Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I got an Alexa Dot from a friend as a gift. She set it up quickly with her Apple Smart phone app, using my router on my home computer. It stopped working suddenly. She took it home and did a factory re-set by finding a video on YouTube. Now again, it works. There are four buttons that I cannot see, including the power button. I am blind and cannot react to the colors that appear to indicate programs like orange, red and blue. Is there a more accessible version of Alexa, or can a person use Alexa without having a Smart phone app? Is it possible to complete set up using the keyboard on my personal computer? Are there better accessible voice activated machines available like an Alexa? Thank you.

Tom Malone

Response from AccessWorld Managing Editor, Aaron Preece

Hello Tom,

Thanks for reaching out to AccessWorld. I've answered your questions regarding the Amazon Echo Dot below:

  1. Echo Buttons: The Echo has four tactile buttons. If you have an Echo Dot 3rd generation, all of the buttons should have tactile markings, but if you are using an Echo Dot 2nd generation, only one button will have a tactile marking. If the Echo is facing you with the power connection facing away from you the buttons are arranged in this order. If the top of the Echo is the face of a clock, the Volume Up button is at 12:00, the Listen button at 3:00, the Volume Down button at 6:00 and the Mute/Unmute Microphone button at 9:00. If you are using an Echo Dot 2nd generation, only the Listen button will have a raised marking on it.

  2. Light Rings: In my experience, it's not necessary to know when the light rings are displaying specific colors to operate the device effectively. Generally, the Echo will make a sound or say something that will provide you the feedback you would need when performing an action that relies on light rings. For example, a yellow light ring indicates that you have a new notification on your Echo. When the notification first appears, it will make a sound. If you miss this initial sound, the Echo will remind you that you have a notification the next time you speak a command.

  3. It is very possible to set up your Echo from your computer. Visit alexa.amazon.com and sign in to your Amazon account. The interface here mirrors the Alexa smartphone app quite closely. I personally use the Web interface more often than the smartphone app. After signing into the website, select the Settings tab and choose Set Up a New Device. The only part of this process that might be a bit more difficult is connecting the Echo to your wireless network. With NVDA, I had to focus the item called "List" in the Wireless Network Selection screen and then begin tabbing through the interface to find my networks; they were not being picked up when I navigated with Arrow keys.

  4. I have used the Google Home and the Amazon Echo devices and both are equally accessible in my experience. As far as I am aware, there is not a way to set up a Google Home using a computer. I haven't used one personally, but Apple's HomePod seems to be as accessible as the Echo and Google Home.

Sincerely,

Aaron Preece

Managing Editor, AccessWorld

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