Hey Siri!
Dad is a bit obsessed with Siri these days. He’s used Siri for quite some time, asking every morning “What’s the temperature?” and “What time is it?” Both of which I find hysterical because (a) he’s going to wear the same thing every day so the temperature outside or inside doesn’t change that. But I suppose it’s just nice to know. And (b) the time is on his wall in 12 inch high digital red lights as well as on a clock on the side of his bed bright white and clear. So asking Siri for the time is, well, redundant. Yet every morning, it’s the first thing he does.
Currently he is obsessed with dictating to us, or apps on his phone, and wants to know every possible way to do so. I suspect that in his mind he is back at the job he retired from over thirty years ago and we are all his “secretaries” to manage and control. Which sucks for me, an unpaid worker who sacrificed a successful career to be bossed around by her father, reliving childhood traumas day in and day out. Oh well, it is what it is. Bygones.
Back to dictating, I taught him, again, how Siri can take a note so I wouldn’t have to follow with pen and paper in hand. As a result, he wants his phone in the bedroom at night placed just right so he can see it light up when he asks Siri to take notes in the middle of the night. Keep in mind, he takes his hearing aids out before bed so the conversation with Siri is very one way. Only the people trying to sleep hear her reply. If Siri doesn’t understand, and asks a question or offers a suggestion, he can’t hear that. I’m a little afraid he’ll call 911 in his sleep, or South Africa, or buy a car (just kidding about the last one.)
Though maybe I’ll get lucky and he will book me an exotic beach vacation.
Technology is not a new obsession. Like most things when dealing with a degenerative brain disease, life is on repeat. Groundhog day. An infinite loop.
If only Siri could answer this, “Hey Siri, when will life return to normal?”
Caregiving Tools
Need help learning to use Siri? I prefer to go straight to the source. Apple can walk you through any apple device and help your senior get the knack of it.
Apple: Guide to use Siri on all your Apple devices. Click Here.
CNET 2017 list of Siri commands: This is the one I printed for Dad. Very extensive and easy to follow. Click here.
Books for Seniors: