A few Christmases ago, I gifted my grandpa a smart home hub in hopes that it would make it easy for him to listen to his favorite albums and musicians. The voice-operated Echo Show device has proven to be a useful device for someone who struggles with technology and gadgets. In fact, he now uses the under-$100 hub to play music and more. To buy: $60 (was $110); amazon.com. After losing my grandmother a few years ago, my grandpa tends to be alone, and I hoped that this gift would serve as an antidote to some of the loneliness he’s experienced—or at least, ease it a bit. Since receiving the device, my grandpa has not only figured out how to queue his favorite albums by asking Alexa to play a title or soundtrack, but he’s also learned that he can ask Alexa almost anything. If he feels frustrated or curious about something, he’ll ask the smart home hub. I’ve overheard him asking things like, “Alexa, what time are the Eagles playing? Alexa, how much snow are we expecting? And Alexa, what are the lyrics to ‘Moon River?’” While he’s not the most tech savvy person and asks my mom for help with most tasks, learning how to use this smart home hub was pretty simple. After practicing with me a few times, he got the hang of it. All he has to do now is to remember to prompt it by first saying Alexa, and then ask a question or give a command. To buy: $60 (was $110); amazon.com. For those that are a bit more tech-savvy, there are even more uses for the smart device. The smart home hub can operate the rest of the smart gadgets in your home, make phone and video calls, and stream television shows and podcasts. The first generation edition has earned 202,000 five-star ratings while the newer second generation with even more capabilities, which came out this year, has received 11,000. Many owners shared similar experiences, saying it’s been fun for the whole family. “My mom is a 24/7 caregiver for my grandpa [and] an Echo Show has been a huge blessing,” one reviewer wrote. “She is able to play his gospel music for him while he sits and completes puzzles.” And reviewers have found them to be especially helpful for keeping in touch with loved ones during the pandemic.
More Smart Home Gifts
Echo Dot (4th Generation), $30 (was $50) Echo Show 5 (2nd Generation), $45 (was $85) Echo Show 10, $250
Now, our home is filled with the sound of the oldies, particularly the Bee Gees (his favorite). And while having easy access to music and entertainment is certainly a source of joy, I have a feeling that he enjoys his newfound independence—knowing that he can play music and look things up on his own without asking for help—the most.
