Testing An Alexa Skill

One of the reasons I haven’t posted on this blog since 2016 is that I have been learning how to build skills for Alexa.  So far I have had seven skills certified by Amazon.  Here is a list of them with a brief summary for each:

• Blood Pressure Check – Compares a user’s BP readings to guidelines, considering the presence or absence of heart disease or diabetes. Other BP information is available to the user.
• Healthy Snack Tips – Provides randomized tips on snacks.
• Your Healthy Tips – Provides random tips on healthy nutrition or exercise, based on the user’s preference.
• My Weight Loss Coach – Tracks the most recent weights and compares to the user’s goal. It also tracks cardio & resistance training.
• Food Manager – Helps the user track the recommended expiration dates of their food items so they can either use them or donate them before those dates are reached.
• State Explorer – A kid’s skill that gives information about each state and provides quizzes to help master that information.
• Your Memory Challenge – A skill that tests the user’s short-term memory by presenting 5 brief scenarios and then asks questions about the content of those scenarios.

I’ll discuss these and more on developing voice technologies in health care going forward, but I’m being brief on this one so I can see if I can build an 8th skill where Alexa reads my blog posts.

Wish me luck!

Dr. Bob