emporia, which has been making phones for retirees for 30 years, has launched its first mobile specifically adapted for visually impaired seniors. It will be sold exclusively through the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
The TALKactive phone is an adaptation of emporia’s ACTIVEglam phone, which launched in the UK last year, with additional spoken menus, buttons, and SMS text to assist users with sight loss.
A voice assist function reads text messages aloud and helps the user to respond by speaking the letter keys and providing the option to read back the typed message before sending. When receiving calls, voice assist will read unknown numbers, or announce the name of the contact saved in the phone book.
Large illuminated buttons with a defined pressure point make typing easier, while large on-screen text aids the partially sighted. An extra strong vibrate function alerts users to incoming calls and messages.
The clamshell design offers greater control over the handset: opening and closing the phone can be set to auto-answer or end a call. The volume button located on the phone’s exterior is adapted to speak the time and battery level aloud when the phone is closed.
Priced affordably at £125 excluding VAT, the TALKactive includes a 2MP camera. It also comes with a charging cradle so users don’t have to waste time inserting the USB-C cable into the charger port.
The TALKactive comes with a set of uncomplicated, well-written user instructions available in large print, braille or audio, produced by emporia and RNIB.
As with all emporia phones, it is compatible with hearing aids, has extra loud and clear sound, and an emergency button located on the rear of the phone for extra peace of mind. If pressed, up to five emergency numbers will receive an SMS and be dialled automatically in sequence.