While smart speakers have made a lot of people’s homes more comfortable, for people with disabilities these state-of-the-art gadgets can be life-changing. The hands-free, intuitive nature of this technology allows people to control light switches, thermostats, locks and more with just their voice.
Recently, Google has announced that it’s teaming up with the Cristopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to give 100,000 Google Home Mini smart speakers to people living with paralysis and their caregivers. The commitment comes as Google is increasingly emphasizing the role its Google Assistant can play for people with disabilities.
And while the initiative also coincides with the fact that Google and other tech giants are increasingly under scrutiny by federal regulators, such a massive donation can still make a real difference for the recipients.
This story was one of the best from 2019, and we are happy to include it in our “12 Days of Optimism” as we get ready to welcome 2020!
