Urai86close at a distance: technology help for older relatives

An independent reference about technology for older relatives. We are not a bank, a phone carrier or a support service, and we are not connected with the former site on this domain.

Glossary

Glossary

When you explain technology over the phone, half the trouble comes from the words. You say "notification," and Mom thinks of a letter from the doctor's office. Here are the terms that come up most often in settings and in conversations about safety, with short explanations that are easy to put into your own words.

Agree to call each button by one name, and half the misunderstandings will disappear on their own.

— From the editors

How this section works: definitions are brief and not tied to specific devices. Terms are grouped by meaning, not alphabetically.

Screen and settings

Accessibility features
A section of settings that collects features for ease of use: larger text, a screen magnifier, read-aloud, a simplified mode, touch highlighting. The section may be named differently, but almost every phone has one.
Home screen
What you see after unlocking the phone: app icons, and sometimes the time and weather. It can be set up so that only the essentials are in view.
Notification
A short message from an app or the system that pops up at the top of the screen or appears on the lock screen. You can turn off notifications for apps that are only a distraction.
System update
A new version of the phone's software from its manufacturer. Updates fix security holes but sometimes change how menus look, so afterward it's worth checking the text size and home screen.

Data and connections

Backup
A copy of photos, contacts and other data stored separately from the phone. If the device is lost or broken, the data can be restored.
Cloud storage
A place to store files on internet servers, available from different devices once you sign in to your account. Handy for backing up photos.
Messaging app
An app for texting, voice messages and calls, including video calls, over the internet. For an older person, it's easier to stick with just one.
Screen sharing
A feature that lets the other person on a call see your phone's screen. Turn it on only with consent, and turn it off right after the call.

Access and safety

Verification code
A one-time set of characters sent in a message that you use to confirm a sign-in or a transaction. Never share it with anyone, even someone who says they work for the bank.
Two-step verification
A way of signing in where, besides the password, you confirm it's you a second time, for example with a code from a text message. It protects the account if someone learns the password.
Remote access
The ability to control a phone or computer from a distance. To help family, it's acceptable only with their consent, and it should never be given to strangers.
Fake link
A link to a page that pretends to be a bank, store or delivery service website in order to trick you out of a password or card details. It most often arrives in an unexpected message.
  • Guides

    Practical how-tos: larger text and a simple home screen, quick-dial for family, video calls, photos and passwords. Plus our article catalog.

  • Safety

    Calls "from the bank," messages about "payments" and "gifts," requests for a code or to install an app — how to spot them and what to do.

  • Tools

    What helps when you support an older relative: a paper cheat sheet, a phone stand, a charger by the bed, a tablet for video calls and a written list of numbers.

  • Comparisons

    Phone, tablet or computer; helping in person, over the phone or with screen sharing; a paper cheat sheet, a video or a voice note — what works when.

  • Questions

    Answers about this reference, about phones and service for an older person, and about protecting your family from phone scams without extra worry.

Sources

  • Accessibility help pages from phone manufacturers (in general terms)
  • Bank safety tips for customers (in general terms)
  • Urai86 editorial materials

We write in general terms, based on our editorial understanding of the topic as of the date this page was prepared. Phone and tablet menus change from one version to the next, so look for the exact setting names on your own device, and for anything about an account or card, call your bank at its official number.