Hardware
Published on September 12th, 2023 | by Andrew Bistak
New smart home program providing tech for low vision community
Amazon Alexa and Guide Dogs Australia have partnered to launch a new smart home education and installation program which will provide Echo Dots to Aussies who are blind or have low vision. The voice activated technology allows Guide Dogs clients to navigate through their daily routines more independently, giving them greater accessibility and boosting their sense of community.
The program in summary:
- The Guide Dogs and Amazon Alexa education and installation program will gift clients an Echo Dot to integrate voice activated technology into their homes.
- Participants also have the option to self-fund additional smart home devices such as including smart lights, smart plugs, pet feeders or vacuums to be installed at the same time.
- The program launches alongside a new Guide Dogs for Alexa Skill which provides voice access to Guide Dogs news, services and information as well as the ability to request a call back for clients seeking further support.
- The program launches following a success pilot which found 60% of Guide Dogs clients preferred to use Alexa to access information from Guide Dogs versus other channels. A further 50% also accessed Guide Dogs information more frequently thanks to having Alexa in their home.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
- The Guide Dogs and Amazon Alexa education and installation program will gift clients an Echo Dot to integrate voice activated technology into their homes. Participants also have the option to self-fund additional smart home devices such as including smart lights, smart plugs, pet feeders or vacuums to be installed at the same time.
- The program launches alongside a new Guide Dogs for Alexa Skill which provides voice access to Guide Dogs news, services and information as well as the ability to request a call back for clients seeking further support.
- The program launches following a success pilot which found 60% of Guide Dogs clients preferred to use Alexa to access information from Guide Dogs versus other channels. A further 50% also accessed Guide Dogs information more frequently thanks to having Alexa in their home.