[ExI] Alexa will be your best friend when you’re older

[BillK]

<https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614044/alexa-will-be-your-best-friend-when-youre-older/>
by Tanya Basu  Aug 30, 2019

Quote:
After two weeks, the results were clear: the older people loved it.
The Dutch pension system changes its benefits from year to year, and
pays out differently based on birth year. Vonk says users were not
only figuring out how to get their pension, but also became friendly
with their new assistants.

“They [older adults] find out when they get pensions, what day they
get it, that kind of thing,” Vonk says. “It’s about convenience, and
they like that they can talk to a robot 24/7 and ask questions. But
they also say they have a new friend at home. In the morning they get
up and say good morning, and when they go to bed, they say good night.
Nobody wanted to give it back.”
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These voice assistants are improving all the time. Understanding
questions better and providing better responses.
When they get incorporated into care robots they will be very close to
creating a companion and nurse for older people.

BillK