Smartphones have become an indispensable part of our daily lives, but it can still be easy to overlook their potential beyond conventional uses like talking on the phone, watching videos, taking photos and videos and browsing the internet. However, these pocket-sized powerhouses are capable of much more. This column will cover five lesser-known (yet intriguing!) ways to leverage your smartphone capabilities.
No. 1 Translation Tool — Smartphones can easily translate live conversations from one language to another. You can either download a translation application or simply pull up Google Translate and select the input and output languages. Your phone can then translate in real-time incoming English audio into written Japanese text.
No. 2 Document Scanner — Say goodbye to bulky scanners and tedious scanning processes. With just a few taps, your smartphone can effortlessly digitize documents, receipts and notes. Most smartphones come with a preinstalled scanner app, and many other options are available for download on iOS and Android platforms. Using a scanner app allows you to capture high-quality scans, enhance text readability and even convert scanned documents into editable formats like PDF or Word.
No. 3 Personal Safety Gadget — Enhance your safety with versatile smartphone apps designed to protect you. From discreetly alerting trusted contacts in case of emergencies to providing real-time location tracking and even emitting a loud alarm to deter potential threats, having your smartphone as a safety companion can be a lifesaver.
No. 4 Convenient Toolbox — If you are like me, forget going through your garage past your collection of old miso containers or kamaboko boards and rummaging through your toolbox for a measuring tape, compass, metal detector, etc. With augmented reality (AR) apps, your smartphone can now be a reliable measuring tool. AR apps go far beyond measuring distances, and some can be used for virtual home interior design, gaming, previewing furniture in your home before purchase, etc.
Other apps use your phone’s magnetometer sensor to detect fluctuations in the magnetic field, potentially indicating the presence of metal objects nearby. Thanks to the same magnetometer sensor, you no longer need to buy a compass. Your phone already has one preinstalled.
No. 5 Plant Care Assistant — Have a green thumb but struggle to keep your plants healthy? Your smartphone can come to the rescue with plant care apps that provide personalized tips and reminders based on your plants’ needs. With the advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, many plant care apps now only need a picture to detect the type of plant, diagnose any problem and offer guidance on watering schedules, sunlight requirements and fertilization techniques to help keep our plants healthy.
For more information, we invite you to access our free weekly virtual programming online at www.seniorplanet.org or call our toll-free national hotline at (888) 713-3495. It’s open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. ET and Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. ET.
Ryan Kawamoto is a regional program manager for Older Adults Technology Services from AARP, a national nonprofit behind the award-winning Senior Planet program. A longer version of this article was originally published on www.seniorplanet.org by Senior Planet’s resident “Techspert” Jonathan Ushindi Zaluke.
