Abstract:
The present invention relates to user interfaces for smartphones and tablet computers generally. Particularly, the invention relates to user interfaces for smartphones and tablet computers optimized for use by the elderly and the vision impaired.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application takes benefit of U.S. Prov. App. No. 61/910899 filed Dec. 2, 2013 and hereby incorporates it in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to user interfaces for smartphones and tablet computers generally. Particularly, the invention relates to user interfaces for smartphones and tablet computers optimized for use by the elderly and the vision impaired. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The elderly and the vision impaired have a need to use smartphones and tablet computers as pressing as their younger peers. These devices are an integral part of daily life for people of all ages. Indeed, they have become a primary human tool for the maintenance of human contact and socialization in Western societies. As a result, if denied effective access to these devices by means of diminishing visual of cognitive ability, seniors and the vision impaired run a risk of psychological isolation and personal isolation. 
         [0004]    The dawn of the century brought near ubiquity in terms of cell phone usage; tablet computers became nearly ubiquitous a decade later. As a result, today&#39;s seniors and vision impaired individuals were pre-seniors and their normally sighted peers. As a result of the last decade they became consistent users of smartphones and tablet computers, weaving them as they did into the fabric of their personal lives. As these individuals began to age, and the inevitable age-related impairment of sensory and cognitive systems began, these individuals have become increasingly less comfortable with the devices that had become integral to their lives. 
         [0005]    While cell phone and smartphone products like the Jitterbug® have been directed at this growing group of seniors and the vision impaired, these products jettison much of the functionality this new cadre of seniors and vision impaired individuals became familiar within the preceding decade. Simply put, today&#39;s smartphones designed for seniors and the vision impaired are too simple for today&#39;s savvy seniors and vision impaired individuals. Other products have deployed user interface elements that seek to accentuate the recognition of displayed information by means of tactile or audible feedback or by increasing the size of the displayed elements. This by itself is a useful, but incomplete solution. 
         [0006]    What is needed therefore, is a user interface for smartphones and tablet computers that retains the broad functionality of today&#39;s mainstream smartphones and tablet computers, but is designed to interact with seniors and visually impaired users in visually and operationally more recognizable, obvious, and consistent ways. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a user interface for smartphones and tablet computers that: 1) Generally increases the size of the visual elements with which the user interacts to a range of sizes that they are recognizable by both senior citizens and those vision impaired individuals with the less-dire visual impairments commonly associated with advancing age; 2) Limits and regularizes the number of interface elements displayed by the user interface at any one time; and, 3) Standardizes the location and position of the user interface elements both at the level of the operating system and at the level of the individual applications, so that the user interface presented by the operating system and the user interfaces presented by each application are all visually similar, thus requiring no conscious effort to scan varying arrangements of displayed user interface elements to determine where the functional elements are. While the applications offered by the device run the full gamut of applications offered by today&#39;s smartphones and tablet computers, the user interfaces associated with these applications are systematically simplified in terms of user interface function and interactivity, so that seniors and the vision impaired will feel more comfortable with the device and thus use the device, and applications, more extensively. These simplified, standardized user interfaces not only heighten recognizability, but they also heighten usability, because the consistency offered by the various user interfaces causes the operating system and applications to seem less complex from an operational point of view. Such a simplified interface may be implemented so that it merely provides an alternative to the user interface found on the device (e.g. the Android user interface) or completely supplants the installed user interface. 
         [0008]    It is thus a first object of the present invention to provide a user interface that allows access to the broad functionality presented by today&#39;s mainstream smartphones and tablet computers, but optimized to present that interaction to seniors and the visually impaired in more obvious, more readily perceptible, and utterly consistent ways. 
         [0009]    It is a second object of the present invention to provide a series of commonly used applications, including but not limited to: email, calendar, camera, media players, a picture viewer, and an Internet browser that present the broad functionality of today&#39;s mainstream applications as deployed on smartphones and tablet computers, but with user interfaces optimized to interact with seniors and the visually impaired in more obvious, more readily perceptible, and utterly consistent ways. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the home screen of the operating system user interface for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2 a    is a schematic view of a top level screen of an email application defaulted to a sub-level screen of an email application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can review a list of received emails. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2 b    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of an email application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can read an email. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2 c    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of an email application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can compose a new email. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2 d    is a schematic view of a sub-sub-level screen of an email application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can view a contact list and create new contacts. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3 a    is a schematic view of a top level screen of a calendar application user interface for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3 b    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a calendar application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can create a new birthday. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3 c    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a calendar application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can create a new appointment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3 d    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a calendar application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can create a new anniversary. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3 e    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a calendar application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can create a new reminder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3 f    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a calendar application user interface for use on a tablet computer where the user can view events associated with a particular day. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a top level screen of a camera application user interface for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5 a    is a schematic view of a top level screen of a media application browser user interface for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5 b    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a media player user interface for accessing music for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5 c    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a media player user interface for playing music on a tablet computer. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6 a    is a schematic view of a top level screen of a photo viewer application user interface for accessing and manipulating photo albums on a tablet computer. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6 b    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a photo viewer application user interface for reviewing and selecting a photo from a photo album on a tablet computer. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6 c    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a photo viewer application user interface for viewing, deleting, sharing a photo in an album on a tablet computer. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6 d    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of a photo viewer application user interface for creating and populating a new photo album on a tablet computer. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7 a    is a schematic view of a top level screen of an Internet browser application user interface for accessing Internet sites on a tablet computer. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7 b    is a schematic view of a sub-level screen of an Internet browser application user interface for accessing Internet sites on a tablet computer showing a particular webpage. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a top level screen of a game application browser interface for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a top level screen of an application browser user interface for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a task bar for use on a tablet computer. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a status dashboard user interface for use on a tablet computer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    The present invention relates primarily to smartphones and tablet computers and is directed towards providing a user interface for such devices optimized for seniors and the visually impaired.  FIG. 1  illustrates one such exemplary device  2000  (e.g. tablet computer  2000 ) implemented in accordance with the present invention which will be used to explain the various user interface features of the invention. It will be obvious that numerous variants of device  2000  are possible and all the features of device  2000  need not be included in all device embodiments. Also, while the exemplary implementation is a tablet computer  2000 , it will be obvious that other such devices including but not limited to: smart phones, cell phones, personal computers, personal digital assistants, televisions, and so on, and that exemplary devices implemented in accordance with the present invention are designed with relatively few physical actuators, buttons, switches, or controls, as the bulk of interactivity is mediated by means of touch screen active areas or “soft buttons” and other virtual controls displayed on the screen of device  2000 . Further, device  2000  may be provided with any one of a number of innate operating systems and user interfaces. For example, an Android® tablet or smartphone may be equipped with an Android operating system (e.g. Android 4.4 “KitKat”) featuring an Android user interface. Similarly, an Apple® iPad® may be equipped with an Apple operating system (e.g. iOS 7) featuring an Apple user interface. As such the present invention may be implemented so that it merely provides an alternative to the user interface innately found on the device (e.g. the Android user interface) or it completely supplants the installed user interface. 
         [0036]    Like all top level program interfaces, home screen  1000  appears in zone  2001  on the display of tablet computer  2000 .  FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of home screen  1000  of a home screen user interface as it appears in area  2001 . Home screen interface  1000  is comprised of eight touch screen active areas or soft buttons  1001  through  1008  ordered in two parallel rows of four soft buttons ( 1001  through  1004  and  1005  through  1008 , respectively). Soft buttons  1001  through  1008  access the following functions, respectively: 1) Soft button  1001  accesses an email application; 2) Soft button  1002  accesses a calendar application; 3) Soft button  1003  accesses a camera application; 4) Soft button  1004  accesses a media application browser; 5) Soft button  1005  accesses a photo gallery application; 6) Soft button  1006  accesses an Internet browser; 7) Soft button  1007  accesses a game application browser; and, 8) Soft button  1008  accesses a global (all) application browser. The surface area occupied by soft buttons  1001  through  1008  constitutes at least 20% of home screen interface  1000  and no more than eight soft buttons are present on home screen  1000 . 
         [0037]    The user interacts with soft buttons  1001  through  1008  by touching the particular soft button with a finger or a stylus. When touched, each soft button on home screen  1000  transitions program flow from the operating system routine that displays home screen  1000  to a top level application preloaded in the non-volatile memory of tablet computer  2000 . For example, if the user touches mail soft button  1001 , an email program is activated. When the user touches Internet soft button  1006  a web browser is activated, and so on. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2   a  though  2   d , when the user touches mail soft button  1001 , an email program is activated. The email program initially presents email top level user interface  1100 . Email top level user interface  1100  has three soft buttons  1101  through  1103  arrayed on one side used, respectively, to activate: 1) The email sub-level inbox view as shown in  FIG. 2   a;  2) The email sub-level compose view as shown on  FIG. 2 c   ; and, 3) The email sub-level more options view as shown in  FIG. 2 d   . The email program defaults to a state as if the user had touched inbox soft button  1101  and automatically presents email top level user interface  1100  preset to show the email sub-level inbox view as shown in  FIG. 2 a   . Email list area  1104  is initially populated with the most recent email messages  1105  through  1108  received. Each email message in email list area  1104  presents, at a minimum, the sender, the subject, and the first line of the message. Unread email messages (e.g.  1105  and  1106 ) are marked with an annunciator, in this case a black checkbox, indicating that they have not been read. Similarly, read email messages (e.g.  1107  and  1108 ) are marked with an annunciator, in this case a white checkbox, indicating that they have been read. If more than page full of email messages are available for review, the user may touch and swipe email list area  1104  in a vertical motion to scroll to newer and/or older messages. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, vertical scrolling soft button  1109   a  is provided. The left half of vertical scrolling soft button  1109   a  moves the list down (towards the most recent email) while the right half moves the list up (towards the oldest email). The surface area occupied by soft buttons  1101  through  1103  constitutes about at least 20% of email top level user interface  1100  and no more than three soft buttons are present on email top level user interface  1100 . Also, the number of email message list records visible in email list area  1104  may never exceed five. 
         [0039]    If the user touches an entry in email list area  1104  (e.g. email message  1105 ) the email sub-sub-level message view as shown in  FIG. 2 b    is activated. Each email message in email message area  1110  includes, at a minimum, the subject  1111 , from whom the email was sent and to whom it was addressed  1112 , and the message  1113 . Also, if attachments were transmitted with the email message, they appear in area  1114  where each may be downloaded by means of a separate download button. The user may reply to the email message, forward the email message, or delete the email message by touching soft buttons  1115   a ,  1115   b , and  1115   c , respectively. If more than one email message has been received, the user may touch and swipe email message area  1110  in a horizontal motion to scroll to newer and/or older messages. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft button  1109   b  is provided. The left half of horizontal scrolling soft button  1109   b  loads the next newer email, if any, while the right loads the next older email, if any. 
         [0040]    If the user touches compose soft button  1102 , the email sub-level compose view as shown in  FIG. 2 c    is activated. Each new, blank email message in email composition area  1116  includes addressee field  1117  for the email addresses of the individuals to whom the email message is directed and subject field  1119 . Addressees are selected and added by means of the add addressee soft button  1118 . The user enters the email text in message box  1120 , and after concluding the message, attaches any files to be sent with the message using attach files soft button  1121  or simply sends the message using send message soft button  1122 . 
         [0041]    If the user touches more options soft button  1103  the more options sub-level view as shown in  FIG. 2 d    is activated. Email top level user interface  1100  now has four soft buttons  1123  through  1126  arrayed on one side used, respectively, to activate: 1) The email sub-sub-level sent messages view; 2) The email sub-sub-level draft messages view; 3) The email sub-sub-level junk messages view; and, 4) The email sub-sub-level contacts view as shown in  FIG. 2 d   . The email program defaults to a state as if the user had touched sent messages soft button  1123  and automatically presents email top level user interface  1100  preset to show the sent messages sub-sub-level list view. The surface area occupied by soft buttons  1123  through  1126  constitutes about at least 20% of email top level user interface  1100  in this mode and no more than four soft buttons are present on email top level user interface  1100  are present in this mode. 
         [0042]    If the user touches contacts soft button  1126  contacts list area  1127  is activated. Contacts list area  1127  is initially populated with previously entered contact records. Each contact record (e.g.  1129 ) in contacts list area  1127  includes at a minimum the contact&#39;s name  1130  and the contact&#39;s email address  1131 . Other contact specific information such as the contact&#39;s social media id  1132 , for example, may be included. Add contact soft button  1128  is included to allow the user to add additional contacts to the contact list. If sufficient contacts have been entered to exceed the number that may be displayed in contacts list area  1127 , the user may touch and swipe contacts list area  1127  in a vertical motion to scroll to different contacts. Since such gestures are unfamiliar to, or difficult to execute for, many seniors and visually impaired individuals, vertical scrolling soft button  1109   a  is provided. The left half of vertical scrolling soft button  1109   a  moves the contact list down (towards the contact alphabetized first) while the right half moves the contact list up (towards the contact alphabetized last). Further, the number of contact list records visible in contact list area  1127  may never exceed five. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3   a  though  3   e , when the user touches calendar soft button  1002 , a calendar program is activated. The calendar program initially presents calendar top level user interface  1200 . Calendar top level user interface  1200  has four soft buttons  1201  through  1204  arrayed on one side used, respectively, to activate: 1) The calendar sub-level add birthday view as shown in  FIG. 3   b;  2) The calendar sub-level add appointment view as shown on  FIG. 3   c;  3) The calendar sub-level add anniversary view as shown in  FIG. 3 d   ; and, 4) The calendar sub-level add reminder view as shown in  FIG. 3 e   . When first activated the calendar program defaults calendar top level user interface  1200  to show the calendar top level view as shown in  FIG. 3 a   . Calendar area  1205  is populated with a schematic view of calendar  1206  representing the current month. The current day  1209  is highlighted and textually identified as such. Days on which birthdays, appointments, anniversaries, and reminders occur (e.g.  1210 ) are marked with an annunciator to show that an event is scheduled to occur that day. The user may touch and swipe calendar area  1205  in a horizontal motion to scroll to view future or past months. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, previous month horizontal scrolling soft button  1207  and next month horizontal scrolling button  1208  are provided. Previous month horizontal scrolling soft button  1207  displays the month prior to the month currently displayed in calendar area  1205  while next month horizontal scrolling soft button  1208  displays the month after the month presently displayed in calendar area  1205 . The surface area occupied by soft buttons  1201  through  1204  constitutes about at least 20% of calendar top level user interface  1200  and no more than four soft buttons are present on calendar top level user interface  1200 . 
         [0044]    If the user touches add birthday soft button  1201 , the calendar sub-level add birthday view as shown in  FIG. 3 b    is activated. Each new, blank birthday in birthday details area  1211  includes name field  1212  for the celebrant&#39;s name, and separate month, day, and year soft buttons  1213 ,  1214 , and  1215 , respectively, to allow the user to specify the month, day, and year of the birthday. Upload photo soft button  1216  allows the user to select a photo from a photo already stored on the device to use as a reminder. The selected photo is displayed in photo area  1217 . After entering the new birthday, the user touches save soft button  1218  to save the new birthday or cancel soft button  1219  to clear the new birthday just entered. 
         [0045]    If the user touches add appointment soft button  1202 , the calendar sub-level add appointment view as shown in  FIG. 3 c    is activated. Each new, blank appointment in appointment details area  1220  includes subject field  1221  for the subject of the meeting, location field  1222  for the location of the meeting, separate month, day, and year soft buttons  1223 ,  1224 , and  1225 , respectively, to allow the user to specify the month, day, and year of the appointment; and separate start and stop soft buttons  1226  and  1227 , respectively, to allow the user to designate a start time and a stop time for the appointment. The user may enter a brief textual note as a reminder in text box  1228 . After entering the new appointment the user touches save soft button  1229  to save the new appointment or cancel soft button  1230  to clear the new appointment just entered. 
         [0046]    If the user touches add anniversary soft button  1203 , the calendar sub-level add anniversary view as shown in  FIG. 3 d    is activated. Each new, blank anniversary in anniversary details area  1231  includes name field  1232  for the celebrant&#39;s name, and separate month, day, and year soft buttons  1233 ,  1234 , and  1235 , respectively, to allow the user to specify the month, day, and year of the anniversary. Upload photo soft button  1236  allows the user to select a photo from a photo already stored on the device to use as a reminder. The selected photo is displayed in photo area  1237 . After entering the new anniversary, the user touches save soft button  1238  to save the new anniversary or cancel soft button  1239  to clear the new anniversary just entered. 
         [0047]    If the user touches add reminder soft button  1204 , the calendar sub-level add reminder view as shown in  FIG. 3 e    is activated. Each new, blank reminder in reminder details area  1240  includes subject field  1241  for the subject of the reminder, location field  1242  for the location of the any activity associated with the reminder, separate month, day, and year soft buttons  1243 ,  1244 , and  1245 , respectively, to allow the user to specify the month, day, and year of the reminder; and separate start and stop soft buttons  1246  and  1247 , respectively, to allow the user to designate a start time and a stop time for the reminder. The user may enter a brief textual note as a reminder in text box  1248 . After entering the new reminder the user touches save soft button  1249  to save the new reminder or cancel soft button  1250  to clear the new reminder just entered. 
         [0048]    If the user touches a day on calendar  1206  on which a birthday, appointment, anniversary, or reminder occurs (e.g.  1210 ), the calendar sub-level day view as shown in  FIG. 3 f    is activated. The day selected and its month, year, and day in the week are displayed in date box  1252 . Each day details area  1251  includes birthday/anniversary reminder list  1253  and appointment/reminder list  1254 . Both birthday/anniversary reminder list  1253  and appointment/reminder list  1254  show a list birthday/anniversary events (if any) or appointment/reminder events (e.g.  1255  and  1256 ), respectively, for the selected day. 
         [0049]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , when the user touches camera soft button  1003 , a camera program is activated. The camera program initially presents camera top level user interface  1300 . Camera top level user interface  1300  has five soft buttons  1302  through  1305  arrayed on one side used, respectively, to: 1) Toggle the flash on and off; 2) Select or create a photo album into which the new photos are stored; 3) Actuate the imaging system to take a photo; 4) Toggle movie/still image mode; and, 5) Toggle between back facing and front facing cameras. When activated, the calendar program displays camera top level user interface  1300  which shows the image to be captured in image area  1301 . The user can zoom the composition in and out by means zoom in soft button  1202  and zoom out soft button  1203 , respectively. To use the camera program, the user touches album soft button  1303  and optionally selects or creates a photo album into which the new photos will be placed. If no album is selected, the new photos are placed in the default camera album. Next, the user touches reverse camera soft button  1305  to select the front facing or rear facing camera. Next, the user touches movie soft button  1304  to select still photo mode or movie mode. Next, the user touches flash soft button  1302  to turn the flash on or off. Finally, the user touches camera soft button  1306  to take a still photo or begin recording a movie. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 5   a  through  5   c , when the user touches media application browser soft button  1004 , a media application browser program is activated. The media application browser program initially presents media application browser top level user interface  1400 . Media application scroll box  1401  is comprised of at most eight touch screen active areas or soft buttons each of which launches a particular media application. In this exemplary embodiment, for example, a single row of soft buttons  1402  through  1405  launch the following media applications, respectively: 1) Soft button  1402  launches a music player application; 2) Soft button  1403  launches a Kindle® e-reader application; 3) Soft button  1404  launches a Netflix® streaming application; and, 4) Soft button  1405  launches a Skype® client. Delete application soft button  1406  and add application soft button  1407  are provided to allow the user to delete and add media applications to media application scroll box  1401 . If more than eight media applications are available, the user may touch and swipe media application scroll box  1401  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional media applications. Since such gestures are unfamiliar to, or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1408  and  1409  are provided. 
         [0051]    A typical media application is launched and used as follows: When the user touches music application soft button  1402 , a music player is activated. The music player initially presents music player top level user interface  1500 . Music player top level user interface  1500  has four soft buttons  1502  through  1505  arrayed on one side used, respectively, to show: 1) The music player sub-level song view as shown in  FIG. 5   b;  2) The music player sub-level albums view; 3) The music player sub-level my favorites view; and, 4) The music player sub-level artists view. The music player program defaults to a state as if the user had touched songs soft button  1502  and automatically displays music player top level user interface  1500  preset to show the music player sub-level songs view as shown in  FIG. 5 b   . Song list area  1501  is initially populated with a selection of four songs, e.g.  1506  through  1509 . Each song in song list area  1501  presents, at a minimum, the artist, and the title of the song. Other song specific information, such as album art, may be optionally included. If more than page full of songs are available for play, the user may touch and swipe song list area  1501  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional songs. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1510  and  1511  are provided. The surface area occupied by soft buttons  1502  through  1505  constitutes about at least 20% of music player top level user interface  1500  and no more than four soft buttons are present on music player top level user interface  1500 . Also, the number of song records visible in song list area  1501  may never exceed six. 
         [0052]    If the user touches an entry in song list area  1501  (e.g. song  1506 ) the music player sub-sub-level play view as shown in  FIG. 5 c    is activated. Each song in player area  1512  includes, at a minimum, the artist and the title of the song. Other song specific information, such as album art  1513 , is displayed if optionally included. The user plays and enjoys the selected song in the follow manner: The user touches play/pause soft button  1517  to begin playing the selected song. Subsequent alternate touches of play/pause soft button  1517 , pauses and resumes play, respectively, of the selected song. Next the user adjusts the listening volume to a comfortable level by means volume slider soft control  1514  or separate decrease volume and increase volume soft buttons,  1515  and  1516 , respectively. Skip back soft button  1518  and skip forward soft button  1519  can be used to rapidly advance backwards and forwards, respectively, as the selected song is played. Alternately, the user can touch and drag time slider soft control  1520  to select a particular passage in the selected song. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 6   a  through  6   d , when the user touches pictures soft button  1005 , a photo album browser program is activated. The photo album browser program initially presents photo album browser top level user interface  1600 . Photo scroll box  1601  is comprised of at most six touch screen active areas or soft buttons which are used to create new photo albums and access previously created photo albums. In this exemplary embodiment, for example, a double row of soft buttons  1602  through  1607  perform the following functions, respectively: 1) Soft button  1602  creates a new photo album; 2) Soft button  1603  opens a default system photo album for downloaded pictures; 3) Soft button  1604  opens a default system photo album for still photos and movies captured using the camera program; and 4) Soft buttons  1605  through  1607  open custom photo albums entitled “Grandkid Pics,” “Reunion Pics,” and “Christmas Pics,” respectively. If more than six items are available via photo album scroll box  1601 , the user may touch and swipe photo album scroll box  1601  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional photo albums. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1608  and  1609  are provided. 
         [0054]    If the user touches an entry in photo album scroll box  1601  (e.g. photo album  1607 ) the photo bowser sub-level album view as shown in  FIG. 6 b    is activated. Each photo in photo scroll box  1610  (e.g. photos  1611  through  1618 ) includes, at a minimum, a thumbnail of the photo. Other photo specific information is displayed if optionally included. If more than eight photos are available via photo scroll box  1610 , the user may touch and swipe photo scroll box  1610  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional photos. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1619  and  1620  are provided. 
         [0055]    If the user touches a photo in photo scroll box  1601  (e.g. photo  1611 ) the photo browser sub-sub-level photo view as shown in  FIG. 6 c    is activated and selected photo  1622  fills photo viewer box  1621 . The user reviews and enjoys selected photo  1622  and the other photos in the selected album song in the follow manner: The user reviews selected photo  1622  and may zoom out or in, respectively, using zoom out soft button  1623  or zoom in soft button  1624 , respectively. To delete selected photo  1622 , the user touches delete soft button  1625 . To share selected photo  1622  via social media applications, the user touches share soft button  1628 . Finally, when done reviewing selected photo  1622 , the user may select another photo by touching and swiping photo viewer box  1621  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional photos. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, next soft button and previous soft buttons,  1626  and  1627 , respectively perform analogous functions. 
         [0056]    If the user touches create album soft button  1602  in photo album scroll box  1601  the photo bowser sub-level create album view as shown in  FIG. 6 d    is activated and all unclassified photos (i.e. photos in the system default camera and download albums) fill unclassified photo scroll box  1630  (e.g. photos  1631  through  1638 ). Each photo includes, at a minimum, a thumbnail of the photo. Other photo specific information is displayed if optionally included. Each photo has a check box soft button designator allowing the user to select the photo (e.g. photos  1631 ,  1632 , and  1637 ) for inclusion in a new album. If more than eight photos are available via unclassified photo scroll box  1630 , the user may touch and swipe unclassified photo scroll box  1630  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional photos. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1639  and  1640  are provided. After selecting the desired photos, the user provides a name for the new photo album via new album name field  1641  and touches add photos soft button  1642  to place the selected photos in the new album. 
         [0057]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 7   a , and  7   b , when the user touches Internet soft button  1006 , an Internet browser program is activated. The Internet browser program initially presents Internet browser top level user interface  1700 . Browser window  1701  is comprised initially of at most six touch screen active areas or soft buttons,  1704  through  1709 , respectively. This group of soft buttons is designated as the user&#39;s favorite websites and is accessible by means of favorite websites tab soft button  1702 . Recently viewed tab soft button  1703  provides a similar group of recently viewed websites. If more than six websites are available via browser window  1701  when favorite websites tab soft button is actuated, the user may touch and swipe browser window  1701  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional favorite websites. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1710  and  1711  are provided. Alternately, the user may directly provide the URL of the desired website via URL field  1712  and touch go soft button  1713  to load the desired website. 
         [0058]    If the user touches a website accessible via favorite websites tab soft button  1702  (e.g. Google® website soft button  1704 ), touches a website soft button accessible via recently viewed websites tab soft button  1703 , or directly enters the URL of the desired website via URL field  1712  and touches go soft button  1713  to load the desired website, browser window  1701  subsequently displays the desired website. Here, the user may touch horizontal scrolling soft button  1714  to navigate to hierarchically higher, or hierarchically lower, websites in a chain of hot-linked websites. The left half of horizontal scrolling soft button  1714  loads the hierarchically higher website, if any, while the right loads the hierarchically lower website, if any. Home soft button  1715  returns to the user&#39;s designated home website while reload soft button  1716  reloads the current webpage to view any recent updates. Finally the user self designates a particular website as a favorite website by touching star soft button  1717 . Subsequently, the newly self-designated favorite website will appear when favorite websites tab soft button  1702  is touched. 
         [0059]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , when the user touches game application browser soft button  1007 , a game application browser program is activated. The game application browser program initially presents game application browser top level user interface  1800 . Game application scroll box  1801  is comprised of at most eight touch screen active areas or soft buttons each of which launches a particular game application. In this exemplary embodiment a single row of soft buttons  1802  through  1805  launch the following game applications, respectively: 1) Soft button  1802  launches a Lumosity® game; 2) Soft button  1803  launches a memory game; 3) Soft button  1804  launches a Sodoku game; and, 4) Soft button  1405  launches a Wordly® game. Delete game application soft button  1806  and add game application soft button  1807  are provided to allow the user to delete and add game applications to game application scroll box  1801 , respectively. If more than eight game applications are available, the user may touch and swipe game application scroll box  1801  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional game applications. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1808  and  1809  are provided. 
         [0060]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 9 , when the user touches application browser soft button  1008 , an application browser program is activated. The game application browser program initially presents application browser top level user interface  1900 . Application scroll box  1901  is comprised of at most eight touch screen active areas or soft buttons each of which launches a particular application. In this exemplary embodiment a double row of soft buttons  1902  through  1909  launch the following game applications, respectively: 1) Soft button  1902  launches an e-reader app; 2) Soft button  1903  launches the web browser; 3) Soft button  1904  launches a calculator app; 4) Soft button  1905  launches a cake recipes app; 5) Soft button  1906  launches a calendar app; 6) Soft button  1907  launches the camera app; 7) Soft button  1908  launches a clock app; 8) Soft button  1909  launches a contacts app. Delete application soft button  1910  and add application soft button  1911  are provided to allow the user to delete and add applications to application scroll box  1901 , respectively. If more than eight applications are available, the user may touch and swipe application scroll box  1901  in a horizontal motion to scroll to additional applications. Since such gestures are unfamiliar or difficult to execute for many seniors and visually impaired individuals, horizontal scrolling soft buttons  1912  and  1913  are provided. 
         [0061]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 10, and 11  all top level program interfaces appear in zone  2001  of the display of tablet computer  2000 . Simultaneously, a task bar appears in zone  2002  of the display. While all top level program interfaces and their sub-level and sub-sub-level child interfaces appear in zone  2001 , various static, universally accessible soft buttons appear in the task bar in zone  2002 . These remain substantially constant and fixed during the operation of tablet computer  2000 . The first is home screen soft button  2003 . When the user touches home screen soft button  2003 , home screen  1000  appears in zone  2001  on the display of tablet computer  2000 . Next, is back soft button  2004 . When the user touches back soft button  2004 , the sub-level or sub-sub-level interface displayed in zone  2001  reverts to the interface displayed previously, even if the interfaced displayed previously was generated by a different application. When the user has retraced a chain of interfaces and reached home screen  1000  in zone  2001 , back soft button  2004  does nothing. For example, if calendar sub-level add appointment view as shown on  FIG. 3 c    is displayed in zone  2001 , touching back soft button  2004  one time causes the calendar program to revert to calendar top level user interface as shown in  FIG. 3 a    in zone  2001 . Touching back soft button  2004  one more time causes the system to revert to home screen  1000  in zone  2001 . Subsequent presses of back soft button  2004  do nothing. When the user touches help soft button  2005 , a help screen contextually tailored to the user&#39;s present activities is displayed. For example, if calendar sub-level add appointment view as shown on  FIG. 3 c    is displayed in zone  2001 , touching help soft button  2005  causes a help screen directed at assisting the user with the process of adding a new appointment to the calendar, and so on. 
         [0062]    When the user touches Savi™ screen soft button  2006 , Savi screen top level user interface  2100  appears in zone  2001 . Within this, status dashboard area  2101  contains notifications of important information and links to specific websites or applications tailored to the particular user. In this exemplary embodiment, calendar status block  2102  shows essential calendar status including, but not limited to, the date, the time, the number of events pending that day, the time of the next event and so on. Facebook® status block  2103  shows essential Facebook status including, but not limited to, the number of unread posts. Weather status block  2014  shows essential weather and forecast information including, but not limited to, the temperature, current outlook, and expected high and low temperatures. Email status block  2105  shows essential email status including, but not limited to, the first two unread email messages, from whom they were received, and the first few words of each respective email message. If the user touches a particular status indicator  2102  through  2105 , the system displays the appropriate top-level, sub-level, or sub-sub-level interface of the appropriate application where the user can more fully review status. For example, if the user touches email status block  2105 , the system launches the email application showing the user&#39;s email inbox as shown in  FIG. 2 a   . Similarly, if the user touches calendar status block  2102 , the system launches the calendar application showing the user&#39;s calendar as presented in  FIG. 3 a   , and so on. Link blocks  2106  through  2108  represent links to a number of the user&#39;s selected favorite applications or webpages. For example, link block  2106  might launch a favorite news app (e.g. the Wall Street Journal Android App) or a favorite news webpage (e.g. www.bbc.com). Similarly, link block  2107  may launch a favorite shopping app (e.g. the eBay Android App) or a favorite shopping page (e.g. www.amazon.com), and so on.