Thomas is quite the country music fan.
So when the 88-year-old got his hands on an Amazon Alexa Echo Dot through Vision Australia’s technology trial, he was able to play his favourite song to pass the time.
“I play Sing Me Back Home on it, it’s pretty good,” he said.
Thomas has glaucoma and is legally blind, so the smart speaker has opened up some new avenues to help him stay connected.
Thomas took part in Vision Australia’s first Amazon Alexa Echo Dot program.
He is now tapping into different radio stations to get the news and uses it to read out long pieces of text.
“After I read for 10 minutes my eyes get drowsy and I have to take a break,” he admits.
Quite a savvy technology user, Thomas says smart speakers make a huge difference in keeping his independence.
Just a simple “Alexa, what’s the time?” gives him some autonomy back.
Vision Australia offers smart speaker training for older adults.
The eight-week course offers:
- Free Amazon Alexa Echo Dot smart speaker
- Free installation and connection to home internet
- Weekly, one-hour virtual group lessons
- Personalised one-on-one support with an assistive technology expert
All spots are funded by the Commonwealth Home Support program, so there are no cost to the participant.
Register your interest by emailing [email protected] or calling 1300 84 74 66.