Welcome Back Readers~
I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday with family and friends; I certainly did. Some of my favorite gifts included a Ultimate Harmony remote which allows me to control several devices such as my Amazon fire and my TiVo all through my Alexa simply by using my voice. For example, I can say, "go to 240" and it switch the channel as requested. I can also turn up the volume of the TV by simply saying, "Turn up the volume." In order to switch to the Amazon fire,I, I simply ask Alexa to "turn on Fire TV,"; I don't have to ask my personal assistant to switch inputs because it does so automatically
This remote does require some programming experience in order to make the devices work together to complete complex demands.
For more information on harmony products, please go to:
https://www.logitech.com/en-us/harmony-universal-remotes
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-logitech-harmony-amazon-alexa-echo/
The Nest thermostat was my next favorite present; this assistive technology works to with the app as well as Alexa to control your thermostat. It also has the ability to recognize when you are away from the home and lower the temperature: when you return, it will increase to a preset temperature.
For more information on Nest technology, please go to:
https://nest.com/thermostats/nest-learning-thermostat/overview/
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/tips-for-your-new-nest-thermostat/
The last assistive technology is clearly not yet; but Toyota is doing its best to make the lives of quadriplegics a whole lot better with the introduction of a personal assistant robot that retrieves drinks
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Friday, December 29, 2017
Friday, January 6, 2017
Funny Friday Clip: Do Not Let Children Use Alexa without Parental Supervision!
Welcome Back Readers~
Watching Fox Five DC news yesterday, I came across a funny story about the precautions of using Alexa to purchase items online, As I've written in previous posts about Alexa, the device has the capabilities of accessing music, reading books and purchasing stuff online simply by voice. That is, of course if the technology has access through your linked accounts. One Dallas family learned this lesson the hard way when packages started arriving that they had ordered. Turns out, Alexa had been listening to closely to the daughter when she asked for cookies and a dollhouse- her wish was granted. The family then donated the dollhouse to charity.
Too bad she was not aware that you could deactivate voice purchasing or use a pin to confirm the purchase.
Watching Fox Five DC news yesterday, I came across a funny story about the precautions of using Alexa to purchase items online, As I've written in previous posts about Alexa, the device has the capabilities of accessing music, reading books and purchasing stuff online simply by voice. That is, of course if the technology has access through your linked accounts. One Dallas family learned this lesson the hard way when packages started arriving that they had ordered. Turns out, Alexa had been listening to closely to the daughter when she asked for cookies and a dollhouse- her wish was granted. The family then donated the dollhouse to charity.
Too bad she was not aware that you could deactivate voice purchasing or use a pin to confirm the purchase.
For more information on this story, please go to:
Friday, January 8, 2016
Technology Review: Amazon Echo
Dear Readers,
I have decided to review Amazon Echo in the hopes of providing information to those wondering about its usability to those with speech as well is physical disabilities. For those unfamiliar with the technology, Echo (a.k.a. Alexa) is Amazon's own voice recognition service that allows people to listen to music, make lists and control their home simply by using their voice. I received Alexa as one of my Christmas gifts and after just two weeks using it- I LOVE IT!
Here are just some of my favorite functions:
1. Access to the radio- Since I am unable to use the radio in a traditional sense (through the tuning of a dial, I love that the technology allows me to turn on the radio to listen to my favorite stations by voice. I simply say listen to 97.1 FM to hear that channel. This is especially convenient when I want to listen to the radio from from bed at night.
2. Sleep Timer- This makes listening to the radio even more convenient because I can set a duration of time and it will automatically shut itself off
3. Access to Audible- Up until this point, I have been listening to my audiobooks using Siri on my iPhone; that has worked, but Amazon Echo is better because of its speaker sound and volume.
4. Ability to change volume setting by voice- Alexa allows users to adjust speaker volume settings simply by saying "increase" or "decrease". Additionally, you can change the volume setting by saying "volume" followed by a number ranging from 1-10. (1 being the lowest volume setting; 10 being the highest)
5. Connection to Pandora, IHeartRadio, Amazon Prime, podcast libraries, and Bluetooth
a) Pandora- With a Pandora account, users can select certain music genre to play and use the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" command to improve your personal station.
b) IHeartRadio-similarly, this channel allows users to personalize music based on different genre, music artists etc.. The station also gives you access to live radio stations such as KLove, Wash 97.1 FM
c) Amazon Prime-Echo obviously has access to Amazon Prime own music library; unfortunately, this means you have to have a membership.. I believe it's Amazon's way of competing with applications such as iTunes etc.. The membership is $99/year and provides access to videos, Kindle books and selected Amazon music. On the flipside, you can still get access to music you may have bought through Amazon, simply say "play music" or specify the specific album or song you wish to be played.
d) Podcast libraries- Alexa also has access hundreds of podcast users can listen to, simply saying the podcast name you are looking for.
e) Bluetooth access- Hooking Amazon Echo via Bluetooth allows users to access music they have on their phone. The one negative is that you can't simply play music by specifying a title, it will automatically search for music on Amazon Prime. Users must select their music by clicking on their phone. However once this is done, they can change songs on the album or artist simply by saying "next" or "previous".
6. Quick Training- This feature allows users to train Alexa to respond quicker to their voice by going through more training of specific commands that Amazon Echo frequently hears. The more you train, the better it gets..
7. The Amazon Echo website and phone application- This website is especially helpful because it allows me to access and change settings and stations by voice through the computer if the technology is having a particularly hard time understanding me. The Apple application provides remote access when users are not close by to the device
Common Commands
Here is a list of commands I use:
1. "Alexa"- By default, this is command that wakes up the device; it lets Amazon Echo know you want it to do something..
2. "Listen to.." or "Play."- this command starts specified music or applications linked to the technology.
3. "Increase" or "Decrease"- As explained earlier in this post, this command adjusts the volume setting to a specified preference.
4. "Start", "Stop", "Resume"- These voice functions play or stop stations or apps in use on the device.
5. "Sleep Timer"- this command sets a duration of time to stop the current application or music from playing.
As you see, there's a lot the technology can do, it is continually being updated to include more applications and commands
I have decided to review Amazon Echo in the hopes of providing information to those wondering about its usability to those with speech as well is physical disabilities. For those unfamiliar with the technology, Echo (a.k.a. Alexa) is Amazon's own voice recognition service that allows people to listen to music, make lists and control their home simply by using their voice. I received Alexa as one of my Christmas gifts and after just two weeks using it- I LOVE IT!
Here are just some of my favorite functions:
1. Access to the radio- Since I am unable to use the radio in a traditional sense (through the tuning of a dial, I love that the technology allows me to turn on the radio to listen to my favorite stations by voice. I simply say listen to 97.1 FM to hear that channel. This is especially convenient when I want to listen to the radio from from bed at night.
2. Sleep Timer- This makes listening to the radio even more convenient because I can set a duration of time and it will automatically shut itself off
3. Access to Audible- Up until this point, I have been listening to my audiobooks using Siri on my iPhone; that has worked, but Amazon Echo is better because of its speaker sound and volume.
4. Ability to change volume setting by voice- Alexa allows users to adjust speaker volume settings simply by saying "increase" or "decrease". Additionally, you can change the volume setting by saying "volume" followed by a number ranging from 1-10. (1 being the lowest volume setting; 10 being the highest)
5. Connection to Pandora, IHeartRadio, Amazon Prime, podcast libraries, and Bluetooth
a) Pandora- With a Pandora account, users can select certain music genre to play and use the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" command to improve your personal station.
b) IHeartRadio-similarly, this channel allows users to personalize music based on different genre, music artists etc.. The station also gives you access to live radio stations such as KLove, Wash 97.1 FM
c) Amazon Prime-Echo obviously has access to Amazon Prime own music library; unfortunately, this means you have to have a membership.. I believe it's Amazon's way of competing with applications such as iTunes etc.. The membership is $99/year and provides access to videos, Kindle books and selected Amazon music. On the flipside, you can still get access to music you may have bought through Amazon, simply say "play music" or specify the specific album or song you wish to be played.
d) Podcast libraries- Alexa also has access hundreds of podcast users can listen to, simply saying the podcast name you are looking for.
e) Bluetooth access- Hooking Amazon Echo via Bluetooth allows users to access music they have on their phone. The one negative is that you can't simply play music by specifying a title, it will automatically search for music on Amazon Prime. Users must select their music by clicking on their phone. However once this is done, they can change songs on the album or artist simply by saying "next" or "previous".
6. Quick Training- This feature allows users to train Alexa to respond quicker to their voice by going through more training of specific commands that Amazon Echo frequently hears. The more you train, the better it gets..
7. The Amazon Echo website and phone application- This website is especially helpful because it allows me to access and change settings and stations by voice through the computer if the technology is having a particularly hard time understanding me. The Apple application provides remote access when users are not close by to the device
Common Commands
Here is a list of commands I use:
1. "Alexa"- By default, this is command that wakes up the device; it lets Amazon Echo know you want it to do something..
2. "Listen to.." or "Play."- this command starts specified music or applications linked to the technology.
3. "Increase" or "Decrease"- As explained earlier in this post, this command adjusts the volume setting to a specified preference.
4. "Start", "Stop", "Resume"- These voice functions play or stop stations or apps in use on the device.
5. "Sleep Timer"- this command sets a duration of time to stop the current application or music from playing.
As you see, there's a lot the technology can do, it is continually being updated to include more applications and commands
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Encouragement: A Helping Hand
Hey Guys,
This video clip was one of AOL's top articles for today. It features a young man with a rare disorder that caused his hands to not form properly finally getting a helping hand with the use of a new prosthetic. Take a look. It's amazing what technology can do these days.
http://news.mydaily.com/2010/07/21/grasping-change/?icid=mainmaindl7link3http%3A%2F%2Fnews.mydaily.com%2F2010%2F07%2F21%2Fgrasping-change%2F
This video clip was one of AOL's top articles for today. It features a young man with a rare disorder that caused his hands to not form properly finally getting a helping hand with the use of a new prosthetic. Take a look. It's amazing what technology can do these days.
http://news.mydaily.com/2010/07/21/grasping-change/?icid=mainmaindl7link3http%3A%2F%2Fnews.mydaily.com%2F2010%2F07%2F21%2Fgrasping-change%2F
Friday, February 19, 2010
Smart House
Hey Guys,
I thought this article was interesting. What will they come up with next? I'm waiting for a totally voice-activated house..
I'm just kidding, but who knows? If they came up with this, who knows what will happen next
http://www.munhallnewswatch.com/2010/01/smart-homes-assist-residents-in-daily.html
I thought this article was interesting. What will they come up with next? I'm waiting for a totally voice-activated house..
I'm just kidding, but who knows? If they came up with this, who knows what will happen next
http://www.munhallnewswatch.com/2010/01/smart-homes-assist-residents-in-daily.html
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Your opinion is needed!
Dear Friends,
I know it seems like I have just returned, but I have to go out of town again this weekend. One of my dear aunts passed away. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this difficult time. That being said, I will be running behind on my regular posts for next week. That is, if I feel up to doing them at all. When you are faced with difficulties such as these, it really makes you think about the sanctity of life. Questions like, "Are you doing all you can to present a positive perspective in your life?"or "What am I doing here?" constantly come to mind. I know it was all in God's timing and that she was ready to go, but it was just so unexpected for all of us. That being said, I am going to say what I always say to my readers. Please, think of this day for what it is. A gift from God. Where are you going to do to help someone out today?
But there is another reason for this post. I recently came across a way to make my blog a podcast and I was wondering whether my readers would like that. Your opinion is needed very much.
Again, thanks for your prayers,
Debbie
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