“Simple Mode” and “Health” make daily life easier

The line is very small, and the reaction is very fast: smartphones tire the elderly in particular. With a few tricks, a cell phone turns from enemy to friend – and even into a fitness trainer.

Hamburg – Sometimes a little more: Samsung smartphones offer some practical simplification as part of the Simple Mode. The trade magazine “Computer Bild” (Issue 11/2022) indicates this. To do this, first open the smartphone settings and click “View”. Then select the “Simple mode” item and activate it.

For example, you can now specify how long you have to tap an icon before you interact under Touch / Hold Delay. This can come in handy: longer delays forgive unintended touches and unplanned app openings. If you also want this for the keyboard, you have to set it up separately. This can be done in the settings under Interactions & Dexterity and Click Duration as well as Ignore Repeated Touches.

The High Contrast Keyboard tab in the Simple Mode menu also has fewer drawbacks when using it. Various color settings and contrasts can be selected there. This makes the keys easier to see. All icons and text can also be made larger and easier to read under Settings, Display and Font size and style.

iPhone offers another add-on that is useful in everyday life: activate Fitness History under Settings, Privacy, and Workout & Fitness. From now on, the iPhone records all the steps and provides you with the statistics in the “Health” app. So users know exactly how much they have already moved. dpa