Amazon Echos given to people in need to reduce demands on caregivers

Whether it's telling you whether or not you need to take a raincoat on a walk or controlling the lights in your apartment with a simple verbal command, there are plenty of ways that smart speakers such as Amazon Echo or Google Home make our lives a little bit easier. But can they fundamentally improve people's lives? That's the question posed by a trial currently taking place in the U.K., in which a small number of people with learning disabilities are given devices like the Echo to see whether they can help make their lives easier -- and save the care sector some money in the process. The trial gave these devices to five people in Wales for a six-month period. The study will examine whether, during that time, they reduce the need to staff people's homes 24/7, by carrying out caregiver jobs including offering reminders about taking medication, attending appointments, and carrying out some household tasks.