Apr 21 Podcast #788: Smart Home Tech and Hulu TV
Podcast Tags: Automation, Echo, Smart Home 
We discuss a couple interesting takes on how to use smart home technology to enable those who may not otherwise want to jump into something so “techie.” Voice control alone could be huge for many as they age or those with serious injuries or disabilities.
| Download this Episode. |
Support the show with Patreon!
Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- Younger viewers prefer watching linear TV
- Netflix Q1 sub growth falls just short of expectations
- Pivotal Research: Internet-connected viewing up 53.8%
- Hulu sets May as target for live-streaming service
Other:
- Au Pair Consultant: for anyone interested in learning about the au pair childcare program
- www.DoItForMe.Solutions: If anyone in the SF Bay Area (San Francisco to Carmel) would like help with DIY home automation, Wi-Fi mesh networks, or Plex media servers, please contact Robert Spivack for a free in-home consultation.
- Bose accused of tracking and sharing customer listening data: Report
Amazon Prime:
Sign up for Amazon Prime and enjoy:
- Free Two Day Shipping!
- Instant Streaming of TV Shows and Movies
- Instant Access to thousands of Kindle Books
- The HT Guys gratitude!
Smart Home Tech and Hulu TV
Persuading your older parents to take the smart home leap
Interesting take on how to use smart home technology to enable those who may not otherwise want to jump into something so “techie.” Voice control alone could be huge for many as they age or those with serious injuries or disabilities. The following quote from the article sets the stage quite well.
“First, Sophie Godek tried to read books with a magnifying glass. Then, she turned to a tablet to make the words on her e-books larger. Eventually, she couldn't even see that. The 95-year-old was losing her sight, and with it, one of her favorite hobbies. "She wasn't able to read anymore, and that was a big loss," said her son Jim Godek.
Last year, the younger Godek had an idea: What if he could get his mom a device that could read books to her without the need to navigate a control screen that she had a hard time seeing?
That device turned out to be the Amazon Echo, an internet-connected smart speaker that responds to voice commands. Jim Godek figured that he could buy his mother audiobooks from Audible, then teach her to use voice prompts to have the Echo play the audiobook.
At first, Sophie Godek was a little wary… Eventually, she agreed to try it. It's been nearly a year, and she's listened to 178 books.”
Amazon Alexa Voice Control Helps Wounded U.S. Airman Live Independently
This is a cool tie in to the above. Not just the elderly can benefit from modern advances in smart home controls and automation.
QLED vs. OLED: How Samsung’s New TV Tech Stacks Up
Follow on to last week’s QLED vs XBR discussion.
Hulu Opens Beta Testing of Live TV Service
We’ll have a more in depth review/preview in a couple weeks.
Reader Comments