"Alexa, Understand Me"
From: MIT Technology Review - 08/09/2017
By: George Anders

So much to talk about

Among the most ardent adopters of voice-based AI are people who can't easily
type on phones or tablets. Gavin Kerr, chief executive of Philadelphia's
Inglis, which provides housing and services for people with disabilities, has
installed Amazon Echo and Dot devices in eight residents' homes. He hopes to
eventually add them to all 300-some residences once pilot testing is
complete. "It's an incredible boon for residents," Kerr says. "They can be
more comfortable. It gives them independence."

Kerr works with hundreds of people who have multiple sclerosis or other
debilitating conditions. For those who are bedridden or use wheelchairs, a
hard-to-reach wall thermostat can be a constant source of torment. "Their
bodies have a hard time regulating temperature," Kerr explains. "A room
that's 72 degrees F may feel hot one hour and cold the next." With limited
mobility, there's no easy way to get comfortable, especially if
round-the-clock assistance isn’t available.

With a bit of tinkering, Alexa's software can serve even those with severely
restricted speech. Kerr tells of one man in his late 30s who wanted to leave
a long-term-care facility and move back into an everyday community. "He told
us, 'I'll never be able to use Alexa's commands,'" Kerr recalls. "So we asked
him, 'What can you say?' Then we reworked the software so he could make Alexa
work on his terms. Now he says 'Mom' when he wants to turn on the kitchen
lights, and 'John' when he wants to turn on the bathroom lights."

Read the entire article at:
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/608571/alexa-understand-me

Link:
Inglis
https://www.inglis.org