Hi guys, Long story short my mum has MS and is bed-bound (she's still in her own home has carers visit 5 times a day).She has all her mental faculties but has very little motor control. Sadly this now extends to the use of her hands (she can't use a remote or laptop) and her voice isn't very strong (Alex doesn't pick her up and her words often seem slurred). I installed an Echo Show so that the family can all drop-in on her as and when. Which is great as she didn't have to use her voice to accept the calls (I've given everyone access so they can appear on the screen at will, which mum loves). As you can imagine she watches a lot of netflix and prime to pass the time, but can't use the remote control - so we usually set a series running for her, and her carers can always change if on one of their visits if necessary. The issue is that if we drop-in on the Echo, we can't hear her over the TV and there's no way for her to shut it off (unless somebody is there at the time, but then they have to wait for us to finish and put the TV back on). I was hoping a Firestick might help (i.e. we could shout alexa instructions at the TV over the Echo drop-in call), but Alexa voice control appears to only work on a TV when the Alex button on the remote is pushed. So thought I'd put a post here and see if any of you had a bright idea how we might be able to control/mute my mum's TV remotely or if there are other potential options? 1 - Is there someway to set voice controls on a firestick or TV to be on permanently? This might enable us to control it when we call. 2 - Is there some other way I could setup her TV to be controlled remotely? 3 - Any other ideas!
Actually social services gave her something with eye tracking - but the tablet has to be directly in front of her, and as she can't push it away, it gets in the way more than it helps. It also relied on her being able to squeeze a button, which is pretty hit and miss. I'm looking less for her to be able to control things - more a way for me to be able to mute/turn-on/turn-off her TV remote somehow (so that we can hear her and call her everyday). I'm quite happy to by a specific TV or additional kit.
You could install the Alexa app on a phone/tablet you have using the same account as your mum's Echo/Firestick. You could then either speak to your device, or simply type in the command to play or show something else on the Echo/Firestick. This might get tricky if you already use the Alexa app and your mum's stuff is on another account, but it's a possible option. it must be said, I haven't used the Alexa app like this; usually to issue announcements to my children, but it should in theory work, I think.
I did a quick search, can't see anything. Home Assistant may be able to detect Alexa drop in and you can set an automation to auto mute/unmute fire stick. The latter is certainly possible on my Google Chromecast, it is exposed as a media player. I can also remotely go into HA to control the media player. I think Amazon fire cube is an always listening TV streaming box. Its ad suggests able to pick up voice command without pressing anything on the remote. Another method for remote control of TV is via IR blasters. I can do it via Logitech harmony hub, but I think it's discontinued. There's many alternative IR blasters that is compatible with HA: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/which-hardware-to-buy-ir-blaster/627106/3
I have the firecube, and yes - It's always listening unless you press the mute button on the top. You can then tell it's muted because you get an annoying red LED glowing all the time!
Thanks chaps So it sounds like a choice between getting a FireCube and hoping it can fully control the current Hisense TV or getting a FireTV....does anyone know if a fire TV is always listening?
I'd be shocked if all smart devices aren't always listening, that's half their purpose! But if you're looking for the most bengign of them, imho that would be a Google device rather than the Amazon ones that have had workers say they listen to recorded conversation.
Sorry for the late reply on this. But yes, I have an Amazon fire TV and it is always listening. Probably a bit late for you now though being 2 months later.
Long time lurker finally with something to add. Find an Occupational Therapist in your area that specialises in Assistive Technology. There is a ton of niche and not easily found equipment out there (often with grants to buy them) that could help here and possibly add other things you've not even thought of.
Appreciate the thought. But sadly there's no assistance tech that will cope with advanced ms. No use of hands, no control over speech, eliminates all but eye movement tech, which we tried, but mum also has fairly frequent eye spasms which caused havoc. The idea of a fire cube was that it could be controlled remotely by the voice of whoever was dropping in on the echo show. That's about as good as it'll get sadly.
I think that for suggestions to be helpful, we need to know what your mother can do. What are her head movements like? Limb movements? Wrists? Feet?
