SINGAPORE \u2013 Mr Ho Khee Tong, 75, lives in an assisted-living flat managed by Red Crowns Senior Living, sharing the space with four other seniors and a live-in caregiver.<\/p>\n
By far the heaviest user of digital devices in the senior care home, he appreciates the perk of having fast Wi-Fi. When his roommates gather in the living room around the television, he rarely joins them.<\/p>\n
A retired commercial photographer and graphic designer who spent more than 20 years living in China, Mr Ho, who is divorced with adult children, is highly tech-savvy. <\/p>\n
On his laptop, he watches YouTube for news and streams Chinese dramas on Olevod. He also scrolls through TikTok and the Chinese social networking platform <\/b>RedNote, though he admits he is less interested in the latter.<\/p>\n
His iPhone 11 is rarely out of reach. By night, it doubles as his alarm clock and a lifeline, reminding him to take his medication for Parkinson\u2019s disease. By day, it is his compass and concierge, managing everything from online banking and navigating the city to choosing where, and even what, to eat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever my phone battery dips below 70 per cent, I make sure to charge it. I need it to never die when I\u2019m outside,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Mr Ho recalls a day when his phone stopped working.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy phone stopped working for a day. I was at a loss. It was terrifying and isolating,\u201d he says, adding that he was also surprised by his reaction. Years of relying on his phone in Beijing \u2013 for communication, navigation and payments \u2013 had carried over into retirement, making the device indispensable.<\/p>\n
Much of his daily routine now revolves around a WhatsApp group of more than a dozen old school friends and long stretches of solo time. He spends hours scrolling, watching videos or playing games, including Sudoku puzzles.<\/p>\n Mr Ho\u2019s iPhone 11 is rarely out of reach.<\/p>\n ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n There are drawbacks to his habit.<\/p>\n He has longstanding neck pain from years of computer work and carrying heavy cameras, which has worsened recently. He suspects extended phone use may be a factor. In January, he began seeing a chiropractor to deal with the pain.<\/p>\n Even so, Mr Ho does not view his screen habits as problematic.<\/p>\n \u201cThe benefits of technology are mostly good,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n He feels he has enough self-discipline to prevent himself from becoming addicted to screens.<\/p>\n \u201c(When you are addicted to something), you can\u2019t live without it. You miss it without a valid reason at moments when you\u2019re not doing anything physically. Just like a smoker thinking of cigarettes the moment he is free,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>