Tag: remote

Your smart speaker can remind you of appointments, give you a heads up on the weather, give you a wake-up call, tell a joke, set the mood for movie night, get the news and much more.

Add a video screen and you get access to many more cool features. Let’s start with a simple one. Did you know that you can turn your Amazon Echo Show into a digital photo frame? Tap or click here to find out how.

But there’s an even more important feature that you might not be taking advantage of. Did you know that your Echo can also save your life? Read on to find out how.

Medical alert systems aren’t cheap

Medical alert systems traditionally consist of a help button worn around the neck and an electronic base connected to a telephone jack. More modern systems use a cellular connection and don’t need a base. If an emergency occurs, push the button and you’ll be connected to a call center, which can alert emergency personnel.

Beyond the price of the hardware, you’ll pay a monthly fee to keep an active medical alert system. This can range from $20 to $40 or more depending on the company’s features, such as fall detection and voice control.

Try Alexa instead

Here’s the good news: an Amazon Alexa-enabled speaker can double as a medical alert system, with many of the same functions. The most affordable Echo speaker, the fourth-generation Echo Dot, is currently selling for under $40 on Amazon. Watch for deals that will drop the price even lower.

You can buy a few Dot speakers and scatter them around the house of an elderly loved one who may need your help someday. You’ll need to use their phone to set this up.

First, you’ll need the Alexa app, which is free to download. Once you have it, it’s time to set up the smart speakers:

• Open the Alexa app and select More, then Add a Device.
• Select Amazon Echo > Echo Dot, or whatever Alexa-enabled device you picked.
• Follow the instructions to set up your device and repeat the process for additional speakers.

Now you need to set up the smart speaker to make calls:

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