How tecla-e Enhances Amazon Alexa for Quadriplegic Users

Image Source - (Amazon.com)

Amazon Alexa is an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered voice assistant that works by understanding your voice commands to allow you to search the Web, create to-do lists, shop online, check the weather, and control smart-home products—without ever unlocking your phone.

Many users with physical disabilities are using Alexa through their Amazon Echo or Dot devices from their beds. This functionality to wherever the user has access to their phone or tablet with the tecla-e companion app by linking their Alexa account to the app. tecla-e is for anyone who cannot easily use a smart device such as smartphones, tablets, computers or have difficulty using home appliances. This includes those with quadriplegia and other mobility impairments resulting from spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, ALS, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, brain injuries or stroke.

Alexa and tecla-e work together to increase the independence of our users. Here are the three ways in which tecla-e enhances Alexa's services.

1. tecla-e users can access Alexa anywhere they go through a fully switch-accessible app

If your Amazon Echo is not within earshot and is inaccessible, you can still ask Alexa a command using tecla-e. For example, if you are a quadriplegic and are upstairs in bed, but forgot to turn the lights off downstairs, simply turn on Switch Control on your iPhone or Switch Access on Android, go to the tecla-e companion app, and ask Alexa to turn off your smart lights. The tecla-e companion app is fully accessible using assistive switches saving you the frustration of smart home apps that do not follow universal design principles. 

2. tecla-e users can have a choice between controlling their smart devices through switch access or through voice activation

You can use your voice whenever you're within earshot, but, for users with speech impairments or users who don't want to disturb someone nearby, you can easily use assistive switches like sip-and-puff, buddy button, SCATIR switches, micro light switches, chin switches or joysticks or the built-in button on tecla-e to control your smart home devices instead.

With the tecla-e app, you can create Alexa shortcuts through a text query to access all of Alexa's skills without saying a peep. Amazon Alexa has some amazing features, but if your environment or disability restricts you from speaking out voice commands that Alexa was programmed to recognize, being able to type a command through the tecla-e companion app is pretty amazing. It's also a better alternative than waiting until your housemate hangs up on an important phone call to ask Alexa a question.

3. tecla-e users can link their Amazon account to the app and load customized preferences and commands to be switch-accessible.

After you've set up your preferences for Alexa on the Amazon website or its companion app, you can load them onto the tecla-e app by syncing both accounts. This way, you will have access to all of your smart devices and each of their commands all on one app! Now, instead of having to open and close different apps that control specific smart devices, you can control every device from one location.

Amazon Alexa and other voice-assistant smart home systems are creating new opportunities for quadriplegics to control their environment. With tecla-e, the amazing features of voice assistants are enhanced, tailored to your needs and accessible to all. tecla-e is now available in to ship worldwide!

Related Articles:

• How tecla-e Enhances Logitech Harmony For Quadriplegic Users
• How Individuals with Speech Impairments Can Use Alexa
• Using the Tecla App with tecla-e