Tap to Alexa, a function that lets users interact with Alexa via touch instead of voice, is now available on Fire tablets, helping make Alexa more accessible for users with speech disabilities.

Amazon Fire tablets are a branch of Android tablets produced by Amazon. They run a modified version of Google’s Android operating system, known as Fire OS.

For the first time, users can use Tap to Alexa with a compatible Bluetooth switch to navigate and interact with their Fire tablet, which can be helpful for individuals with limited mobility.

Tap to Alexa, previously only available on Amazon Echo Show devices, provides on-screen tiles to allow quick access to common requests, like setting an alarm or playing music.

With its new availability on Fire tablets, this can be especially useful for users with speech and/or mobility disabilities. It can also be helpful for those who prefer using devices with more portability, including users who mount a tablet to their wheelchairs. Additionally, the feature can be helpful for users who prefer to interact with Alexa without speaking.

Users can also use a new Text to Speech function, where they type a phrase and then tap an icon to have it spoken aloud. This can be helpful for users with speech disabilities or unique voice patterns, or who are nonverbal or nonspeaking.

According to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), up to 14 million people in the UK, 20 percent of the population, will experience communication difficulty at some point in their lives, with more than 10 percent of children having a long-term communication need.

The Alexa for Everyone team, who are responsible for building experiences to help people with disabilities live more independent lives and stay connected with their loved ones, collaborated with members of the United Spinal Association based in Atlanta, Georgia. Members of the non-profit with speech and mobility disabilities provided feedback on the feature during development.

Juliana Tarpey, Senior Product Manager for Alexa for Everyone, said: “We brought Tap to Alexa to Fire tablets, along with offerings like Text to Speech, to make it easier for more people to access smart home technology.

“After setting up their devices, users can directly ask Alexa, with just a tap, to play their favourite TV show, turn on the lights, or help them communicate with friends and loved ones. It may seem simple, and it is—it provides simpler access to Alexa’s benefits to help support all our users.”

Recently, 49 UK speech and language therapists have shared their insights on using commercially available voice-assistive technologies, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, with clients to support independent living.

David Mahmarian, Multimodal User Experience (UX) Designer for Alexa for Everyone, added: “I always envisioned Tap to Alexa as a portable, tablet-based experience ever since I started working on the initial designs for Echo Show devices. From the beginning, I thought of my younger brother Paul and considered how this could benefit him by providing the ability to interact with Alexa independently and also help him with communication.

“Paul is autistic and doesn’t speak at all, but he grew up using assistive technologies to help him generate speech. My personal hope in offering Tap to Alexa on Fire tablets, with this added Text to Speech functionality, is that they will be a useful tool and help people like my brother feel more connected, providing access to all the great things Alexa can do.”

AT TODAY UPDATES
Over 7,000 healthcare professionals stay informed about the latest assistive technology with AT Today. Do you?
We respect your privacy