‘My favourite feature of the Doro824 is the camera’

“My name is Fatima. I’m 73 years old and live alone here in Toronto. I’m originally from Portugal which means that lots of my family and friends still live abroad so having access to technology is vital for me to keep in touch with my loved ones separated by distance.”

“I normally speak to my family and friends on my landline phone at home or I use my computer."

“In the past I’ve used a flip phone, but it wasn’t very interactive and I found everything about it really small, from the buttons, to the screen and font size to the actual phone itself.”

“When I started using the Doro824, I loved how large the screen was and that all the icons and font were big and bright. It made it so much easier to see and use.”

“My favourite feature of the Doro824 is probably the camera. I love being able to instantly take a photo wherever I am, then view it immediately on the screen. I am also an avid Facebook user and have over 300 friends! It’s great being able to use Facebook wherever I am to stay connected with friends online and not having to wait until I can use one of the computers at West Neighbourhood House in Toronto. It’s also so easy and convenient to upload pictures straight from my phone to Facebook. I’ve never been able to do that before! Sharing photos through Facebook with my daughter makes me feel so much more connected to her and like we’re together every day!”

 Maria José Ferreira                                                            

‘I would definitely recommend the Doro824 to other seniors’

“My name is Maria José. I’m 76 years old and am also originally from Portugal but now live here in Toronto. I’ve never used or owned a cellphone before so the Doro824 was my first experience of using a phone on the go!”

“I was nervous about using the phone and thought it was going to be really difficult to see and press all the buttons, but it was so much easier than I expected. I really like how large the physical buttons are and also that the icons on the screen are nice and big too. I am really enjoying learning how to send text messages, and send them all the time now!”

 “Charging the phone is really easy too thanks to the charging dock so I don’t need to worry about little wires. I also like that when you’re charging the phone it becomes a screen with the time on.”

 “I would definitely recommend the Doro824 to other seniors, even if like me you’ve never used a cell phone before. It’s helped me stay connected to my friends and family all the time, I love it!”

If you would like to learn more about the Doro 824 please visit our productpage Doro 824.

HelpAge Canada recently launched ‘Reach Isolated Seniors Everywhere’ (RISE), a nationwide awareness campaign, encouraging Canadian citizens to connect or reconnect with a senior they know. “There are different stages of social isolation; the more one becomes isolated, the more one is at risk for health and mental problems”, says Jacques Bertrand, HelpAge Canada ED. “The goal of RISE is to gather as many organizations and individuals across the country, spread the message about social isolation and take action.”

In line with this campaign, the Doro 824 Smartphone, designed especially for seniors, launched today.This is a smartphone that is ideal for those who want to use technology such as instant messaging, video calls and photo-sharing, but may feel overwhelmed with the current smartphones on the market. Every function has been created with accessibility for seniors in mind, from the ergonomic design to the simplified software and emergency call button.

“We strongly feel modern technology isn’t just for the young. It can be a tool to improve and enrich the lives of seniors. We wanted to create a smartphone that incorporated the technology of today with a senior’s needs and requirements in mind. We hope that the Doro 824 will encourage everyone to reconnect with their elderly friends and relatives,” says Christopher Lundstrom, Doro GM for North America.

Accessible properties of the Smartphone include simplified software for messaging, email and internet browsing; step-by-step guidance and tutorials for all applications; fewer and larger screen icons; physical buttons for home, back, menu and a dedicated button for the camera; larger font size and Hearing Aid Compatible. 

Relatives and caregivers who are separated by distance and can’t be there in person, can take particular advantage of My Doro Manager. This app is pre-installed on the Doro 824 phone so that relatives who download ‘the Relative App’ from Google Play and the App Store can directly connect to the senior’s phone remotely. This allows them to have full access to the phone. Relatives can use the app to add in calendar events, reminders and contacts as well as sharing photos and setting up automated video chats. It also allows relatives to help with any usage uncertainties a senior might have remotely as everything from the ringtone volume to the screen brightness can be controlled remotely.

Another function that adds extra piece of mind for caregivers is the emergency call button. When activated, the phone automatically calls a predetermined contact and sends an SMS with their GPS location, ensuring fast and easy method of communication in an emergency situation.

Social isolation among seniors is a problem that is often easily overlooked, but charities like HelpAge Canada and companies such as Doro are working tirelessly to bring light to this issue and provide the tools required to reconnect seniors with their loved ones and local communities. 

Doro 824C – Smartphone for the Blind

Also launching today is the Doro 824C, the most complete smartphone on the market for the blind and visually impaired. This easy-to-use phone includes all key smartphone features while also incorporating dedicated accessibility features for the visually impaired including fixed function keys, OCR reading machine and GPS tracking.

“The Doro 824 is an ideal handset for customers with moderate visual and physical limitations, and the Doro 824C is the most full featured smartphone built for the blind. Bell is committed to making mobile technology more accessible to everyone and we’re pleased to add these innovative devices to our lineup of accessibility products,” said Blaik Kirby, President of Bell Mobility.

The Doro 824 and Doro 824C can be purchased exclusively at Bell stores across Canada and at Bell.ca/Accessibility. 

HelpAge Canada recently launched ‘Reach Isolated Seniors Everywhere’ (RISE), a nationwide awareness campaign, encouraging Canadian citizens to connect or reconnect with a senior they know. “There are different stages of social isolation; the more one becomes isolated, the more one is at risk for health and mental problems”, says Jacques Bertrand, HelpAge Canada ED. “The goal of RISE is to gather as many organizations and individuals across the country, spread the message about social isolation and take action.”

In line with this campaign, the Doro 824 Smartphone, designed especially for seniors, launched today.This is a smartphone that is ideal for those who want to use technology such as instant messaging, video calls and photo-sharing, but may feel overwhelmed with the current smartphones on the market. Every function has been created with accessibility for seniors in mind, from the ergonomic design to the simplified software and emergency call button.

“We strongly feel modern technology isn’t just for the young. It can be a tool to improve and enrich the lives of seniors. We wanted to create a smartphone that incorporated the technology of today with a senior’s needs and requirements in mind. We hope that the Doro 824 will encourage everyone to reconnect with their elderly friends and relatives,” says Christopher Lundstrom, Doro GM for North America.

Accessible properties of the Smartphone include simplified software for messaging, email and internet browsing; step-by-step guidance and tutorials for all applications; fewer and larger screen icons; physical buttons for home, back, menu and a dedicated button for the camera; larger font size and Hearing Aid Compatible. 

Relatives and caregivers who are separated by distance and can’t be there in person, can take particular advantage of My Doro Manager. This app is pre-installed on the Doro 824 phone so that relatives who download ‘the Relative App’ from Google Play and the App Store can directly connect to the senior’s phone remotely. This allows them to have full access to the phone. Relatives can use the app to add in calendar events, reminders and contacts as well as sharing photos and setting up automated video chats. It also allows relatives to help with any usage uncertainties a senior might have remotely as everything from the ringtone volume to the screen brightness can be controlled remotely.

Another function that adds extra piece of mind for caregivers is the emergency call button. When activated, the phone automatically calls a predetermined contact and sends an SMS with their GPS location, ensuring fast and easy method of communication in an emergency situation.

Social isolation among seniors is a problem that is often easily overlooked, but charities like HelpAge Canada and companies such as Doro are working tirelessly to bring light to this issue and provide the tools required to reconnect seniors with their loved ones and local communities. 

Doro 824C – Smartphone for the Blind

Also launching today is the Doro 824C, the most complete smartphone on the market for the blind and visually impaired. This easy-to-use phone includes all key smartphone features while also incorporating dedicated accessibility features for the visually impaired including fixed function keys, OCR reading machine and GPS tracking.

“The Doro 824 is an ideal handset for customers with moderate visual and physical limitations, and the Doro 824C is the most full featured smartphone built for the blind. Bell is committed to making mobile technology more accessible to everyone and we’re pleased to add these innovative devices to our lineup of accessibility products,” said Blaik Kirby, President of Bell Mobility.

The Doro 824 and Doro 824C can be purchased exclusively at Bell stores across Canada and at Bell.ca/Accessibility. 

If you would like to learn more about the Doro 824 and/or the Doro 824C please visit our productpage Doro 824 and Doro 824C.

The answer is actually that terrible cameras can take fantastic pictures, or more accurately: good photographers can take fantastic photos regardless of the equipment they are using. Most cameras don’t take pictures at all, but leave that up to the photographer.

It really isn’t the camera that sets the limits. Sure, some camera phones have certain technical limitations, but most tips for how to take better pictures are general and work no matter what camera is being used.

Ten tips for becoming a better camera phone photographer:

1. Dare to go close to the subject.

2. Select what has to be in the photo rather than trying to get it all in.

3. Anticipate. ”An image approaches like a snail but disappears like lightning.” If you know where something is going to happen, place yourselft right in plenty of time.

4. Keep in mind that some camera phones take the picture first have releasing the shutter button. 

5. Hold the camera still. If you take pictures indoors without a flash, this is essential for getting a sharp focus. Lean against a door jamb or a chair for support.

6. Don’t allow your subject to be illuminated by several light sources with different temperatures, e.g. warm incandescent lighting and cool outdoor lighting. 

7. Find a “clean” background. When taking portraits it’s important to think about not letting the background steal too much attention. Avoid having things stick up behind people’s heads.

8. Try to capture true sensations in your snapshots. 

9. Be sociable when you take photos; downplay the situation and shoot even when the subject isn’t prepared.

10. Last but not least, the best advice used even by all pro photographers: Take lots of photos and you will increase your chances of taking some that are good.

Start with your reason for having one. Is it...

• Just for making and receiving calls? 
• Also for text or picture messaging?
• For taking photos?
• For acessing e-mail and the Internet?

Previous experience

If you’ve had a mobile phone before, think about what you did and didn’t like about it:
• Did it feel too fragile, or need frequent charging?
• Was it hard to hear it clearly or to read the display?
• Did you often press two keys at a time because they were too small and too close together?

Features and functions

Decide which features and functions you will use often:
• Do you want to set reminders or wake-up alarms?
• What about playing games or listening to radio?
• If you use a hearing aid you may want to check the phone’s HAC rating; M3/T3 or higher is best.

Style

Choose a style that appeals to you: 
• A bar style phone has that classic mobile ‘look’. 
• A slider or clamshell mobile phone has a somewhat larger display and hides the keypad to prevent accidental calls. 
• A smartphone offers an even larger display for reading e-mail and exploring the Internet.

Budget

Having a price range in mind helps narrow the choices. If you’re on a strict budget you should keep in mind that there may be other costs associated with the phone you buy besides the choice of operator and calling plan:
• Check if you need other accessories such as a protective case, charging cradle, etc. 
• Phones used to access e-mail and the Internet may be subject to additional charges for data traffic.