision2: A Simple Cell Phone for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired

An accessible cell phone with buttons for people who are blind or visually impaired.

www.perkins.org

 

[mihen]

I have, but they are more like a college project of making a phone for the blind rather than designed for the blind. I am also unsure if the developer continues to update the software. Such as support for features on KaiOS or Google Go being dropped.

 

[Ralston18]

Is the use of voice commands viable?

Open the phone, speak, etc.....

Sadly what your Dad and (as a result) you are experiencing is becoming a growing problem for seniors and other impaired users.

Manufacturers seem to be forgetting that the purpose of a phone is communication - as simply and as easily as possible.

Instead the purpose is constantly moving towards gathering data, shoving ads in the user's face, and offering nonsense, low value apps for whatever reasons other than to impose subscription payments at some time in the future. No value for more cost on all fronts.

= = = =

Someone could make a fortune going back to basics.

Just make a reliable phone that works. Or basic code that can be used on newer and older/recycled/re-purposed phones.

Basic features and functions, big clear buttons and icons, intuitive, common sense (i.e., what does "On" or "Off" really do)... etc.. Choice of what is wanted. Updates that leave the end-user configuration settings alone and intact.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[mihen]

That is the issue. The ability to simply use voice commands was dropped. I will look into the MiniVision2 more.