Most elderly and users with “special needs” need the most simple and easy-to-use features of the portal devices. Typically just to receive and make video calls with a few family members.

Develop a “Settings for Elderly” menu where it is possible to add, choose or remove many of the features and menus that typically makes it difficult and simple to use the device.

An example: My 90year old Mum has the Portal TV (just to receive incoming video calls). She will get one of the 2 new fantastic Portal GO I just bought to make it even easier to have video calls. She has no needs for pop-up menus, feedback requests, voice control, endless list of friends show on the screen, clock, Spotify, Story teller…..and so on! She need the absolutely most simple setup possible. Currently the features on Portal might confuse her and make things tricky to manage…even though it seems simple to others.

The “Settings for elderly” would allow to make exactly the setup that fits to that elderly person. In case of my mum some of the settings could be the following;

• Auto answer an incoming video call (timer with seconds when device answers call or remotely possible for the trusted caller to “answer the call”
• “x” number of friends to call/receive calls from to be shown on the main menu screen
• Big clock” as screen saver
• Battery level

Especially a possibility for remote access to setup and handle a Portal device could be great (access with special code from initial setup of the elderly’s portal)..remotely increase sound, accept incoming call, reduce screen light, ringing volume etc etc…:)

Should be possible to find out which kind of “settings for elderly” are needed as the needs are different from person to person.

This is a huge opportunity for Facebook to develop on Portal as there is a clear need for this! Imagine if “special settings for elderly” was a build into smartphones, TV sets, tablets etc. …. Fact is that this feature really does not exist…yet!