Reddit mentions of inDigi® S2 0.66" LCD Smart Bluetooth V3.0 Headset Mini Phone w/Dialer Keypad for All iPhone Galaxy (US Seller)

>how confusing those can still get when you can't see the screen

a smartphone should have accessibility options in the settings that enable a talkback or tap to speak(reads the text in that area of the screen), which says in a voice what is on the screen, there are fully blind people that have no problems using smartphones

>But it also has the big disadvantage of being in one spot, and you're not always in one spot.

wireless hand sets are a thing, slight inconvenient having to carry it everywhere you go, yes

there are even some mini cordless headset type phones like this https://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-80057-11-Cordless-Headset-Phone/dp/B001GX6MJ8/ref=sr_1_36?qid=1568782629&s=electronics&sr=1-36

besides that what you are describing is a full on bluetooth input/audio device seem super complex, i guess you could make a modular system like a physical bluetooth phone dialpad with audio just using a bluetooth headset which would be somewhat easy I think although this would still require interacting the the smartphone to do other functions. Like a button to answer calls would be more difficult because is not a generic keyboard function like a number unless it could be something specific to a phone app

EDIT: I found this; https://www.amazon.com/inDigi%C2%AE-Bluetooth-Headset-Dialer-Keypad/dp/B00JCR0OHG

probably worse then a smartphone since it is super tiny, but that is the kind of device you are describing and wanting to make

>a smartphone should have accessibility options in the settings that enable a talkback or tap to speak(reads the text in that area of the screen), which says in a voice what is on the screen, there are fully blind people that have no problems using smartphones

Oh, no doubt - but the existence of a solution does not make it a universal solution. It's kind of like "braille exists, so of course she can still read, blind people read books all the time." But she lost her sight at 80, her ability to significantly change how she interacts with the world is limited. Her fingers aren't working all that great as it is. She can barely hold a smartphone without accidentally running the volume up or down without realizing she's doing it. Believe me, we tried. And some things - like announcing the name of who is calling or texting - definitely do work. But they're not a complete solution.

> I found this; https://www.amazon.com/inDigi%C2%AE-Bluetooth-Headset-Dialer-Keypad/dp/B00JCR0OHG

You're right, way too small for my purposes, but that's basically exactly what I'm talking about so I know it could exist. If that was big enough that you'd hold it up to your head instead of sticking it in your ear, we'd have a winner. Thanks for the link!