How do people manage to keep track of their mobile phones

petra

dotpocka

dont have one . not that special
check the messages once in a while
dont need a umbilicalcord

It’s a badge of honour on GN not to use 21st century tech devices 🤦🏼‍♀️

Of course I have to have a mobile phone. I have access to no other type of phone. I rarely instigate a phone call when I am out, and would not dream of having it on view when with friends, but I need it for delivery details, sitting in comfort in the evening, chatting with friends, making appointments and all the htings we used to use land lines for.

Finding my phone isn't the problem. Its keeping it with me so that I hear it that is the problem and it is no help to find that I have left it at DDs, which I will probably know, if I need it now and DD lives 3 miles away.

I think the real problem is that mobile phones with their tiny touch screens and tiny electronic touch keyboards require me to do things I have great difficulty doing, numb fingertips and most of all my dyspraxia, which means I am truly cackhanded, do not fit well with mobile phones. my fingers only approximately hit keys and my back problem mean that sometimes my fingers spasm and do several repeats of the same number/letter. I also have problems with transposing letters, numbers.

All these problems are manageable on a laptop or desk computer with a full sized keyboard, but I physically struggle to use the keyboard on a mobile phone and I am very loathe to do anything complicated on a tiny keyboard where half my interactions will be mis-strokes. I have the same problems with a tablet.

It is not that i do not want to use my mobile phone. I was an early adaptor and bought my first smartphone shortly after they were first introduced, but then came up against my own physical limitations.

So at the moment I am trying to simply remember to keep it near me.

Why do you need to carry your phone with you all the time?

Just leave in a central place, volume turned up.

If you don’t answer the call, then the caller will leave a message

Since getting rid of our landline I too keep missing calls, so I’m interested in the suggestions. When away from home I use a little cross body phone bag which leaves my hands free and also hold my keys. At home thephone is placed on or next to the charging stand where I can sometimes hear it. My watch vibrates if there is a call ( and I’m not far from the phone) which is useful. I mostly do not hear the phone itself ringing.

Jaxjacky

One of the things I think about in having my mobile on me is the ability to call for assistance in any area of the house, garden, car etc. should I need it.

When I fell in the garden I was cutting the grass and had no phone. It was lucky I was eventually able to get up as no one would ever have heard me or noticed I was missing.Cracked rib and the start of my bad hip!

I still have a landline, so if anyone really needs me urgently they know to ring on that. In any case, the ringer on my mobile is by default on silent and I rarely remember to put it back on! If it rings I rarely manage to answer it in time, but I can see who called and ring them back if necessary - or ignore it.
I do like to have it on me if I go upstairs in case I need to call for help, but I often forget. Useful reminder to think about some of the ideas here for carrying it more effectively. Thanks.

I'm devoted to my phone and it's pretty much with me all the time, either in a pocket or in a little cross body shoulder bag .
It always goes out into the garden with me,, in it's bag.
Someone above suggested a bum bag and I think that is a good suggestion.

I think the real problem is that mobile phones with their tiny touch screens and tiny electronic touch keyboards require me to do things I have great difficulty doing, numb fingertips and most of all my dyspraxia, which means I am truly cackhanded, do not fit well with mobile phones.

M0nica have you tried using a foam-tipped stylus to tap the keys with?
I don't have your physical problems, but I often find I miss the appropriate key with my finger tips.

M0nica, would it be worthwhile looking into some of the smartphones which are designed to be easier to use by older people or those who find them a bit more difficult to use? I know Doro make phones like that - just a suggestion.

I take it you're not a teenager, M0nica*?!

Just found mine behind a cushion on the sofa when I came into the sitting room with a coffee. Sometimes I have to phone it from DH's phone or the house phone (yes, we still have a landline, we're very old-fashioned) in order to locate it.
Mostly it's left on the kitchen table where the chargers are.

V3ra

^I think the real problem is that mobile phones with their tiny touch screens and tiny electronic touch keyboards require me to do things I have great difficulty doing, numb fingertips and most of all my dyspraxia, which means I am truly cackhanded, do not fit well with mobile phones.^

M0nica have you tried using a foam-tipped stylus to tap the keys with?
I don't have your physical problems, but I often find I miss the appropriate key with my finger tips.

The foam tipped styluses (styli) are good but they do tend to hit the wrong letters quite often.

Styluses are useful, I find.

How about a nice pinny with a pocket in the front, like my mum used to wear😬

I've no smart phone, a dumb phone resides in the kitchen on an island, the other dumb phone is at my husband's office desk. The dumb phone takes messages, I can easily see the light blink. I call on a land line.

I only use a phone if I leave our property, no reception inside.

I HATE smartphones. I can't operate the blasted things. Total brain fog. Also mine (Motorola) is incredibly heavy. Arthritis in wrists makes carrying the wretched thing around even worse and unlikely to happen. So it is downstairs and I am up.

I go to bed and then fret that there might be a fire and I have no means to contact anyone. No, I do not remember to take the blasted thing with me. Anyway, reception is so atrocious, it is not worth it.

You posters who take it everywhere, do you really want to have a conversation with anyone whilst you are sitting on the loo? Just asking!

dalrymple it’s not obligatory to answer it!

Allira

Styluses are useful, I find.

I cannot hold a stylus between my fingertips because of the numbness.

Oh, I see.

I find it easier than using fingers and find typing with fingers can cause numbness in fact.

V3ra

^I think the real problem is that mobile phones with their tiny touch screens and tiny electronic touch keyboards require me to do things I have great difficulty doing, numb fingertips and most of all my dyspraxia, which means I am truly cackhanded, do not fit well with mobile phones.^

M0nica have you tried using a foam-tipped stylus to tap the keys with?
I don't have your physical problems, but I often find I miss the appropriate key with my finger tips.

I di think of that, but I need a phone with SatNav, and I do use the internet as well on occasions. I do really want a fully functional smartphone, but easier to operate - and I need to remember to have it with me!

Check out the Dora ones, as I suggested earlier in the thread.

ViceVersa

Check out the Dora ones, as I suggested earlier in the thread.

I have looked at them a number of times over the years. I do not want a phone with reduced functionality. .

However my main need as exressedin my OP is how people remember to carry their phone with them all the time. It makes me feel like a dog on a lead.

I don’t think you need to carry it at all times though.
Have it nearby- ish, ie upstairs somewhere if you are spending any time there, nearby in the kitchen, again if you are there for more than a couple of minutes or in your sitting room or garden. Unless your house is massive, the hall table should be reasonably central so it could sit there. Turn the ringtone volume up if you think you might miss it (but remember to turn it down or off if you are at a friends house or eg in a cinema.)
I don’t see the problem!
And the bottom line is, callers can leave you a voicemail if you don’t hear them if it is important.

I will not be made a slave to a little device so I dont carry a phone around with me. There are several landline handsets dotted around my house and they have to suffice. If someone rings the smartphone and misses me I can email or text them.

I forgot to say my phone has a case that covers the front ( opening like a book) so the key pad is is protected.

I don’t carry my phone around with me all the time whilst at home . I have an Apple Watch which rings when my phone rings . So I can talk on that if I’m upstairs and my phones downstairs. In fact that’s better for me as my phones often on silent . I have it on silent at night and forget to switch it over.

I have a poor memory - always have. We have a purpose built little shelf by the front door for my phone and charging base. Anything I need to take with me when I leave the house is put visible ( not concealed in packaging) by the door - and if needed on the door mat so I ( or household members) cannot leave without at least moving the item out of the way. DH carries his phone ( in a holster) when awake on his belt.
The times I forget my phone are when it’s on charge elsewhere such as in the car or upstairs -(I don’t usually take mine to bed as DH does) I have not solved that one!