Kindle/e-reader for 100 year old

thelawnet

Any thoughts about this idea? My grandmother is 99, 100 in May, she just went into hospital a couple of days ago with heart problems, but she is ok if weakened.

Anyway my uncle, who lives with her (aged about 70/, mentioned something about a Kindle. My uncle has bought a few gadgets in the past, but he doesnt really know how to use them - he has a digital camera that he has never used because it didn't come with a prited manual. Somewhat to my surprise, he called me on his mobile phone today, but I got cut off and when I called him back there was no answer (at a guess, he probably pressed the 'hang up' button instead of 'answer').

My grandmother, OTOH, has never used a mobile phone, or a computer. She likes reading books, and the newspaper (Daily Telegraph or Daily Mail). She used to go to the library, but the last couple of years she's not very mobile, so this doesn't happen any more.

Anyway, do you think it's a good idea? And if so, which device?

Wifi would obviously be a complete non-starter, but 3g mightu

I would probably try and stick a load of content on it to start with (not sure what old ladies like to read, exactly), set it up, etc., if I got one, I know if my uncle bought one himself it wouldn't really be configured probably....

One thing I'm not sure about is print size. Presumably this is totally configurable?

Humphrey10

I've only used a Kindle briefly, it was surprisingly fiddly to set up (creating an e-mail account, then creating an Amazon account, on the Kindle itself), but once set up it was easy to use.
So if you are going to set it up yourself, someone non-technical could use it. You could also write down a set of instructions, that might help.

Yes you can adjust text size on a Kindle, I assume you can on other e-readers too.

laurel7172

I love my Kindle, but the screen is small for enlarged print, and it isn't massively user-friendly.

If there's the budget for it, a touchscreen tablet might be better. Bigger screen, more intuitive controls, no fiddly, tiny buttons...that's what I'd choose for a technoterrified elderly relative.

tafelmoneysaver

Kindle DX - 9.7" screen
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-DX-Wireless-Reader-3G-Global/dp/B002GYWHSQ

The only problem is that is is only available in the US but you might pick one up on eBay/similar and they are expensive.