Tablets

“We have given 2 tablets and subscriptions (Disney+ and Amazon Prime) to guests not currently experiencing homelessness but who have recently come from rehab to tenancies. Both chose to pay for their own wifi at home. One is using his tablet as a way to connect with his young child and hopes this will lead to greater custody access. The other is delighted with the new technology and is enjoying learning about it. I was not surprised by these results."

Tablets are portable devices larger than a phone. They have a touchscreen, which tends to be 8-13 inches. Tablets are useful as they are light, portable, easy to use and have a screen large enough for video calls and watching films. A tablet battery can be charged so you can take it with you and use it for a few hours without having to plug it in.

Tablets can be useful for education, watching TV shows, searching for jobs and accessing essential services. Some tablets can use a sim card so you can connect to the internet outside of your house, but these tablets are often more expensive. Usually, a tablet would be connected to Wi-Fi at home or public Wi-Fi in a community space. An iPad is an example of a tablet made by Apple.

Benefits

• Screen size: compared to a phone, a tablet offers a larger screen which is better for entertainment and education activities.

• LTE enabled: some tablets are LTE enabled, which means they can accept a sim card. However, these models will be more expensive that a wi-fi-only model.

• Accessibility: most tablets have good onboard accessibility features that can make it easier for people with impairments to use.

Limitations

• Storage space: onboard storage can be limited but the addition of a micro-SD card can be a welcome addition.

• Cost: tablets are usually more expensive than a phone and the higher value of the device can increase risk, especially iPads.

Considerations

• Operating system: Android.

• Memory card is essential as storage space quickly fills up with apps.

• A keyboard to improve accessibility for certain tasks e.g., creating a CV or education.

• LTE-enabled or wi-fi-only models.

• Consider connectivity options e.g. a mi-fi device, if you purchase a wi-fi-only device.

Target group

• People who prefer larger screens for accessibility reasons.

• People who can access the internet at home, either through home wi-fi or a mi-fi device.

"What did surprise us was thinking about accessibility- some members asked for tablets over a phone due to physical needs such as eye sight or only having the use of one hand."