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"Firefly for our oldest generation" on by nelanj
Pros: Minimal number of buttons help limit confusion, lightweight, easy to use
Cons: not voice-activated; no speakerphone; 911 button too exposed
Summary: Yes, this phone is being geared towards kids, but it seems like a really great phone for an elderly person who suffers from some dementia and has limited physical mobility. Afterall, which generation is going to be the majority population in the near future? Those over 70 years old.
The pros:
The "mom" and "dad" buttons could be covered up with opaque tape to have either a daughter's/son's name or small picture of that loved one for easy-to-use speed dialing.
The limit on call-times is good for the children whose elderly parent might make more calls than they can afford. However, it would be nice if this call-time feature could be deactivated or activated by the user's main caregiver. In my mom's case, we would encourage her to make as many phone calls as she wants.
Also, the call screening feature is great, since the phone can receive calls from only numbers in the phone book.
The phone weighs less than most cell phones out there. It wouldn't be such a problem for a frail older person to hold for a long time. In my mother's case, we would want to attach a cord to the phone, and hang the phone around her neck. The phone would be right there for her to use whenever she wants to use it or whenever someone calls.
Some cons and solutions:
The current address book might be a little complicated for someone with dementia, so that's where this phone could have two or three more speed-dial buttons for loved ones.
Another idea: Remove the speed-dial buttons all together, and make this phone completely voice-activated.
If voice-activation needs buttons to function, then have one big green button and one big red button. The user can hold down that button for an extended time to activate the voice feature, say the person's name they want to call. Or touch the button to answer a call. When the call is done, that red button could be used to end the call.
Obviously, a speakerphone feature would accompany the voice-activation feature.
As Kent German mentions, the 911 button is probably too exposed and could be accidentally pushed. It's a great button to have for an elderly person living alone; however, it's not needed for an elderly person living in a skilled-care community.
Otherwise, the Firefly just as it is, might very well be the friendliest phone out there for those suffering from dementia and limited mobility.
-- Review by a 40-year-old daughter of a mother who suffers from dementia and very limited mobility -
"This is a great idea" on by vennus
Pros: It was composed with the right features for parents with tweens
Cons: No Voicemail access
Summary: Just in case your tween is unavailable, you might need to leave some instructions on voicemail. A pre-programmed one-button access should be available for them to check voicemail.
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"Kiddies' complaints prove its worth" on by lebronjames
Pros: Safer than other cell phone for kids, less distractions (no games, messages, etc.)
Cons: Probably not bulky enough
Summary: You know, kiddies complain when you tell them their bedtime is 9:00, when you tell them only one helping of ice cream, when you tell them they're grounded until they get their grades up, etc. Of course they're going to complain about this phone, it doesn't allow them to engage in as many distractions from school. In fact, the fact that so many tots on this site are complaining only helps me make my decision to buy these for my kids instead of letting them use my old ones. If it weren't good for them, they wouldn't complain. School is more important that text messaging your friends, and if you disagree you can just go without. I know all of you whiners here disagree, but of course you're all probably teens or tweens yourselves.
And I wish it were bulkier, too. A cell phone is an expensive distraction. Maybe if they didn't look so cool you kids wouldn't be so in love with them. -
"Don't think of it as a cell phone!" on by mrotar
Pros: Size, simplicity of use
Cons: Speed dial for only 2 numbers
Summary: Don't think of this as a cell phone. In that regard, it's sadly lacking. Think of this as an emergency communication device for a young kid, amd it starts making sense. If we're talking about a young kid who's upset and needs to call home or a neighbor, this seems like just the ticket. I saw this device at the store the other day, and thought that if my kids were little, I'd have bought one for each of them.
Think of a kindergartner stranded at school, in tears. Think of the 3rd grader you dropped off at the ball field with the coach a half an hour ago, but not enough kids turned up to warrent a practice. The coach can neither leave the kid at the field nor offer a ride, and doesn't have all the neighbor's & cell numbers to get your kid a ride. But, the firefly has them programmed in. Problem solved.
Since the phone can only call the numbers programmed into the phone (by an adult using a PIN), there is a certain amount of peace of mind for parents.
This is clearly not a phone intended for older kids who want to download ringtones or play games or text message. I think it would be ideal for school-aged kids only up to about 3rd or maybe 4th grade.
If you've ever seen the phone, this is clearly the intended user. It's cute. For the 11 year old taking it to school, it isn't going to pass the coolness test, but I can see this becoming an accessory for every well-dressed preschooler or kindergartner.
(I can also see this becoming a niche item for the teen girls wearing animal backpacks & fuzzy slippers. Of course, they would program the phone themselves and use the Mom & Dad keys for their best F/M buds. I don't know how the address book works, but a teen might also be able to hide their phone numbers from their parents, because it might only display a name!)
But it's NOT a cell phone!!! -
"Good until a certain age" on by rainbowbrite684
Pros: easy to use, small/compact, emergency key, it's blue
Cons: bad for older children
Summary: I believe that this for is good, until a certain point. I am a teenage girl, and I do believe this is a good phone for children ages 5 - 12. Those are the approximate ages shown on the website for appropriate users of this phone. Basically, those are children it was meant for.
The parentally controlled phonebook, emergency keys and simplistic technology was all meant for younger users. If a parent decides that they want to buy their older (ages 14-17) son/daughter this phone, it shows the lack of trust they have for that child.
Keep in mind that this is an opinion of someone who got their first cell phone in the 8th grade (which was about 3 years ago). Before that my parents had cell phones, but I didn't. The first phone I got was monochrome and pretty basic, but I could enter my own numbers and what not. Now I have a really cool phone which has a camera and records videos and it has not brought down my grades. So that shouldn't be a a reason why you should purchase the FireFly for your child.
All in all, this phone was an innovative idea, it just should be used to a certain point. Meaning, I agree with the parents on here until a certain point.
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