Meet Belle, Alexa’s 103-year-old best friend

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For her 100th birthday, Belle Weiss’ children gifted her an Amazon Echo. She lived on her own and experienced progressive vision loss from macular degeneration, so they thought Alexa could be helpful. Three years later, Weiss remains fiercely independent and active. Although Alexa is nearly 100 years younger than Weiss, Alexa has reconnected her to some of the things she loves most.

Weiss uses Alexa to "feel more involved with the world" around her. Given that Weiss cannot see very well, she uses Alexa to play music, check the time and weather, call friends, family, and doctors, and set reminders and timers to make her morning coffee and cook dinner.

Weiss also depends on Alexa to keep her informed. Alexa provides an easy, reliable way for Weiss to listen to the news. Alexa repeated the poem over and over again, until Weiss memorized the poem and could recite it herself.