Compare

Ways to help a parent with technology, compared

Most families use several of these. Here is what each one is good at — including when something other than KinGlyph is the better choice.

Ways to help a parent with technology, compared
Approach	Works when you can't pick up	Shows how, not only tells	Right where the problem is	They can ask something new	Nothing to install for them	Cost
A sticky note or printed card	Yes: Yes	No: No — words only	Yes: Yes	No: No	Yes: Yes	Free
Phone calls and texts	No: No	Partly: Partly — a photo or a link	No: No	Yes: Yes	Yes: Yes	Free
A video call walk-through	No: No — you both have to be free	Yes: Yes, live	Partly: If they carry the phone to it	Yes: Yes	Partly: Usually already installed	Free
A remote-control app	No: No — you connect each time	Partly: You do it for them	Partly: Phones and computers only, not the TV	Yes: Yes, once connected	No: No — an app and permissions on their device	Free to paid
A paid tech-help service	Yes: Yes — someone else answers	Yes: Yes	Partly: Depends on the service	Yes: Yes	Partly: Depends on the service	Per visit or monthly
KinGlyph	Yes: Yes — your answer plays without you	Yes: Yes — your video, pictures or steps	Yes: Yes — a sticker on it, and a home page for the phone and computer	Yes: Yes — through the same sticker	Yes: Yes — their phone's camera opens it	Free to start; $8.99 a month for 30 Glyphs

A sticky note or printed card

Works when you can't pick up: Yes: Yes
Shows how, not only tells: No: No — words only
Right where the problem is: Yes: Yes
They can ask something new: No: No
Nothing to install for them: Yes: Yes
Cost: Free

Phone calls and texts

Works when you can't pick up: No: No
Shows how, not only tells: Partly: Partly — a photo or a link
Right where the problem is: No: No
They can ask something new: Yes: Yes
Nothing to install for them: Yes: Yes
Cost: Free

A video call walk-through

Works when you can't pick up: No: No — you both have to be free
Shows how, not only tells: Yes: Yes, live
Right where the problem is: Partly: If they carry the phone to it
They can ask something new: Yes: Yes
Nothing to install for them: Partly: Usually already installed
Cost: Free

A remote-control app

Works when you can't pick up: No: No — you connect each time
Shows how, not only tells: Partly: You do it for them
Right where the problem is: Partly: Phones and computers only, not the TV
They can ask something new: Yes: Yes, once connected
Nothing to install for them: No: No — an app and permissions on their device
Cost: Free to paid

A paid tech-help service

Works when you can't pick up: Yes: Yes — someone else answers
Shows how, not only tells: Yes: Yes
Right where the problem is: Partly: Depends on the service
They can ask something new: Yes: Yes
Nothing to install for them: Partly: Depends on the service
Cost: Per visit or monthly

KinGlyph

Works when you can't pick up: Yes: Yes — your answer plays without you
Shows how, not only tells: Yes: Yes — your video, pictures or steps
Right where the problem is: Yes: Yes — a sticker on it, and a home page for the phone and computer
They can ask something new: Yes: Yes — through the same sticker
Nothing to install for them: Yes: Yes — their phone's camera opens it
Cost: Free to start; $8.99 a month for 30 Glyphs

Where KinGlyph fits

The same question, asked again and again: how to get the TV picture back, set the thermostat, answer a video call. You show it once, and the sticker shows them from then on — at two in the afternoon or ten at night, without anyone picking up the phone.

Start free

When something else is better

Something broken or urgent: call them, or call for help.
Something you have to fix yourself, on their computer: a remote-control app.
A one-off question that will never come back: a phone call is quicker.
No phone with a camera in the house: make a free large-print card.