Thanks for sharing! Someone asked this question today- “Will it call 9-1-1?” So far the answer is no. Please let me know if anyone has heard otherwise.
Best Regards,
Rachell
Rachell Westby, M.C.D., CCC-SLP | Assistive Technology Program Manager
The ALS Association – DC/MD/VA Chapter
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-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com [mailto:xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com] On Behalf Of Costello, John (Otolaryngology)
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 5:52 PM
To: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com
Subject: Amazon echo for hands-free calling
If seeing a video of the Amazon Voice Call is helpful, we have one on our website demonstrating Amazon Alexa 'Voice Call' feature using synthetic speech on an SGD. The video highlights both the sender and receiver side of the interaction.
There is also a brief comparison of synthetic speech vs. natural speech transmission through the Echo. NOTE the message with the SGD was encoded in advance with a comma between each word to optimize clarity. A link to the video is here too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weEbmtGOWWA
On 5/11/17, 2:03 PM, "xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com on behalf of xxxxxx@improveability.com"
<xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com on behalf of xxxxxx@improveability.com> wrote:
This is exciting and I played with it a bit last night. I will say that
for some reason it would not recognize my sister's name. I tried a
couple things to get it to work, but I actually could not resolve the
issue - even with changing the name to something totoally different, it
simply would not recognize her contact.
My sister does not have an echo, but she called me with the app and I
was able to answer and hang up totally independently and hands free!
We are living in exciting days!
But, this will not be comfort for those that already think that Alexa is
listening to all of there conversations in the home! :)
Sincerely,
Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP
Owner, Rehabilitation Engineer
ImproveAbility, LLC
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xxxxxx@improveability.com
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [no phi] Amazon echo for hands-free calling
From: Edward Hitchcock <xxxxxx@sralab.org>
Date: Thu, May 11, 2017 11:24 am
To: "'xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com'" <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com>
Just thought I would mention that I set up the new calling feature on
our Amazon echo today. It does seem to work as advertised. I can use my
voice only to call a contact (who must have the Alexa app installed and
enabled for calling), have a conversation with them by speakerphone
through the Alexa echo, and then hang up hands-free. It does not appear
to support calling someone with a landline, they must have the Alexa
app. I can also send text messages by voice. If they send me a text
message I can use Alexa to play it.
There is no voicemail. Sending a voice message at least at this point
appears to be received as a text message.
As expected, I am able to use a communication device to send the voice
messages to place the call as well. A little bit tricky with some of the
sequencing of course, but doable.
Exciting!
Edward Hitchcock
Occupational Therapist
355 E. Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611
312-238-1000 office
312-238-0000 fax
sralab.org
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