Elderly and Mobile Phones

Elderly and Mobile Phones

In Rich Lings’ article “Should We Be Concerned That the Elderly Don’t Text?” he discusses the reasons as to why the elderly don’t use mobile phones. The first reason that he brings to readers attention is how each generation communicates. He then goes on to explain that since elderly don’t live close to their adult children there is a lack of communication between them. Rich continues with saying that elderly are not up to date with technology but are “active users of a landline phone” (Ling). He brings in the fact that the design of the phone is complicated. Ling talks about how the elderly have started to carry a mobile phone with them. Rich goes on to conclude that they are beginning to include mobile phone usage in their everyday life. Rich Ling’s article does not put the elderly down in any way when it comes to them using mobile phones. There is a lot to agree with when it comes to what he talks about in the article. For instance it keeps your attention because just about everyone has a mobile phone these days and it lets you know how the elderly view and use phones. This article is informative when it comes to why elderly don’t use mobile phones. Like all readings, the author always leaves you wanting more and in this article Rich Ling does that. Ling’s article keeps your attention because most of us don’t know much about elderly

people and I would like to know more about them and I chose this article for that reason to understand why elderly dislike using mobile phones. He states that the elderly don’t use mobile phones because the generation they grew up in. Which effects the know how to use mobile phones. Rich also brings up an age factor which does effect how the elderly and everyone else use mobile phones to communicate. He says that many people twenty or younger would prefer to text to younger than older people. Then very little said they would text someone who is in their eighties. Another good point he brings up is that elderly people would rather use a landline phone, and they see mobile phones as a safety device. The one thing that got my attention is how he says that mobile phones are not created for an elderly person which is true, but now there are phones being designed for them in mind. Since elderly people have a hard time being able to ready the small screen and press the small buttons. Ling says that because of the mobile phone being recently created that also influences their inability to know how to use them. He then goes on to tell us that the cell phone agencies are now letting us create a plan for us, the user. Which in doing this can help the elderly get a phone that is good for them and they don’t need all the high technology phones. Rich Ling tells us about the use of phones in their lives everyday. More elderly people are getting mobile phones compared to those under the age of sixty-two. He shows us that the elderly have used a landline phone more than the younger generation. When it comes to text messaging they send about three per week and receive about three per week.

So he decides that the elderly will use the landline telephone rather than a mobile phone. One thing he says is that the elderly don’t greet the use of cell phones as well as younger adults. He says they see it as annoying, and are hesitant about using phones. Rich then concludes that mobile communications are better for those who are younger and know how to use a phone. He asks what will the future hold and will elderly be able to use a mobile phone. Since elderly were introduced to mobile phones late in their lives they haven’t taken the plunge to text and use a mobile phone. The article does seem like it leaves you wanting to know more.

Works Cited

Ling, Rich. "Should We Be Concerend That the Elderly Don 't Text?" (2008): 334-340.

Cited: Ling, Rich. "Should We Be Concerend That the Elderly Don 't Text?" (2008): 334-340.