The Echo Show does allow a keyboard to be paired as well as a Braille
display. However not all functions are available with keyboard or braille
input. I have both paired with my show 5. But use it mostly for settings
adjustment or quick selection on amazon Prime. Simple commands such as I
would use my voice for like asking for the weather or to initiate a skill or
enable a skill etc. I would or as far as I know could not use either the
keyboard or braille device to accomplish.
In fact I think it would defeat the whole purpose of having a "smart
speaker" since the object is to speak to it in the first place. Laughs! Many
people get the show for the ability to use it with the video doorbell. I
have it because I own a support list for Amazon devices and wanted to be
well versed on video smart speakers. And wanted to play with the tech.
Smirk! I also like the ability to use my voice to have the Princess as we
call her on our group play a Prime movie without ever having to touch my
iPhone or iPad.
Merv
From: blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Saturday, September 7, 2019 12:26 AM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Re: blind friendly thermostats
Hi, John.
First, if I decided to switch from iOS to Android or if I needed to purchase
an Android device I would definitely consider a Samsung product. This is
because they add their own accessibility features in addition to the ones
already implemented by Google, including their own screen reader.
I might also consider a Pixel since those devices can receive Android
updates much quicker than Samsung devices.
Regarding a smart speaker's difficulty in understanding people with certain
speech patterns this is a missed opportunity by Amazon. Siri does allow you
to type a command rather than speaking it. This is good, not only for people
who may have a lisp, speech impediment or a heavy accent but it also
benefits those who are unable to speak. Alexa relying on speech really
limits Amazon's user base. I did read about someone who wrote a program to
allow people to enter a command to Alexa via a keyboard but Amazon should
include this as part of the Echo, perhaps by allowing a Bluetooth keyboard
to be paired to the device via an app. If I'm incorrect and if a way exists
to already do this I'd appreciate it if someone would alert me.
David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.DavidGoldfield.org
<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.org>
On 9/4/2019 8:09 AM, John Holcomb II wrote:
Hey David
Probably a good thing I have The Echo dot and i Devices.
I know I'm gonna try android (most likely a Samsung device.)
I'm not surprised at Xfinity being that accessible at all. I love Verizon
because of symmecrical speeds which is why I love them for internet),
Xfinity has the best accessibility for any product.
Makes sense I suppose when you consider the president for accessibility is
blind himself.
I'd absolutely be fine with a smart thermostat.
My concern is that it'll have a hard time understanding me due to my lisp
and how I talk due to my being DB.
Having an accessible app as a fallback option would be a good idea for me I
think.
Thanks for your thoughts though,
John
John
Get Outlook for iOS <https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
_____
From: blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of David
Goldfield <mailto:david.goldfield@xxxxxxxxxxx>
<david.goldfield@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, September 4, 2019 7:44 AM
To: blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-philly-comp] Re: blind friendly thermostats
Hi, John.
I'm no expert on stand-alone talking thermostats and so I'll let someone
else handle the availability, or lack thereof, of those products. However,
your best bet may be to find a thermostat that interfaces with either an
Apple product using Home Kit, an Amazon Echo or a Google Home, which would
allow you to then control the thermostat with your voice and hear the output
from your smart speaker of choice. Many of the new smart thermostats possess
this capability. I use an Ecobee 3 Lite. That particular thermostat, along
with probably many others, is also Home Kit compatible, meaning that it will
work with any Apple product that uses Siri. If you're lucky, some
thermostats may have apps which are accessible enough to use on either
Android or iOS. Ecobee's app seems to be a mixed bag but I use the
thermostat with Comcast's home security system as the Xfinity Home app has,
if I may say so, superb accessibility. Also, at least one Ecobee thermostat,
the Ecobee 4, has Alexa built into the device, essentially making it a
talking thermostat. However, all smart thermostats need to go online in
order for this interaction to take place. If you're looking for a thermostat
that doesn't need to go online with self-contained speech it does sound like
our options are limited. Again, I'd rather let someone else address this
type of product as I never kept up with them and never even knew that they
existed. My very limited search for talking thermostats didn't produce
promising results.
David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.DavidGoldfield.org
<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.org>
On 9/1/2019 7:41 PM, jhii926@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:jhii926@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
So I remember David and a few others mentioning one that you can control
via Alexa and Google Home/Siri.
But does this mean that now the only option that will work for blindies is
if you have a smart speaker or assistant?
I ask since now I know the talking one h has gone away forever.
Thanks,
John
