Serious replies only please: this is about Karen
 

As most of you know, my sister Karen is bedbound with MS (Multiple Schlerosis) and needs to be in contact with me, as she is downstairs in the extension and I sleep upstairs. To date, we've found various ways of achieving this (text, wireless doorbell, intercom system etc) but now the latest, a pendant around her neck that she presses to alert me, is not going to work. Her grip, coordination and sight are all getting progressively worse, and she can no longer locate the pendant, never mind squeeze it. She told me yesterday she had been calling me for thirty minutes and demonstrated: she was squeezing the cord of the pendant, with the actual pendant dangling uselessly out of her reach. She couldn't even see where it was, and her grip is so bad she didn't realise what she was doing.

So now I have to look at alternatives. All I can think of is two: a baby monitor or a CCTV setup. Both raise privacy issues, to say nothing of having to be monitored all the time, and what about when I'm asleep? Neither of us are keen on this, but I see no other option.

What I would ideally love is an app or system that she could activate by voice (for sake of argument, an app which could be left open on a phone near her, into which she could just shout) and which would then alert me, send a message to my PC or phone, or call the phone maybe, to let me know she needed me. I have no idea if anything of this sort exists, but if it does, could whoever knows about it share that knowledge with me? Failing that, does anyone have any suggestions?

I know we mess around a lot here, but please, no jokes, off-colour or otherwise. This is a very serious situation and it has me really worried. If I can't monitor her, or have a way she can contact me, it could be really dangerous. I'm anxious to clear this latest hurdle her disease has thrown in our way, but I'm not quite sure how, so any suggestions, advice, help or, hell, even support would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks guys.

It sounds to me like your best option will be a baby monitor. Privacy is kind of going out the window when the situation is like yours.

That all really sucks man. I hope you find something that works better for your situation.

Thanks man, and welcome back. You've been missed.
Problem with a baby monitor is that her voice is not very strong, so over the sound of the TV I might not hear her. Also, that means I have to hear everything that goes on in her room (not that anything odd does, but you try listening to seven Jerry Springers in a row!) and it will impact on my privacy as well. A silent CCTV would be more my choice, but again, ****ing privacy. Damn it! Why doesn't someone just create the app I was talking about?

I think siri or another voice activated cell phone/tablet app is the answer to your question. You just set the app to open on a certain command like hey siri, which you can then tell to call TH/big daddy derrick/whatever she has you labeled on her device as.

Thanks man but I'm pretty sure SIRI doesn't work/is not available over this side of the water. Also I'd need an iphone would I not? Not that I wouldnt' buy one if it was the solution, but I have two phones that are both Android (Galaxies) one of which I could set up for her with something like that if I could get it for an non-Apple world. Appreciate the thought though.

Edit: what about this Amazon speaky thing, what the **** is it called? Saw an ad for it: Echo? No that's not it. Some girl's name ... Alexa? Think that might be it. I should check that out.

I'm certain that there's an equivalent you can use. Do you have an app store on the phone? Search for "voice activated assistant" and see what you can find. Also research the phone model that you have to see if it's already on there, you never know.

The Echo Dot or the regular Echo. The activation for it is Alexa. I saw a review that this guy got it for his brother with MS as a bed side companion to play music and answer questions he comes up with. I was thinking maybe there is a way you can hook up the Echo to a set of lights and when they change or turn off then you will know she is trying to get in touch but that doesn't work well if you are already sleeping.

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What about the second one on this page? 15 Gadgets Showing Why Voice Control Is The Future - Hongkiat

It's the Sony SmartWatch 3, and it seems to be able to send voice-activated texts, which she could send to your phone?

I hope that you can find something soon!