With the evolving smartphone edge, the youth catch up pretty quickly on the day to day ever technology changes which is not the case for the older generations (at least with birthdays from the 1970’s below 😉 #golden age) mostly due to the learning curve and the lack of interest.
However since the smartphone revolution is becoming a necessity, how can one catch up with today’s trendy and ever growing app world no matter what age you are.
By “old” we don’t mean or classify a group of people based just on the term old or age but people who haven’t fully engulfed themselves in today’s tech groupie movement. They are old school and relive the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
These apps could help, some of them are on almost all platforms like iOS, Windows and Android:
1. Camera
These days a camera comes default on almost all phone models. However, how is this beneficial to the elderly people? Good question. Let us narrow it down for you.
A camera isn’t just a tool for selfies and slaying, however the mobile camera is something easy to operate and you will enjoy its simplicity.
A camera captures and helps relive the memories people share together be it a birthday party, a graduation or a vacation at that posh resort. You can cherish these moments through a superior and enhanced ready photo album creation straight on your unlike the old large physical photo albums we would keep back int the day.
You get to look back in time in your gallery on a phone, tablet or computer, which builds a firm relationship with those you shared the moments with.
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2. Instant Messenger (IM – Whatsapp & Telegram)
Communication in today’s world and society has not only become faster, simpler and more cost effective but has also offered the opportunity for parents, children and the elderly alike to share beautiful and cherishing moments of their lives through the touch of a button.
Applications such as Whatsapp, Telegram and Facebook messenger have offered a chance to communicate easily and instantly with loved ones unlike slow postage and mailing of letters that took days or months in between.
With the current technological advancements, communication has never been much easier and as a result of this, you can take full advantage of these simple applications to enhance your communication and others.
3. News apps – Pulse, Pocket
Newspapers and magazines to mention but a few were a common form of relaying information through the course of human history. One had to wait for Thursday’s edition to read about sports or a certain topic but all that has changed.
With the various advancements in news media outlets, older folk that had stuck with the traditional forms of getting news have been offered faster and exciting looking forms of media coverage.
This has come with the existence of apps and gateways such as Pulse, Pocket and many others that give real time updates on current affairs in all aspects of life such as news media apps like BBC News, CNN and much more.
The older generation is able to keep up the news and also contribute through discussions like blogs to expand on their thought process by just downloading these apps on their phones, tablets or accessing them through the computer and this proves a good feature for them which they can learn easily to use.
4. Social Media – Facebook & Twitter, Pinterest
Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are some of the apps that can really come in handy as a productive tools if you use them well. One can keep in touch with family and friends using Facebook, start a campaign using a Twitter hash tag and enjoy the enjoy of art using Pinterest.
Pinterest has a lot of interesting pictures and channels sharing inspirational, productive and informative data through use of images which makes it a must have for anyone.
5. Processing – Kingsoft, PDF
Having a document typed or formatted in any way possible has been an expansive feature in the smartphone era. Apps like PDF readers; Kingsoft and Microsoft Word can be downloaded directly on to your smart phone or device.
One can draft an application letter or a report using these apps, which also provide an array of options for editing and design to make information readable and understandable by anyone. You can easily use these apps to make his or her life smooth be it in a business environment or any other form.
Having a document typed or formatted in any way possible has been an expansive feature in the smartphone era. Apps like PDF readers; Kingsoft and Microsoft Word can be downloaded directly on to your smart phone or device. – Newslibre
6. Browser – UC, Opera
A browser is an application that allows you to view data, images or video on the web. Basically, browsers are simple apps that help you access information from the web easily. You can search about almost anything using search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing to access information.
These apps can download, view and even upload data at steady speeds in case you when need a digital book, a song or movie. They can do a lot of things one may wish to do. Examples include Opera mobile, UC browser and Google Chrome to mention but a few. Basically, browsers are easy applications to use and come in handy for you.
A browser is an application that allows you to view data, images or video on the web. Basically, browsers are simple apps that help you access information from the web easily. – Newslibre
7. Notepad /To-do list – Evernote, Wanderlust, Colornote
Having a notepad or book alongside a diary is still a customary practice even up to today but with the tech evolution more and more physical forms of literal material have been transcended into applications.
You can save your daily activity, set an alarm for a date, mark dates for meetings and other special days easily and faster with such apps like Evernote, Colornote which act as your personal organizers. With this, those used to physical literal material can continue to carry out their daily activities without need to carry around lots of writing material but just a smart device.
Having a notepad or book alongside a diary is still a customary practice even up to today but with the tech evolution more and more physical forms of literal material have been transcended into applications. – Newslibre
8. Mail (E-mail) – Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo
Mailing has become one of the simplest forms of communication for any person today. Features like Gmail from Google, Hotmail from Microsoft and Yahoo! Mail from Yahoo! have granted people of all ages the ability to send & receive mail faster than ever before.
Such mailing features have apps that at times can preinstalled on smart devices and all one needs is to create an account free of charge and emailing whoever they wish to without much of the hustle like in the old days. Such apps are also beneficial to those that aren’t much into today’s smart device applications.
Mailing has become one of the simplest forms of communication for any person today. Features like Gmail from Google, Hotmail from Microsoft and Yahoo! Mail from Yahoo! have granted people of all ages the ability to send & receive mail faster than ever before. – Newslibre
9. Map
With the age of space travel, satellite communication and telecommunication, finding directions to a location or an area has become a lot easier. One can access travel route information using apps such as Google Maps to know where they are headed.
These map apps also enable one to determine alternative routes for easy access, the nearest super market, medical centre or transportation service at a push of a button. The most amazing app for this is Fousquare with directions, prices and reviews.
Carrying a map for every location had been a traditional habit that is still practical even today but with the growing technological advancements, this has paved a way through geographical constraints that had ravaged the earlier generations and this has proven useful to all people of all ages whether old or young alike.
Trying out these apps is a great start to loving and using your gadget more. Take a joy ride and try these out, if you have any problem installing these or finding the most appropriate please leave a comment below. We’ll be writing about more apps in details here, so keep checking in when you can.
Author: Lawrence
Lawrence writes about tech, lifestyle, politics, business, crypto and occasionally entertainment. He writes for Newslibre and Spur Magazine while consulting with numerous international companies on strategy, community management and marketing.
He has contributed to the journalism, open source, film, youth, web, Andela and Mozilla communities.