Steve Kelley
Imagine for a moment a high tech gadget that’s easy to use, has buttons, and even a knob that turns for the volume control. It connects to Wi-Fi for streaming services, but maintains the simplicity of a radio. If you’re thinking of Alexa with a manual volume control and a couple more tactile buttons, you might be getting close to imagining the Senior Sidekick.
Overview
The Senior Sidekick is a tablet-based device that is specifically designed for those who are more interested in ease-of-use than processor speed or technical specs. Although the initial setup requires the ability to set up Wi-Fi on a Windows tablet, with that out of the way, the Senior Sidekick is designed to be easy to use, simply by touch. The high contrast, large print interface of the Senior Sidekick is displayed on a Windows Surface Pro 3 tablet, inside a case that enables it to stand upright on a counter or tabletop. There are three styles to choose from--Retro, Solo, and MAC-D. This review is of the Mac D, which includes spoken text when a button is touched, and also includes tactile buttons around the edge of the stand to select corresponding menu items.
When first plugged in and turned on, the Sidekick opens to a set of large icons on the screen. On the left side, menu options include: Music Stations; News and Weather; and Books. On the right: Prayer and Faith; Call Someone; and Podcasts. When an icon or corresponding button is first touched, the label is spoken, and a second touch opens a new screen with a sub-menu on it. Like the home screen, menu items appear in two columns of three icons. In the top center, is a Home icon to return to the main screen. On the few menu items that offered multiple sub-menus, there was also a Previous and Next button at the top of the screen. One of the design elements of this interface is to keep the number of icons limited, both to keep it simple and to allow for a larger easier-to-read icon. It’s important to note that the reduced selection here is not an indication of reduced content.
Customizing Content
The Senior Sidekick is designed for customization. When first ordered from the website at SeniorSidekick.net customers are asked, in advance, what some of their preferences are for the various menus in Customize Menus. According to the developer, Bruce Becker, this is really just a starting point. Senior Sidekick support staff maintain the ability to remote into the computer for both routine maintenance and additional customization based on a user’s preference. As an example, Becker mentioned a customer was very interested in a local church service. Becker was able to locate the streaming audio for the service and add an icon to this user’s Senior Sidekick through remote access. Currently, this type of customization is available by calling or emailing Senior Sidekick support, however, Becker is working on an app, Mobile Mate, which will provide family members or helpers the option to make these sorts of changes themselves. There is currently no release date for the app.
MAC-D Example Menu
Although the Surface Pro that runs the Sidekick has a rechargeable battery, it is really designed to stay plugged in. During the review, the Senior Sidekick was plugged in for a couple weeks and was completely stable. If the Sidekick is turned off, it reboots automatically to the familiar main menu. Here’s an example of some of the content on the review model.
- Music Station: several selections including Elvis Radio, Christmas Music, Classical, Piano Music, and more. Each appears to be link to streaming music services.
- News and Weather: stations KXRA and WCCO streaming on the internet, and Ask Alexa. By pressing the Ask Alexa icon or button, users can access the Alexa digital assistant. Alexa cannot be summoned by voice on the Sidekick, it works more like Siri on an i-device--push the button, then speak the command or question.
- Books: audio books selected and linked from Librivox. The review device included Gulliver’s Travels, Great Gatsby, and two others.
- Prayers and Faith: included links to Scripture Readings, Bible in Year, Relevant Radio and several other faith-based services.
- Call Someone: Sidekick Support is available through Skype, and Call Bruce (developer) by Zoom. The Zoom option is available by appointment.
- Podcasts: included six selections, American Life, History, Ask Me Another, Missed in History, How Things Work, and Planet Money.
Again, it is worth noting that the selections on the demo unit appear to be a very small sampling of what was available from the Menu Selection on the Senior Sidekick webpage.
Ask Alexa Option
One of the interesting features noted while using the Ask Alexa menu option, is that it is set up and ready to use out of the box. The user doesn’t have to sign up for an Amazon account, it is done before the Sidekick is sent out. For example, using the demo, this writer was able to start the NFB Newsline skill, put in the user ID and passcode, and begin reading newspapers.
Settings and Accessibility
While the Main Menu user interface does keep it simple, pressing a sequence of buttons on the menu opens the Settings menu. Here the Sidekick can be rebooted, the user can leave the Sidekick interface and go to the Windows operating system on the Surface Pro for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other settings. In addition, photos may be added to create a running slide show on the Sidekick, and this can be started and stopped from the Settings menu.
While much of the Main Menu is designed to be accessible for users with reduced vision, the Settings menu lacks vocalized buttons which brings up the question of accessibility for the user setting up the Senior Sidekick. Because the Surface Pro is delivered without the keyboard, it is unclear how Narrator, or for that matter, the Windows Magnifier can be accessed, without first connecting a Bluetooth keyboard.
Final Thoughts
As Becker mentioned in an introductory letter sent with the demo unit, the Senior Sidekick, “life cycle is in a relatively early phase…past prototype and in what I would call a manual production phase.” As noted earlier, the features are all functional and certainly stable during the review period. In a phone conversation with Bruce Becker early in the review, it was clear he is very interested in learning more about product customization, features, and content sources that will make the MAC-D more accessible, and of greater value to users.
There is certainly a niche for a device like the Senior Sidekick that provides easy access to information for consumers with a recent vision loss that makes familiar technology temporarily challenging, or for those who are not really tech users, who want to stay connected, informed, or just looking for entertainment alternatives. With the addition of local radio reading services, podcasts related to vision loss and resources, or simple connections to training or support groups through Scype or Zoom, Senior Sidekick may be a product that opens tech and information doors, not otherwise readily accessible.
The MAC-D in this review sells for $495 and ships with an external speaker. There is a 12-month warranty for software and hardware issues related to normal use. Also, there is a 90-day refund available if the Senior Sidekick is returned. A monthly subscription of $15 covers the cost of maintenance and customization requests. For more information about purchasing check out the MAC-D page on the Senior Sidekick website, call 320-304-8822, or email Sales@SeniorSidekick.net.
This article is made possible in part by generous funding from the James H. and Alice Teubert Charitable Trust, Huntington, West Virginia.
