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The Silver Fern

Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.

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Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    wrote on last edited by Victor Meldrew
    #1

    OK. Mrs M's parents are self-isolating and we want to increase contact as much as possible. They are in their late-80's and can manage a landline and email (with difficulty). As a whanau, we use Whatsapp to messaging and sharing - but they don't.

    I'm looking to set up a Windows 10 PC with remote access/control and set up to run a messaging app on log-in, or a very big icon on the home screen, to make it as easy as possible to use.

    A smart-phone would be too tricky for them, so my current thinking is using an Android emulator to run Whatsapp (to avoid the need for a phone) but worry this could be a bit fiddly to use, even using a script.

    What I'm after is a cross-platform app we can all use - iPhone, Mac, Win10, Android - which doesn't need a phone but has much Whatsapp capability. Web-based solutions would be fine.

    Any thoughts from the techies really, really welcomed.

    dogmeatD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • antipodeanA Offline
    antipodeanA Offline
    antipodean
    wrote on last edited by antipodean
    #2

    Signal on android also functions on Windows 10, so it would feel like an instant messaging email to them, but with the benefit of full screen PC resolution.

    Download Signal

    Download Signal

    Download Signal for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    mooshld
    wrote on last edited by
    #3

    WhatsApp Has a windows 10 application You would need to install it on their phone as well but they could access it through their computer.

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to antipodean on last edited by
    #4

    @antipodean

    Thanks. Checked that out but it needs a phone to work, sadly.

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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to mooshld on last edited by
    #5

    @mooshld said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    WhatsApp Has a windows 10 application You would need to install it on their phone as well but they could access it through their computer.

    Thanks, but they don't have a smart-phone and I doubt they'd be able to manage keeping it on/charged up. If I cant get a solution i'll duct tape a phone to the laptop and keep it connected to the USB port for charging.

    Looking for a solution which is native to Windows 10 & other OS's, Seems to be bugger all out there.

    M 1 Reply Last reply
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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    mooshld
    replied to Victor Meldrew on last edited by
    #6

    @Victor-Meldrew said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    @mooshld said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    WhatsApp Has a windows 10 application You would need to install it on their phone as well but they could access it through their computer.

    Thanks, but they don't have a smart-phone and I doubt they'd be able to manage keeping it on/charged up. If I cant get a solution i'll duct tape a phone to the laptop and keep it connected to the USB port for charging.

    Looking for a solution which is native to Windows 10 & other OS's, Seems to be bugger all out there.

    skype?

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • ? Offline
    ? Offline
    A Former User
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    Webcam set up?

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to mooshld on last edited by
    #8

    @mooshld

    Yeah, looking at that, but I need something more closed-group.

    Currently looking at Slack.

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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to A Former User on last edited by
    #9

    @R-L said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    Webcam set up?

    It's the software which uses the (built-in) webcam. I'm trying for something which someone with mild dementia can use.

    Needs to be as saimple as "Open the PC and touch the screen" to initiate a call.

    ? 1 Reply Last reply
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  • ? Offline
    ? Offline
    A Former User
    replied to Victor Meldrew on last edited by
    #10

    @Victor-Meldrew said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    @R-L said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    Webcam set up?

    It's the software which uses the (built-in) webcam. I'm trying for something which someone with mild dementia can use.

    Needs to be as saimple as "Open the PC and touch the screen" to initiate a call.

    Ah OK, can't imagine the worry. Best of luck x

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to A Former User on last edited by
    #11

    @R-L said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    Ah OK, can't imagine the worry. Best of luck x

    Yep. Thanks. But we'll get there 👍

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  • V Offline
    V Offline
    Virgil
    wrote on last edited by
    #12

    Must be a bloody scary time for the elderly, those who live alone or at rest homes feel cut off and isolated the best of times. Can’t imagine what they are feeling now, given they are most at risk.
    All my grand parents are long passed on but there’s family members we are concerned for. Neighbours too.
    Hopefully govt agencies are working out proper strategies to give them as much chance to get through this, the dedicated shopping hour that some places are doing now is a great idea.

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • dogmeatD Offline
    dogmeatD Offline
    dogmeat
    replied to Victor Meldrew on last edited by
    #13

    @Victor-Meldrew not techy at all but have you considered an AI solution?

    I have Alexa and I can call or text simply by talking to her. Bit more of an investment but it's very user friendly and allows you remote control. Get a couple of Ring cameras and connect them as well and you can keep an eye on them as well.

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to dogmeat on last edited by
    #14

    @dogmeat said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    @Victor-Meldrew not techy at all but have you considered an AI solution?

    I have Alexa and I can call or text simply by talking to her. Bit more of an investment but it's very user friendly and allows you remote control. Get a couple of Ring cameras and connect them as well and you can keep an eye on them as well.

    Great thought. Will check that out.

    Thanks

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • RoninWCR Offline
    RoninWCR Offline
    RoninWC
    wrote on last edited by RoninWC
    #15

    Another that I would recommend from personal usage is Viber.

    It has an android, ios and windows version. For the Windows version, you have to have a mobile phone number to associate it to. So you set it up on a mobile phone and then the windows version is installed and linked to the one account by scanning the QR code with the Viber app on the mobile and you're done.

    admin

    Download | Viber

    Download | Viber

    My personal opinion is that Viber is much safer than many other instant messaging/video calling apps, including WhatsApp.

    Viber uses an encrypted person to person direct connectivity rather than using a server(s) in the middle like WhatsApp. This makes it more secure and more trustworthy IMO.

    One thing about WhatsApp, remember it is owned by Facebook and I really struggle to trust them as an organisation.

    Edit. Another advantage over WhatsApp is that once installed on Windows, it is not reliant on the mobile phone being on and/or present. So you can get them a cheap old phone with a SIM, use that number to install Viber and then the phone can be turned off and not needed again.

    WhatsApp for Windows needs you to have the phone on nearby and every now and then you need to confirm the connection by scanning in the QR code. It's a lot more painful this way than Viber.

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to RoninWC on last edited by Victor Meldrew
    #16

    @RoninWC

    Tks. Will keep that in mind as we move forward - didn't realize it was phone independent once set up. That's a big plus.

    I've had a look at Google Duo which seems to fit the bill for simplicity. Can set it up so it launches on boot and it has a really simple interface. Might try that as a start.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to Virgil on last edited by
    #17

    @Virgil said in Coronavirus & Messaging Apps - Help wanted.:

    Hopefully govt agencies are working out proper strategies to give them as much chance to get through this, the dedicated shopping hour that some places are doing now is a great idea

    Our local village has set up a FB group to co-ordinate shopping, prescription deliveries etc for older people. Grocery orders are taken over the phone and ordered online for those who can't do it themselves. Local supermarket has virtually waived delivery charges.

    Simple but really effective

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • CrucialC Offline
    CrucialC Offline
    Crucial
    wrote on last edited by
    #18

    I understand the distrust in FB but won’t FB messenger work off a webpage?
    You could set up temporary FB accounts to use for nothing except this.
    The Alexa idea is good though. I assume they have WiFi?

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor MeldrewV Offline
    Victor Meldrew
    replied to Crucial on last edited by Victor Meldrew
    #19

    @Crucial

    Really needs to be as simple as opening a laptop and touching a screen to call as we are dealing with failing mental capability.

    Planning to use Duo to start with but look to write some scripts to access FB Messenger functions as that interface is simple and easy to use.

    Thanks.

    KirwanK 1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • KirwanK Offline
    KirwanK Offline
    Kirwan
    replied to Victor Meldrew on last edited by
    #20

    @Victor-Meldrew might be some chrome extensions that sit on those messenger webpages to simplify the UI, worth a look

    I’ve used ones that allow you to remove HTML to declutter some sites too that might help.

    Victor MeldrewV 1 Reply Last reply
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