Barb Darrow for Fortune:  A Canadian-American robotics company is turning to the popular Amazon Alexa-Echo combo to help people with spinal or lower-body injuries be more mobile and autonomous in their homes.

Bionik Laboratories is integrating the tech giant's Alexa voice assistant and Echo connected home speaker with its robotic gear that aims to help people with spinal cord or other injuries walk and perform other physical functions they might not otherwise be able to do.

Other technology from the company is already used in Veterans Administration facilities and the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, N.Y., but this integration should let the company offer an assistive robot for in-home use, says Michal Prywata, co-founder and chief operating officer of Bionik, based in Toronto and Boston.  Full Article: