low-tech mp3-playing device for people with limited use of hands?
November 20, 2014 1:03 AM Subscribe
I listen to a lot of podcasts that I know my mum would enjoy. But she can't/won't use a computer, doesn't have reliable internet, and she has arthritis that sometimes prevents her doing 'fiddly' things - e.g. scrolling a wheel on an ipod. Looking for a solution - details inside
1. It needs to either synch with itunes, or at least be set up so that I can dump (and, crucially, order into playlists) a series of podcasts onto it for her.
2. It needs to function without requiring any sort of internet connection
3. It needs to be as low-tech as possible - especially when it comes to things like letting her choose which playlist/track to play
4. It needs, ideally, to have large physical buttons & not be a touchscreen.
5. Did I mention low-tech? I really mean that, she's not going to use a smart phone or ipad or anything like that.
I'm beginning to think the 'best' solution is actually to burn the tracks I can to CDs and buy her a new CD player with big buttons, but maybe there's something I haven't thought of?
1. It needs to either synch with itunes, or at least be set up so that I can dump (and, crucially, order into playlists) a series of podcasts onto it for her.
2. It needs to function without requiring any sort of internet connection
3. It needs to be as low-tech as possible - especially when it comes to things like letting her choose which playlist/track to play
4. It needs, ideally, to have large physical buttons & not be a touchscreen.
5. Did I mention low-tech? I really mean that, she's not going to use a smart phone or ipad or anything like that.
I'm beginning to think the 'best' solution is actually to burn the tracks I can to CDs and buy her a new CD player with big buttons, but maybe there's something I haven't thought of?
Get a Raspberry Pi or a BeagleBone Black and make one.
The linked one's a little under-engineered; had I built something like this for my own mother, I'm sure she would have preferred five nice big chunky buttons (in order: track backwards, fast rewind, play/pause, fast forward, track forward) over a single button overloaded to make press-and-hold do something different from press.
Make it about the size of a paperback book and stick a half-decent speaker in it as well.
posted by flabdablet at 4:34 AM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
The linked one's a little under-engineered; had I built something like this for my own mother, I'm sure she would have preferred five nice big chunky buttons (in order: track backwards, fast rewind, play/pause, fast forward, track forward) over a single button overloaded to make press-and-hold do something different from press.
Make it about the size of a paperback book and stick a half-decent speaker in it as well.
posted by flabdablet at 4:34 AM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, and give it a real on/off switch, preferably a nice big metal toggle type, with a light that comes on when it's on. Elderly people feel much more secure when their machinery doesn't try to make their decisions for them.
posted by flabdablet at 4:38 AM on November 20, 2014
posted by flabdablet at 4:38 AM on November 20, 2014
Also, a real volume knob with a real potentiometer behind it. Not some fancy schmancy never-stops-spinning optical encoder nonsense.
A switch pot, where turning the volume control all the way to the left until it clicks turns the thing off, would probably be fine as well if you don't like the on/off toggle switch design.
Obviously the device should remember what it's doing at any time, so switching it off and on again should make it pick up exactly where it left off. The illusion you want is that there's a physical tape cartridge inside.
posted by flabdablet at 4:43 AM on November 20, 2014
A switch pot, where turning the volume control all the way to the left until it clicks turns the thing off, would probably be fine as well if you don't like the on/off toggle switch design.
Obviously the device should remember what it's doing at any time, so switching it off and on again should make it pick up exactly where it left off. The illusion you want is that there's a physical tape cartridge inside.
posted by flabdablet at 4:43 AM on November 20, 2014
Response by poster: Thanks for this: I'm trying to avoid buying a 'special needs' device as I know she'll be offended by it (she's not that old, she'll say!). She's fine with normal sized buttons on things like CD players or DVD players, and her eyesight is perfectly OK - it's the fiddlyness of tiny lock buttons, and the scrolling/touchscreen swiping she finds hurts her hands.
I can also only dream of the skills/time to build something, it's really not an option for me!
posted by AFII at 5:29 AM on November 20, 2014
I can also only dream of the skills/time to build something, it's really not an option for me!
posted by AFII at 5:29 AM on November 20, 2014
She's fine with normal sized buttons on things like CD players or DVD players, and her eyesight is perfectly OK
Then get her a regular old MP3 player. She'll get used to it. If you choose the right material to impress her (something funny? some music she loves?) she will think it's worth learning.
Does someone else in the house have access to a computer? She'll still have to plug it in for updates. And recharging? Or are you going to have her changing batteries?
Maybe you need to get a tabletop mp3 radio with big dials and so on.
posted by pracowity at 5:46 AM on November 20, 2014
Then get her a regular old MP3 player. She'll get used to it. If you choose the right material to impress her (something funny? some music she loves?) she will think it's worth learning.
Does someone else in the house have access to a computer? She'll still have to plug it in for updates. And recharging? Or are you going to have her changing batteries?
Maybe you need to get a tabletop mp3 radio with big dials and so on.
posted by pracowity at 5:46 AM on November 20, 2014
Best answer: yeah, i'd consider getting a cd player (or DVD player or cd boombox) that will play MP3 CDs and then just send her a new CD every month with podcasts on it in whatever order you want.
posted by noloveforned at 6:17 AM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by noloveforned at 6:17 AM on November 20, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: She'll have no trouble with that, and she'll enjoy getting stuff in the mail from you. Go that way.
posted by flabdablet at 7:11 AM on November 20, 2014
posted by flabdablet at 7:11 AM on November 20, 2014
There are a number of apps for iOS that are intended for "eyes-free" playing of music while driving, that tend to have a simple, programmable gestural interface. Here's a link to a page that has links to a number of them. I don't have one in particular to recommend, but this might be a decent solution (that would probably work well even on a first generation iPad).
Yes, this solution involves a touch-screen. Still, it might work.
posted by doctor tough love at 7:24 AM on November 20, 2014
Yes, this solution involves a touch-screen. Still, it might work.
posted by doctor tough love at 7:24 AM on November 20, 2014
Best answer: There are a TON of really MP3 players that are suitable, and even more criteria you might not think about, so I'd suggest you fiddle around with the Anything But iPod comparison site. Click on any of the green button/menu headers on the left to open them up, and start filtering by features that matter to you and your mum.
Here's a similar question in another forum, for further ideas.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:00 AM on November 20, 2014
Here's a similar question in another forum, for further ideas.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:00 AM on November 20, 2014
How about an iPod nano (the one on the far left here)? I have one--bit small, but there are very few buttons (fwd/back, vol up/dn, play/pause). The off/on switch is very small but can be left on always, syncs with iTunes of course, has a clip to attach to a shirt/belt/pocket, virtually indestructible. Available for cheap-as on ebay or whatever I'd think.
If you're in Canada I might be able to give it to you (it was a gift to me, I'd need to check that the giver wouldn't be offended--it's been supplanted by my phone for playing mp3s)--no headphones though, they died. Not worth the customs fees of shipping it across the border I think.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 12:03 PM on November 20, 2014
If you're in Canada I might be able to give it to you (it was a gift to me, I'd need to check that the giver wouldn't be offended--it's been supplanted by my phone for playing mp3s)--no headphones though, they died. Not worth the customs fees of shipping it across the border I think.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 12:03 PM on November 20, 2014
Response by poster: (I have tried her with my iDevices and they were all awkward for her)
I had not thought about the pleasure of getting regular CDs in the post, that's a really nice idea. I think a CD player and some burning is what will do the trick after all.
posted by AFII at 1:00 PM on November 20, 2014
I had not thought about the pleasure of getting regular CDs in the post, that's a really nice idea. I think a CD player and some burning is what will do the trick after all.
posted by AFII at 1:00 PM on November 20, 2014
Best answer: Watching with interest because I'm researching the same thing for my grandfather for holidays (shh, don't tell).
So far I am leaning towards a Sansa Clip+, because I got one for my mom and the buttons seem manageable (although the screen is very limited). I'll probably make some batch files to organize files on it, here is a blog post that I found that explains the format and naming conventions that it wants. (I'm also planning on getting standalone speakers for the thing, which will take care of the volume control, and forming it into some sort of boombox style thing.)
posted by anaelith at 7:51 PM on November 20, 2014
So far I am leaning towards a Sansa Clip+, because I got one for my mom and the buttons seem manageable (although the screen is very limited). I'll probably make some batch files to organize files on it, here is a blog post that I found that explains the format and naming conventions that it wants. (I'm also planning on getting standalone speakers for the thing, which will take care of the volume control, and forming it into some sort of boombox style thing.)
posted by anaelith at 7:51 PM on November 20, 2014
(anaelith same offer if it fits your needs)
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:51 PM on November 20, 2014
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 8:51 PM on November 20, 2014
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The one we have has giant, easy to use buttons that you can modify from an 'easy' level to a 'very easy' level with a flip down top that covers all but the most basic buttons. They can play audio from thumb drives and memory cards as well as CDs and MP3s on disc.
There is a good Wikipedia article here that talks about some options for playback of files of the DAISY standard (the player in the photo is similar to the one we have.) Are you in the UK? I found this website that sells players and looking at this there seem to be a few different types. Also, perhaps your mum is eligible to have one provided to her through a community service. I hope that helps.
posted by k_tron at 1:46 AM on November 20, 2014 [1 favorite]