BIG Launcher on modern phones can be difficult to use for seniors with reduced motor control. When they hold the phone firmly, they may accidentally touch the edges of the touchscreen and activate functions without meaning to.
Use safe borders
For this situation, BIG Launcher offers safe borders. On the BIG Launcher home screen, tap the three dots next to the clock, choose “Preferences”, and then choose “Appearance”. On this screen, tap “Safe border size” and choose the size of the safe borders. For demonstration, choose 10 percent. Black borders will appear on the left and right sides of the display. These areas do not react to touch, so the phone can be held more securely.
Why long presses can be a problem
Another common problem is that some users hold their finger on a button too long. Android may then treat the touch as a long press instead of a normal tap, so the button does not activate.
Enable short and long press control
You can change this in BIG Launcher. On the home screen, tap the three dots next to the clock, choose “Preferences”, and then choose “Accessibility”. In the first item, “Control”, change “Short press” to “Short and long press”.
How the changed control helps
Now, when the user holds a button for longer, the button activates automatically after about one second. The user does not have to distinguish precisely between a short tap and a long press, which can make BIG Launcher easier to control.