HomePod Homepod for my elderly korean mom

[whyrichard]

Hello,

I just tried to hookup a mini HomePod for my 85 year old Korean mom, who lives alone, and it was frustrating.

I was trying to solve a few problems:

-When calling her iPhone, she first has to find the phone, take it to her seat, peck at the screen, and she often misses the call. I was hoping that with the HomePod, she could just tap the top of the HomePod and talk on speakerphone using the HomePod.

This was not successful. The HomePod never rings when she received a call. The HomePod didn’t understand her voice with her Korean accent, so “Siri answer the call” never worked. Touching the HomePod didn’t work when a call was incoming.

-I also wanted to intercom with her. I got this to work for me, from my phone to her HomePod. BUT, again, it doesn’t understand when she says “SIRI INTERCOM”. I wish there was simply a way for me to open up a channel of communication between me on my phone, and her with the HomePods. But again, simply having her say “Siri intercoms …. “ didn’t work.

Any suggestions?

Am thinking of two alternatives: a simple Bluetooth speakerphone that plugs into the wall for answer the phone. And a Mac mini that I remote control for answer intercom (I FaceTime in and acccept the call with a remote control app)


Thank you all.
R

 

[erihp]

Hello,

I just tried to hookup a mini HomePod for my 85 year old Korean mom, who lives alone, and it was frustrating.

I was trying to solve a few problems:

-When calling her iPhone, she first has to find the phone, take it to her seat, peck at the screen, and she often misses the call. I was hoping that with the HomePod, she could just tap the top of the HomePod and talk on speakerphone using the HomePod.

This was not successful. The HomePod never rings when she received a call. The HomePod didn’t understand her voice with her Korean accent, so “Siri answer the call” never worked. Touching the HomePod didn’t work when a call was incoming.

-I also wanted to intercom with her. I got this to work for me, from my phone to her HomePod. BUT, again, it doesn’t understand when she says “SIRI INTERCOM”. I wish there was simply a way for me to open up a channel of communication between me on my phone, and her with the HomePods. But again, simply having her say “Siri intercoms …. “ didn’t work.

Any suggestions?

Am thinking of two alternatives: a simple Bluetooth speakerphone that plugs into the wall for answer the phone. And a Mac mini that I remote control for answer intercom (I FaceTime in and acccept the call with a remote control app)


Thank you all.
R

Another user had me considering a solution to a similar use case (a physically disabled parent) for controlling the homepod with limited function. I think the solution I suggested there might actually work in this case as well.

They sell buttons that you can record and playback your voice (made for dog training) that could serve the purpose for her to 'command' Siri via button press with a voice recording siri may better understand. Its an end-around solution but sounds like you are willing to think outside the box...

Here is an example product:

RIBOSY Dog Buttons for Communication, 7 in 1 Dog Talking Button Set, Recordable Training Buzzers for Dogs with 50 Scene Stickers (Battery Included)

RIBOSY Dog Buttons for Communication, 7 in 1 Dog Talking Button Set, Recordable Training Buzzers for Dogs with 50 Scene Stickers (Battery Included)

www.amazon.com

Though you could probably find one with less (or more) buttons.

This could be used to create little button shortcuts for lots of other common siri powered commands. Music controls, light / scene contro etc.

 

[whyrichard]

Another user had me considering a solution to a similar use case (a physically disabled parent) for controlling the homepod with limited function. I think the solution I suggested there might actually work in this case as well.

They sell buttons that you can record and playback your voice (made for dog training) that could serve the purpose for her to 'command' Siri via button press with a voice recording siri may better understand. Its an end-around solution but sounds like you are willing to think outside the box...

Here is an example product:

RIBOSY Dog Buttons for Communication, 7 in 1 Dog Talking Button Set, Recordable Training Buzzers for Dogs with 50 Scene Stickers (Battery Included)

RIBOSY Dog Buttons for Communication, 7 in 1 Dog Talking Button Set, Recordable Training Buzzers for Dogs with 50 Scene Stickers (Battery Included)

www.amazon.com

Though you could probably find one with less (or more) buttons.

This could be used to create little button shortcuts for lots of other common siri powered commands. Music controls, light / scene contro etc.

I can’t tell you how both hilarious and awesome the suggestion is. Hilarious because well she’s my mom… And awesome because well, it would work!

 

[erihp]

I can’t tell you how both hilarious and awesome the suggestion is. Hilarious because well she’s my mom… And awesome because well, it would work!

Hey glad to help! You can probably find one that isnt in the shape of a bone, that one just has a high button count to cost ratio 🙂