Amazon's Alexa Helps Celebrate Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

The Amazon Echo cloud-based voice service, Alexa, is constantly gaining abilities and skills to increase interaction among consumers.

Now, with the launch of Acorda Therapeutics’ [multiple sclerosis] MS Awareness Facts, Alexa is helping to spread education about the disease.

March is MS awareness month, and the launch is part of several activities to help support the MS community throughout the month.

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of using this new technology to connect with patients,” Michael Russo, executive director, corporate digital strategy & innovation, said in a company press release. “Education is an important component of each person’s fight against multiple sclerosis. As we move towards becoming an increasingly digital society, it’s important that we provide solutions that match the way people live and work, and in this case that means voice search.”

To use the new skill, users must say, “Alexa, start MS Awareness.” Upon which, Alexa will randomly select from nearly 50 tips and facts about MS to read aloud to the user. The skill leverages content from company’s MS self app, according to the release.

Acorda has also created a team on the free Android and iPhone app Charity Miles, which allows individuals to raise money for charity by walking, biking, or running.

In the United States, an estimated 400,000 individuals are living with MS, and nearly 2.5 million worldwide.