Hire by Skill
Hire by Role
1 min. read
Published: Aug 19, 2019
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With the capabilities of technology constantly changing, it can be difficult to keep track of all of the new mobile devices and technology in the world today. For those who are unfamiliar with mobile devices, beginning to use them can seem quite intimidating at first. Many see mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, as products that are simply used by children and teens for playing games. While there are many games and programs available on mobile devices for adolescents, there are also countless programs that are designed specifically for the lifestyles of older adults. The programs found on mobile devices are called applications, or apps.
Defining Purpose of Apps
Apps are downloadable programs on mobile devices that are designed to assist the user with a specific purpose in mind. Not all apps are games or solely for entertainment purposes. In fact, many of them aim to make life simpler by combining programs to manage multiple aspects of one’s life on one device. For instance, instead of tracking a monthly budget on paper or on a desktop computer, there are finance apps that will automatically calculate totals and track expenses. This app serves as both a financial budgeting program and a calculator in one.
Reminder & Fitness Apps
There are also numerous other apps designed to simplify everyday life, including pill reminders, fitness apps, and emergency- and weather-related apps. The pill reminder apps replace the need for setting a watch as a reminder or forgetting to take medication altogether. Users simply type in their medications and at which frequency they need to be taken and the app remembers every day and reminds the user with a message and an alarm to ensure that they do not miss a dose of medication. Fitness apps are helpful for managing daily fitness requirements and goals. These apps are capable of acting as pedometers, providing tips for new exercises, calorie-tracking, and even monitoring weight loss or weight gain.
GPS Enabled Apps
Emergency and weather apps are also especially helpful for older adults. These apps provide emergency information and even help in an emergency medical situation. In most mobile devices, there is a GPS feature that enables emergency responders to track the location of the device if an attempt to contact them is made. This feature is helpful in instances where the call is disconnected or the caller becomes unresponsive. Weather apps work in a similar manner, with GPS features providing the specific location of a user. This allows the weather app to locate very specific weather information at any time, including severe weather alerts and warnings.
Entertainment apps
Aside from helpful everyday uses, mobile devices and apps can also be used for entertainment purposes for older adults. There are apps that enable users to read books, magazines, and newspapers from all over the world on their devices. Movie and music apps are readily available as well. For those who enjoy traditional games, such as crossword puzzles or other brain games, there are apps for that on most mobile devices, too. In fact, there are some brain games that are specifically designed for older adults to keep their minds sharp. Some of these apps are even thought to lessen the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These apps help because they provide mental stimulation on a regular basis to keep the mind functioning at its maximum potential. They track progress and continually update the program with personalized activities to keep the user stimulated after regular use.
Apps designed to please old people
With all of these uses for mobile devices and apps, it is easy to see why they have become so popular in recent years. Using a mobile device with apps allows users to have everything that they need in one convenient location. After these apps are downloaded to a device, they remain on the device and are easily located each time they are needed. They generally also do not require users to remember several usernames, passwords, or website addresses, which simplifies the use of these programs in comparison to using a traditional desktop computer. With a little practice and guidance from an experienced user, older adults can easily begin to manage their everyday lives through the use of mobile devices and apps.
