Children And Senior Citizens Emerge As A Prospering Market For Smartphones and Wearable Smart Devices

The Chosun Ilbo reported on Sept. 18 that children and senior citizens are now the prospering market for smartphones and wearable smart devices.

For children, smartphones are being developed to allow parents to block obscene content, monitor their children's locations and contact emergency response units when needed.

Consumers in their 20s and 30s account to almost 100 percent of the market, while the smartphone usage of the elderly market is at 19.9 percent, qualifying them as potential customers as the gross market for smartphones and smart devices become permeated.

Since the release of wristwatch-shaped T Kids Phones by SK Telecom in July, the company has sold over 220,000 devices that notifies parents once their children cross two kilometers beyond a safe zone.

Telephone company KT Corporation, formerly known as Korea Telecom, also developed a wearable smart device in August for children that allow them to call up to 20 people who have been pre-picked.

Some devices are also being developed with special consideration to the elders. This year, tech giants LG Electronics and Samsung created folder-type smartphones for senior citizens who are not used to using touch screens. The folder-type gadget is equipped with keyboards that may be used to open smartphone apps.

SK Telecom has also created a wearable smartphone for elders that may be attached to the wrist and controlled remotely to allow their children to call for assistance once their elderly parents cannot be contacted.

CBC News also noted on May 7 that smartphone apps for monitoring children in South Korea is becoming a hit among parents.

However, technology journalist Carmi Levy pointed that parents should not let their children be aware of their use of monitoring apps to avoid risking violating their trust or to explain to them that the move is just to help them in cases of stolen or lost mobile devices.

"As long as you have open and honest conversation with them about tracking software as well as everything else," said Levy, "using a cellphone will be a positive experience, not a negative one."