When you think of tech early adopters, this Brooklyn resident isn’t who typically comes to mind. She’s 95 years old, can’t see or hear very well anymore, and grew up in a time when the hottest new gadgets around were toaster ovens and zippers.
Today? She’s not sure what she would do without her Amazon Echo smart speaker.
“Alexa has been a miracle,” the spirited senior tells me over the phone. “I ask ‘what is the weather,’ and get an answer. Alexa turns on my lights, tells me what time it is, and when to take my pills.”
She's now one of the 16.7 million older Americans living alone at home with the help of her three daughters who live nearby, a part-time caregiver, and a few simple modern tech tools. (Editor's note: We're not using her name at her family's request, to protect her from becoming prey to opportunistic scammers.)
