How to use Alexa help please, for blind relative with multiple disabilities!

[Cyberworrier]

Hello all, tried to name change but couldn’t work out how!

My family and I have been trying to find out info about how Alexa’s work, for my blind disabled relative...

My lovely cousin has multiple disabilities but has enjoyed using an Alexa to play music etc by voice commands at his residential home, which sadly has recently closed due to cuts...

He has just been moved into a shared flat with 24 hour carers as there are no homes that can accommodate him or his needs. We want to buy him an Alexa so he can play his audiobooks or the radio without being reliant on his career (in case they are busy with other resident).

Could anyone kindly share their experience of using an Alexa? Do you just need to set up an amazon account for audio books? Does it need to be connected to a smart phone or laptop at all times? I have tried reading the fAQ online but keep getting confused! Any information or advice would be much appreciated. Many thanks!

you connect it to an app, but (i think) you can use it even if your phone is out of the house (my ds still seems to be able to use it even when i'm not home to play music, and because alexa connects to wifi i am pretty sure it will be fine). you will need to get a subscription to Audible for audio books, and then link it to the alexa app, since it is a seperate subscription. hope that helps x

Thank you Sleep, that’s really helpful.

You need the actual Alexa and then the app on a smartphone. The app is mainly for setting up and will need linking to an amazon account.
For music you can pay £3.99 per month to get unlimited music on one device.
You don't need the app in the house for the Alexa to work. However if there are any issues they'll need to be resolved via the app.
The radio should just work once it's connected to WiFi.

It needs WiFi connection and it needs a smart phone or computer to add 'skills' which are like apps. Amazon prime membership gives you music and audiobooks. Smart home devices like lighting can also be voice controlled via Alexa.

You need a broadband connection and a smartphone, tablet or laptop with WiFi and the Alexa app (or webpage if using a laptop) near to the Alexa speaker to set it up first time. You need to set it up in-situ as it needs to find the right broadband and be told WiFi password.

Thereafter you rarely need the app unless something goes wrong eg Alexa can't understand which book you want to listen to. In this case, your relative could have the app on a device nearby or he could phone u and you could use your own smartphone/tablet/ laptop as long as you are logged into his account on your version of the app.

For Amazon music you pay a monthly subscription. (Great for pop, rather poor for classical)
Audible is a monthly or annual subscription which buys you a certain number of credits with which you buy books. If u have an Amazon account u already have an audible account using same login details.
Radio is free.
You can also listen to music via Spotify I think.

For anyone with a combination of sight and other physical problems, an Alexa is really useful.

Note that not all Alexa devices are actually 'hands-free'. I think on the 'Dot' you have to push a button before speaking. Some one correct me if I'm wrong.

We have an echo dot which is completely hands free. It's the third generation one.

Some music is included in amazon prime but if you want everything then you need a subscription.

Also get your relative to be there when you set it up so you can add their voice. It means Alexa is more likely to respond.

Hi Teacher, thanks for your reply. And thanks Imaginativeusername too.
Can I just check what you mean by the actual Alexa? We were considering either the Echo (currently £59.99) or the Echo Plus (£139.99, but we don’t really know if theres any point getting this more expensive one as he won’t have smart home devices like smart lightbulbs and isn’t overly fussy about sound quality), would these be ok do you think?
That’s really helpful to know about the phone app and that it doesn’t have to be in the house. Can the app be on more than one persons phone?
We would probably ideally have the app but also add his carers if they have compatible phones as they will be around more (my bro and I live at the other end of the country to our relative).
Thanks so much guys, i really appreciate everyone’s help!

Not sure about Alexa but if you get a tablet, they could use syri? To play you tube or Spotify?

Thanks for those additional responses. We would definitely set it up with him. He has a bit of a speech impediment and a thick accent but as he used the Alexa at his previous home, we are hopeful that the Alexa will be able to understand him🤞

The app maybe helpful for others as can make lists on it. So they can say add something to shopping list which maybe helpful if others are doing the shopping, or can set reminders for things like taking medication etc

If you are anywhere near Perth, there is a SMART flat set up that people can visit, that uses technology so support independent living.

www.pkc.gov.uk/article/21161/New-Smart-Flat-showcases-tech-that-helps-people-live-independently-for-longer a link for info

Unfortunately his motor skills mean he would usually struggle with a tablet, even to press the button. The joy of voice recognition is that if he is stuck in bed/his chair, it would (hopefully) hear him and kind of liberate him giving him access to some of his favourite things! One thing about audio books is he tends to re-listen to the same things (big Harry Potter fan) so I’m not sure if you can just build up an audio book collection and then stop buying books with audible once you have a little library?

@Notthisnotthat that’s so interesting, thanks for the link. Unfortunately I’m down south, my relative is elsewhere in Scotland though. Will check it out online at least.

We have a third generation Echo and a dot. The sound quality is excellent. Especially on the Echo. Really impressed with it.

That’s a good idea @Digestive28, thank you.

The echo dot will do everything you have asked for. The only thing that is different with the full size one is a bigger speaker.

I have 2 dots. I use them to control a couple of smart plugs. Tell me the time, the weather, anything that is on my calendar for the day and the news; read audio books and play music.

It can also be used to make calls to registered numbers and you can enable 'drop in' if you have one too. This means that you and any other friends and family with one can check in with him as often as wanted.

I never touch my echo dot - do all my commands by voice.

You just need to set it up on the app and then it's fine from there , my blind dad uses it for audio books , radio etc all by voice command.

Both of my kids and I have the app on our phones so it can be put on multiple phones.

You can build up a little library on audible and then cancel it. Whatever you’ve bought is yours to keep.

Amazon always makes three audiobooks completely free to listen to via Alexa each month so could be a good trial.

Audible lets you keep your books once you cancel but make sure you use all your credits first as you lose any unused credits when you cancel. I would think the best way to get all the HP books (assuming he wants them all at once and it’s affordable) would be the £69.99 yearly membership as works out at less than £6 book. Audible usually offer a free first credit and when you cancel often says “will you stay if we give you a free credit?” And probably a BOGOF sale on certain books between Christmas and New Yeae. So look out for that.

I have a dot and an echo. Both work well - the sound on the echo is better than the dot but it is good on both IMO

The echo dot will probably be enough. The better ones just tend to have a better speaker. Is his hearing impaired too? The spoken word doesn't sound different on them but the more expensive ones make music sound a bit better.

I am so grateful for all these responses. Thanks everyone. @emelsie good to know your dad finds it useful/enjoyable. @JemilyJ, that is really useful information about Audible - thank you.
@teacher his hearing isn’t impaired, but he is used to fairly big standard audio systems so I know he wouldn’t be too fussy! But the 3rd Gen Echo is in budget, and has had very good reviews from posters here, so I think we will go for that...and maybe use the money we would have spent on the Echo Plus getting the yearly Audible membership so he can stock up with all his favourites including Harry Potter. So pleased I posted, this has been so helpful. Thank you everyone.

*bog standard not big standard!