My Connections, an Alexa Skill

My Connections is an Alexa skill that connects people using a simple Smart Phone to send text messages that may include pictures and videos to a beautiful display on an Amazon Alexa Echo show. My Connections sends messages to the users assigned phone number that is provisioned for that user. The Echo Show also plays the message portion as audio during the presentation of a picture or message allowing both a visual and an audio experience. 

 The goal of My Connections is to provide maximum convenience for both the person sending the message and the person receiving and viewing the message.  My Connections allows for 'in the moment' communications to connect end users to real time events via text messaging.

Intended Users

The initial design is intended for people living in residential care, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing environments, as well as those living independently at their own homes, to be included in the communications with friends and family.  My Connections is a “voice only skill” for the end user and does not require or allow screen interaction. While My Connections does require a voice to speak a command to activate, it can be the user’s voice or that of a friend or caregiver. The simplest command to start the skill is ‘Alexa, My Connections’. This command starts the presentation in reverse chronological order showing the most recent messages and attached photos or videos first in a continuous timed loop. The message portion of the text message is converted to speech and played during the presentation of the photo and message.