Alexa can also be an enrichment and help in everyday life for seniors. The voice control can do more than just turn on music and predict the weather report.
Alexa for seniors: voice recognition as an everyday aid
Alexa is the voice software from online retailer Amazon. To be able to give commands to Alexa, who comes acoustically in the form of a nice, female voice, you need an Echo speaker. This is also available on Amazon. There are different models of the Amazon Echo speaker. Among others, the Amazon Echo Dot variant is suitable for senior citizens. Due to its compact size and round shape, the speaker fits on any shelf or window sill and thus finds a place even in small rooms.
- Amazon Smart Plug is also suitable for seniors. This is a WLAN socket that works with Alexa.
- A third variant is Echo Show. The speaker is equipped with a display that enables video calls with the children or grandchildren, for example.
- Alexa voice recognition is integrated in all Echo speakers. With Alexa, you can not only provide more entertainment at home, but also bring a support and reminder for shopping lists or medication intake into your own four walls.
- Tip: Get help setting up the Amazon Echo speaker and the Alexa voice software, for example from your children, grandchildren or a nice neighbour. Let them show you all the functions in peace and quiet and, if necessary, write down a little manual that you can refer to in an emergency.
- But: Don’t worry: Alexa is intuitive and therefore easy to use. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll notice how helpful the voice assistant can be.
Shopping lists, recipes, alarm clocks: give Alexa a command
Alexa has many different functions. In the Amazon Skill Store, a kind of online marketplace for Alexa, you can activate many more skills and functions in addition to the standard ones – and most of them are free of charge. Skills such as the waste calendar, which reminds you when the rubbish will be collected, are suitable for senior citizens. Alexa also offers certain functions for health issues, such as the management of blood pressure or sugar levels or the alarm function when medication is due. Via a home emergency call, you can contact your emergency contact (family doctor, children, grandchildren, neighbours) through Alexa if you need help.
In addition, you can give Alexa various voice commands. Make sure that you formulate the commands loudly and clearly. Loud background noises should be switched off if possible, as they can interfere with the voice control. You can integrate the following commands into your daily routine:
- Time: “Alexa, what time is it?”, “Alexa, set the alarm clock to eight o’clock.”, “Alexa, set the timer for the eggs to eight minutes.”, “Alexa, stop. “
- Entertainment: “Alexa, play radio station xy.”, “Alexa, play German Schlager.”, “Alexa, turn up/down.”, “Alexa, read me the latest news. “
- Calls: “Alexa, call Tim.”, “Alexa, answer the call.”, “Alexa, hang up. “
- Lists and appointments: “Alexa, when is my next doctor’s appointment?”, “Alexa, what appointments are coming up today?”, “Alexa, enter a new appointment”: Thursday, 5.4. hairdresser.”, “Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?”, “Alexa, put milk on the shopping list. “
- Everyday information: “Alexa, what’s the weather going to be like today?”, “Alexa, what’s the date today?”, “Alexa, how do I prepare a schnitzel? “
- Control of smart household appliances: You can control smart household appliances via Alexa, as long as both technologies are compatible with each other, i.e. technically match each other. Possible voice commands can be: “Alexa, dim the light in the living room to 40 percent”, “Alexa, turn off the light in the kitchen”, “Alexa, turn on the coffee machine”, “Alexa, set the temperature in the bedroom to 17 degrees”.
