Smartphones Tips For Newbies
The idea that someone has never used a smartphone can seem unheard of for today’s generation. But you shouldn’t take your own skill for granted, as there is a whole generation that hasn’t used these gizmos. Nonetheless, the ability to use a smartphone or a tablet can help open up a completely new experience for the person. If you have a friend, a grandma or a grandpa who’s never used a smartphone, the below tips can help you make the phone more accessible for them.
Set It Up
There’s no reason to teach the person every detail of using the phone, especially at the start. Things like adding the SIM card and opening a Gmail or iTunes account can be ready before you start teaching the person how to use them.
Save the login information, but write down the username and password in case the person needs them. You should consider using apps such as LastPass to ensure the person doesn’t have to remember every password, but these are automatically filled or easily retrieved.
Add a passcode to lock the screen or consider using the fingerprint scanner. Note that in Android phones, it’s possible to add emergency contact information to the lock screen, which could be your number, for example.
Ask the person for the kind of things they would like to use regularly and add these apps on the front page. Put everything else on another screen to make it easier for them to find what they need.
Going Through Functions
You must teach three essential buttons and functions to the person first. These include:
- Where to turn the device on and off.
- How to lower and increase the volume, and perhaps turn it silent.
- What to press to get back to the home screen.
After teaching the above, you can show how to charge the phone and how to plug headphones into the phone. Furthermore, you want to explain any other built-in button or function the phone has. For example, most Android phones have a button for going back in the menu or page.
Your next mission is to guide the person through using different apps. Depending on the person’s needs, you should consider the following:
- Calling and adding contacts.
- Sending and reading messages, both in the in-built messaging app and another app, if used.
- Taking photos and sharing them via an app, SMS, e-mail or other messaging app, like Whatsapp.
- Sending e-mails.
- Finding new apps, downloading new apps and where the apps appear when installed.
- Accessing settings, such as turning on WiFi, mobile data, and putting the phone on flight mode.
The above are the basics you want to cover with a person. Be realistic with what you teach in one sitting. You could teach one to two functionalities at once and allow the person to practice using these for a few days, before teaching new tricks.
It’s also important to think about the needs of the person. For an older person, it might be enough to learn how to use text messaging, instead of opening an e-mail account as well.
In terms of additional apps, it’s a good idea to ask what sort of things the person is interested in. Would they like to try some games or perhaps opt for newspaper apps? Show them things like radio or podcast apps as well.
Additional Help
If the person is an older person and using an Android phone, the Seniors Phone app is a great help. It makes icons bigger, and provides a ‘Help’ tool function for each icon to remind them of the functionality. You can also turn icons bigger on iOS phones from the ‘Accessibility’ tab in ‘Settings’.
Finding The Right Phone
Finally, it can help to shop for different types of phones. Not all smartphones are alike and for a smartphone newbie, you would want to find something rather straightforward and simple. You definitely don’t need to get the latest high-tech phone.
As far as operating systems go, iOS is often touted as the easiest to use. Instead of buying the newest iPhone, you should consider the last year’s model to save money with the purchase. Currently, iPhone 6 costs around $900, while iPhone 5 is just $300.
If you’d like to opt for an Android phone, then your choice of phones grows. All the brands from HTC to Samsung have cheaper and easier options available. You could opt for Samsung Galaxy 5S or HTC One M8.
Shop for deals online at our site and check out used phones for extra savings. If you can, let the person get a feel of the phone before buying it.
Setting Up & teaching someone to use a smartphone for the first time can be a tough challenge. You’ll need a lot of patience and understanding. But with the above tips it can be done and you’ll make the person happy by providing him or her better access to the new world.