My mom can’t really use her phone anymore, so people who call her can’t reach her. I’m building something simple enough for her to use. Instead of building a whole new device, I’m making an app that works with a tablet and a familiar big-button phone.
The full video · 2 min 09 sec
The whole story.
I’m Ethan. My mom is 78 and lives in assisted living. She has advanced Parkinson’s and dementia, and she can’t really use her phone anymore. In this video I explain why I’m building HelloPorch and show what I’ve made so far.
Read transcript
My mom is seventy-eight years old. She has advanced Parkinson's and dementia and lives in assisted living. Over the last few years, the phone has turned into something she can't really use. Her hands have become slow and stiff. She forgets where her phone is, and more often than not, it's not even charged. So people call, but they can't reach her. My brother and I are lucky to live close by, so we see her a lot, but my mom's brother and sister live in another state. For them, the phone was how they stayed in touch. They still try to call, but it's gotten really hard for them to connect. So I'm building something for my mom. It's called HelloPorch. Think of a landline with speed dial, but with video. She presses one big physical button, and it immediately starts a video call. And when her siblings call her, HelloPorch answers automatically. There's no phone to find, no screen to unlock, no app to remember. I'm trying to make it feel familiar with as little for her to figure out as possible. I know other families are facing similar challenges, and I hope what I'm building can eventually help them too. I'll be sharing what I try and what I learn as I go. In the meantime, if someone in your family is finding it hard to stay in touch with loved ones, please send me a message. I'd love to see if HelloPorch can help.
In four short clips.
The same story, in four parts of about 30 seconds each.
1
Chapter 1 · 28 sec
Her phone got too hard to use.
My mom’s hands are slow and stiff. She forgets where her phone is, and it’s often not charged. So people call, and they can’t reach her.
Read transcript
My mom is 78 years old. She has advanced Parkinson's and dementia, and lives in assisted living. Over the last few years, the phone has turned into something she can't really use. Her hands have become slow and stiff. She forgets where her phone is, and more often than not, it's not even charged. So people call, but they can't reach her.
2
Chapter 2 · 26 sec
Her brother and sister live far away.
My brother and I live nearby, so we see our mom a lot. Her brother and sister live in another state, and the phone was how they kept in touch. They still call, but it’s gotten hard for them to reach her.
Read transcript
My brother and I are lucky to live close by, so we see her a lot. But my mom's brother and sister live in another state. For them, the phone was how they stayed in touch. They still try to call, but it's gotten really hard for them to connect. So I'm building something for my mom. It's called HelloPorch.
3
Chapter 3 · 30 sec
A landline with speed dial, but with video.
She presses one big button, and a video call starts. When her brother or sister calls, HelloPorch answers for her, so she doesn’t have to find or unlock anything.
Read transcript
Think of a landline with speed dial, but with video. She presses one big physical button, and it immediately starts a video call. And when her siblings call her, HelloPorch answers automatically. There's no phone to find, no screen to unlock, no app to remember.
4
Chapter 4 · 30 sec
For her first, and then for other families.
I want it to feel familiar, with as little as possible for her to figure out. I’m building it for her first, and I hope it helps other families too. I’ll share what I learn along the way.
Read transcript
I'm trying to make it feel familiar, with as little for her to figure out as possible. I know other families are facing similar challenges, and I hope what I'm building can eventually help them too. I'll be sharing what I try and what I learn as I go. In the meantime, if someone in your family is finding it hard to stay in touch with loved ones, please send me a message. I'd love to see if HelloPorch can help.
The Porch pilot
Help us test Porch.
The Porch app runs on your own compatible iPad or Android tablet, connected to a big-button phone. We’re inviting families to try it and tell us what works and what doesn’t.
Join the pilot Family members use the Porch app on iPhone or Android.
Waiting for the Porch keypad? It’s still a while away. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it’s ready.
