Unc’s Media Center

Ken continues working on designing, constructing, repairing, redesigning, and reconstructing Unc’s (Uncle Dave) media system so he can watch videos, listen to music and call friends and family. Unc is still in a nursing home.

We started with a Computer with a touchscreen monitor and a Fire TV Cube. But after moving to the new nursing home they took it away, first claiming it was too “computery” looking, then it was too tall and likely to tip over, then finally, I was told because I did not use a hospital grade power strip… I just love when management keeps changing their excuses (er.. I mean, “reasons”) for taking things away from people (who are mostly helpless).

Then I tried a small laptop computer with touchscreen, but Unc had trouble with that too. Couldn’t figure out how to get back to the home page of the media player. Unc has dexterity issues since having a minor stroke earlier this year. So the keyboard was mostly useless (except the space bar – to pause and play videos).

Then I read about a new version of the Echo Show 15 which included FireTV, and could be used to make phone calls (with Verizon).

The phone calling on the Echo was not reliable (Verizon link stopped working) and audio while on calls did not work with the earphones, only on the internal speakers (he’s in a room with 2 other men, and 2 other TVs). So Ken built a relay for the earphones to select the Echo or mobile Phone. But, I need to move all the controls to the front where Unc can see and reach them. I did that recently, but I need to move most of the electronics (except the controls and the phone) low and behind the Echo Show for balance.

In the meantime, Unc has a phone mounted next to the Echo Show, but it’s not connected to earphones, and he’ll need to switch to speaker phone to hear the caller (which isn’t easy for him – on the tiny touch screen of the phone).

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