BusinessWeek Logo

When cell phones ring in church...

Posted by: Stephen Baker on April 23

Something I heard from Watts Wacker, the futurist, at an event we both spoke at last night (at Sacred Heart University).

A while back, he said, cell phones starting ringing at his church. He let us ponder for a while why that would be. It turned out, he said, that elderly people were finally carrying cell phones—but a few of them hadn’t figured out how to turn off the ring.

This fits into ageist prejudices, of course. Probably plenty of elderly people in the same church had been carrying cell phones for a while, and no one noticed because they knew how to turn of the rings (or the phones). But I wonder if there are phones tailored to the older audience, equipped with bigger keys, easier-to-read letters, and a clear button to turn off the ring. Anyone know of one?

UPDATE: Thanks for comments. A lot of people pointed me to the Jitterbug.

TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blogs.businessweek.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/

Reader Comments

Niall Kennedy

April 23, 2009 12:08 PM

Are you thinking of the Jitterbug?
http://www.jitterbug.com/

Estelle

April 23, 2009 12:36 PM

The jitterbug, especially designed for the elderly go here http://www.jitterbug.com/Phones/

GoingLikeSixty

April 23, 2009 12:55 PM

Yes.
http://lmgtfy.com/

GoingLikeSixty

April 23, 2009 12:57 PM

Since you probably won't publish my first comment which had the snarky URL.

Yes.
Jitterbug.com

Geezers drool. Boomers rule.

Holly Hoffman

April 23, 2009 02:42 PM

Isn't that what the Jitterbug phones are? I see their annoying commercials on TV all the time. The buttons are big, can come with pre-programmed numbers on speed dial, have support on tap, and I think they have a pre-paid option thru Sprint.

I don't have any experience with them or know anyone who has, but I think that's the sort of thing you are looking for.

Leigh

April 23, 2009 05:20 PM

Jitterbug produces one with extra large keys and minimal functionality. Their target market is seniors and children who need on-the-go access and a simplified UI.

Kathleen

April 24, 2009 12:39 PM

"The 500 Year Delta, Deviant's Advantage" and "The Visionary's Handbook" met "The Numerati" this week! Steve & Watts Wacker presented an amazing futurists' brainfest Wednesday night at the John F. Welch College of Business, Sacred Heart University, CT.

RE: cellphones of the elderly ringing in church...Perhaps that's "God calling"...yikes!

patrick

May 16, 2009 08:01 PM

kathy its patrick i hope ken has`a good time at bowling tonight

Post a comment

 

About

In Blogspotting Senior Writer Stephen Baker and Associate Editor Heather Green take a look at how cutting-edge technologies are changing business and society. Whether its blogs or wikis, data crunching or data targeting, technology’s advances are reshaping the world that we live in.

RSS Feed: Blogspotting

BW Mall - Sponsored Links