2009 Kyocera K003

Accessibility and usability come first

	CDMAEVDO Network	N/A Mobile TV	NFC None
	N/A Biometry	2 Megapixel	N/A Optical Zoom
	167ppi 240 x 400px	2.8" Screen Size	TFT LCD Type

It's the year 2009 #pastfuturetechnology.

Yesterday I covered the W45T and its accessibility features, and today I'm introducing you all to Kyocera's ?easy" line as used on KDDI au.

The K003 is a designated ?easy" device and so deemed suitable for people that may be a little more challenged in using a mobile phone when compared to the average user. This doesn't need to address any particular person but is usually understood to be elderly individuals or people with other mental or developmental disabilities that can do with a little extra support.

In line with this the K003 favours usability over a grand design, with more descriptive keys, a larger external display and additional buttons and colour codes to allow the user to be guided through the adjusted menu.

The ?on/off" button is actually a switch which has been separated from the ?hang up" button, where it is usually found. There are three quick-access buttons labelled 1,2 and 3 under the screen and colour codes on the menu correspond to their equivalently coloured hardware keys.

Fonts are naturally larger and there is more emphasis on accessible colour contrast. Menus are in a linear order instead of a grid, with a larger font and ?tooltip" like descriptions. The camera is 2Mpx, and the screen is a 2.8" TFT LCD with ?only" 240 x 400 px in resolution, but the phone allows for external storage expansion via microSD. Camera options have been greatly simplified and choices limited, but that's not a bad thing – you choose 240 x 400 or the full 2Mpx, why should there be a need for anything else?

Really a lot of thought has gone into this type of device and though not unique, I feel that these are part of the usual offering in Japan and don't require users to go digging for them.

What are your thoughts and experiences with these specialty phones?

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