Stress Test: Jitterbug

In the race to equip consumers with the most advanced technology imaginable, one demographic was overlooked - the elderly. But service provider GreatCall and mobile phone maker Samsung are attempting to level the playing field with a straightforward device for the technically hesitant.

It's called Jitterbug, and what it lacks in leading-edge features, it makes up for in ease of use.

But what if a call needs to be placed quickly and efficiently? Should users default to a rotary, upgrade to a touchscreen or rely on Jitterbug? Minyanville put it through its paces to find out.

Pharmacy	Grandchildren	Moviefone	Roadside Assistance	Ambulance
Jitterbug: The large, easy-to-read keypad gives glaucoma patients an edge when calling to have prescriptions refilled.	Jitterbug: With enough room for an amped-up hearing aid, the Jitterbug makes it possible for meddling grandparents to detect bong use in the background.	Jitterbug: Flaws in voice recognition could direct the soft-spoken to My Bloody Valentine 3-D instead of a matinee presentation of The Reader.	Jitterbug: The handy dial tone feature notifies you that, yes, AAA just hung up before confirming your location.	Jitterbug: Routinely unplugging the phone charger for fear of starting a house fire results in a dead battery - and your demise.
Rotary Phone: Human error is rampant when dialing (literally) 10-digit prescription numbers. The next thing you know, Nana's high on Xanax.	T-Mobile Sidekick: "N33d sum $$$ 4 sk00l" isn't generally understood by people over the age of 50.	iPhone: Many iPhone applications offer film synopses with showtimes, thereby dissuading senior citizens from seeing the reverse-aging tease that is Benjamin Button.	OnStar: There's nothing like a soothing voice directly following a 10-mile-an-hour car accident.	Life Alert: Haven't you seen the ad? All. Senior. Citizens. Should. Have. Life Alert.
Edge: Jitterbug	Edge: Jitterbug	Edge: iPhone	Edge: OnStar	Edge: Life Alert