Apps for communication: What apps can help my aunt and mother connect easily?
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What apps can help my aunt and mother connect easily?
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Products mentioned in our answer below are provided to inform you about the types of technologies available and have not been evaluated by CanAssist. They may or may not be appropriate for your particular situation. Some technologies and devices may require an in-person assessment. Speak with your health care provider for additional information and support.
In this day in age, there are many ways to stay connected with family and friends across the world. If your mother and aunt are not comfortable using computers, they may be interested in knowing about a number of applications, also known as “apps”, that are available to be used on a smartphone or tablet. In order for the apps to work, both your mother and aunt would need a WiFi (wireless internet) connection or 3G cellular network access.
Tablets are larger devices and are, therefore, better for seeing the other person. To make it easier, you could even set up the applications so that your mother and aunt can only call each other. A single-purpose mode can also be selected so the tablet can't be used for other activities. Here are direct links to instructions for setting up single-purpose mode on your Android tablet and/or on your iPad.
If you already have a smartphone or tablet, applications are inexpensive, ranging from free to a few dollars.
Below are direct links to a few examples of apps designed to keep people connected:
- FaceTime is a one-to-one video calling app that is usually pre-installed on all Apple devices, including the iPhone, the iPad and the iPod touch. FaceTime can only be used with Apple devices. Here is a direct link to instructions for activating FaceTime on Apple products.
- Google Duo Video Calling is a similar app to FaceTime but can be used with both Apple and Android devices. Here are direct links for activating Google Duo on Apple products and Android products.
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