Amazon’s Alexa is moving into hospitals. On Monday, the company announced that it will now support scaled launches of its devices inside both healthcare systems and senior living facilities.
I like this. One of the highest, best uses for smart speakers is giving agency to people who are infirm or otherwise impaired. You can make a joke about a phrase like, “Alexa! Flush the toilet,” but if you are recovering from back surgery or if you have degenerative disk disease, this “telekinetic” capability empowers you to sustain your privacy and personal dignity. Congrats to Amazon and to the forward-thinking medical professionals that are helping with this program.
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About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.