Smart devices are a key feature of our life today. They help with various activities and many people rely upon them. Smart devices are used every day for playing music, asking about the weather, setting an alarm, reminding you about events, and many other things.
A very popular smart device would be Amazon’s Alexa. Alexa is a very popular smart device that has changed the way people live their lives. Alexa has many key features, but is Alexa able to be used by the disabled?
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Basic Alexa Commands to Help the Disabled
Alexa has many ways of helping the disabled. Alexa can turn on and off lights, TVs, and music. This is a quality-of-life feature as you do not have to walk or move to the lights and turn them on/off, move to get the TV remote, or manually turn on/off the music. Alexa can do all these actions by just listening to your voice.
If your lights and TV are connected to the Alexa, all you have to say is, “Alexa turn off lights,” “Alexa turn on the TV,” “Alexa dim the light,” it is as simple as that!
Alexa can also control your music and the volume of your music. If the app you use music for is connected to Alexa, all you need to do are some simple voice commands. “Alexa play Shawn Mendes,” “Alexa change the song,” “Alexa lower the volume,” “Alexa raise the volume.”
These commands can be done without any effort at all and that is one of the many reasons Alexa is so useful for the disabled.
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Ways Alexa Makes Life Easier for the Disabled
Alexa has many more uses than just asking to turn on the lights, lower the music, and turn on the TV. Alexa’s more advanced controls, but are still easy as 1,2,3, are setting alarms, are setting reminders, and texting/calling. Instead of having to set an alarm by using the clock in your room, all you need to do is ask Alexa to do it for you.
“Alexa, set an alarm for 8 a.m. tomorrow.” Now you have an alarm set for tomorrow at 8 a.m. Canceling an alarm is just as easy as making one. “Alexa, cancel the alarm for 8 a.m. tomorrow.”
Setting reminders are also a key use of Alexa for the disabled as Alexa can remind them of certain activities they must do in a day. “Alexa set a reminder to take my medication at 5 p.m.” Now, when the time comes, Alexa will remind you to take your medication.
Alexa is even able to be used to call or text, and it is just as simple as all the other commands. “Alexa, call mom.” The next thing you know you are having a conversation with your mom without even having to touch your phone!
Alexa in an Emergency
Alexa can be used to call 911 in case of an emergency or to contact someone, such as a friend or family member, when you need help. Just like the calling command discussed earlier, to call 911 is just as simple.
If you are ever needing medical assistance or are in trouble, all you need to say is, “Alexa, dial 911.” You will then be talking to a dispatcher who will talk with you, find out what is wrong, and send assistance to your place of residence.
Another use for Alexa in an emergency is the command of Ask My Buddy. If you have a buddy linked to your Alexa account, you will be able to say this command and be in contact with your buddy who will be able to help you if you are in a tough situation.
All you need to say is, “Alex, Ask My Buddy.” That is it, calling 911 for help has never been easier and now you don’t even need to manually dial 911. Alexa can do it for you.
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Alexa Can Be Used for Transportation
Transportation is a very helpful feature of Alexa as not all disabled people can either drive themselves or have others drive them from place to place, such as work to home, home to the grocery store, or even home to the doctor’s office.
Alexa can call an Uber or Lyft for you and will use your location and tell Uber exactly where you are to pick you up.
All you need to do is enable the Uber skill in your Alexa app on your phone. When doing this you will then have to log in to your Uber account and allow Uber to view your location for Alexa.
When this one-time step is done, all you need to do is say the command and someone will be on their way to pick you up and drop you off. “Alexa, ask Uber to request a ride.” In no time you will be on your way to your destination.
If you prefer to use Lyft, rather than Uber, it is just as simple. You need to set up Lyft the same way as you would set up Uber and that is it. Now you just say, “Alexa, ask Lyft for a ride.”
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Opening Doors
Alexa can set alarms, reminders, turn on the TV, lower the volume of the music, call 911, and even call an Uber but one of the best features that Alexa has for the disabled is called open sesame.
This command can open and close doors when called for and it is a great quality of life feature that helps disabled people in many ways. To use this command, you will need to have a smart switch that will be located on the door you plan to open.
Once this smart switch is activated to the smart door lock you must connect to the switch via the Alexa app. After the two have been linked you are all done. All you need to do is say the command and the door will open for you and will close behind you. “Alexa, open sesame.”
Now you are on your way, opening doors has never been so easy, especially for the disabled. The fact that Alexa can open doors for you is just amazing and truly shows how many ways Alexa can help those who are disabled.
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Final Thoughts About Alexa
Smart devices are used in many people’s daily lives and they become part of a routine for people. Smart devices like Alexa provides so much help for many different people including those people who are disabled. All the commands listed above can be used by disabled people and can help with their everyday life.
The range of commands that Alexa has is amazing as there is nearly a command for everything.
More basic commands such as turning on the TV, changing the song when listening to music, turning on the lights in the kitchen, setting alarms, and setting reminders to take medications are all very helpful commands. Other commands such as dial 911 and Ask My Buddy can be used in situations when help is needed, and the commands are effortless.
Even needing a ride from work to home can be done in speaking a simple sentence and the next thing you know you are in a car on the way home. Commands such as opening doors are now available due to the amazing technology of Alexa. Alexa is not just a smart device in disabled people’s homes, she is a companion and is always there to help.