This question - how to set up an iPad for an elderly relative - has been asked frequently before. I'll summarize what I learned from those threads and ask a few new questions related to new iOS 8 features and cases, keyboards, and styluses. I bought an iPad Air for my 85 year old mom and am looking for advice on setting it up (something I'll do later this weekend). She uses a windows desktop computer today and does OK, and has broadband. I'll also be setting up a WiFi access point and will be with her a couple of days over Christmas to give her a few lessons on using the iPad. Complications: she has arthritis, and macular degeneration, so has some trouble with her hands and vision isn't that great. I bought her a Kindle DX a couple of years ago and it didn't go that well - the chiclet style keyboard was just too small and hard to read. My complications: I live a couple hundred miles away. I have an iPad, but it is first generation, so I'm not familiar with iOS features on an iPad beyond iOS 5 (I do use iOS 8 on a phone).
This question has been asked more than a few times over the years, but I don't see anything more recent than December of 2013 (Here are the most helpful threads I found: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Here are my main take-aways from reading through those discussions:
- There are a number of accessibility settings in iOS that I can tweak to make things more readable, like size of text and contrast (iOS 7 accessibility tips linked here and here)
- A stylus is a good idea as an add-on
- A bluetooth keyboard is a good idea as an add-on (and don't skimp here)
- There are iPad cases that are easy to grip, with handstraps on the back
- iPads end up generating a lot of user IDs and passwords, so write them down somewhere in case they are needed
- Set up an iTunes account/Apple ID without a credit card linked to it; I can always do that later or gift in money for apps
- Set up FaceTime to be able to message and video chat with my mom
- Set up PhotoStream to be able to share photos
Here are my specific questions that are a little more geared towards 2014:
- The last review of cases with straps/handgrips I found was dated 2012. I'm looking for up-to-date recommendations on a case with some kind of strap or handgrip to make it easier for mom to hold onto the device with her arthritic hands.
- I don't use a stylus myself, any recommendations there? I imagine something big/fat would probably be better.
- Same with bluetooth keyboards. Any particular recommendations?
- One of the new things that came out with iOS 8 are third party (software) keyboards. I googled to see if there are better choices out there than the default keyboard that Apple provides, but found this disappointing review at atmac.org that basically says, "too early."
- My thought was to create an iTunes account for my mom without a credit card attached, and also to turn on the "Family Sharing" feature in iOS 8 - good idea?
- What iOS8 features am I overlooking here?
- What applications should I plan to preload for her? My mom likes to read about current events, likes to do the crossword puzzle in her daily newspaper, and likes to read novels. Based on the other threads I linked above, I'm planning to load Kindle, Flipboard, and a weather app. What else?
- Any other advice you would give me to make it a good experience? Once I walk out the door on the day after Christmas, I'll probably be gone until March, so I want to plan as much in advance as I can. I'm especially interested in anything that would let me assist her remotely.
Thanks as always for your ideas and assistance!
This question has been asked more than a few times over the years, but I don't see anything more recent than December of 2013 (Here are the most helpful threads I found: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Here are my main take-aways from reading through those discussions:
- There are a number of accessibility settings in iOS that I can tweak to make things more readable, like size of text and contrast (iOS 7 accessibility tips linked here and here)
- A stylus is a good idea as an add-on
- A bluetooth keyboard is a good idea as an add-on (and don't skimp here)
- There are iPad cases that are easy to grip, with handstraps on the back
- iPads end up generating a lot of user IDs and passwords, so write them down somewhere in case they are needed
- Set up an iTunes account/Apple ID without a credit card linked to it; I can always do that later or gift in money for apps
- Set up FaceTime to be able to message and video chat with my mom
- Set up PhotoStream to be able to share photos
Here are my specific questions that are a little more geared towards 2014:
- The last review of cases with straps/handgrips I found was dated 2012. I'm looking for up-to-date recommendations on a case with some kind of strap or handgrip to make it easier for mom to hold onto the device with her arthritic hands.
- I don't use a stylus myself, any recommendations there? I imagine something big/fat would probably be better.
- Same with bluetooth keyboards. Any particular recommendations?
- One of the new things that came out with iOS 8 are third party (software) keyboards. I googled to see if there are better choices out there than the default keyboard that Apple provides, but found this disappointing review at atmac.org that basically says, "too early."
- My thought was to create an iTunes account for my mom without a credit card attached, and also to turn on the "Family Sharing" feature in iOS 8 - good idea?
- What iOS8 features am I overlooking here?
- What applications should I plan to preload for her? My mom likes to read about current events, likes to do the crossword puzzle in her daily newspaper, and likes to read novels. Based on the other threads I linked above, I'm planning to load Kindle, Flipboard, and a weather app. What else?
- Any other advice you would give me to make it a good experience? Once I walk out the door on the day after Christmas, I'll probably be gone until March, so I want to plan as much in advance as I can. I'm especially interested in anything that would let me assist her remotely.
Thanks as always for your ideas and assistance!