Dot to Dot - the daily 5min Alexa demo show

How did we end up on Liberty Island after closing time with only a backpack and some sleuthing skills at our disposal? Patrick Steggle ([email protected]) takes us through this mysterious choose-your-own adventure game with a smattering of nice sound-effects.

By Audible, today's skill is a must-try for anyone who either has fond memories of those old choose-your-own story books or simply likes a good, well-written, interactive adventure. Now do you go in search of the Yeti or Atlantis?

Two speed-related skills today. Firstly, David Woodbridge (@DWoodbridge on Twitter) demos how you can change the speed of Audible playback, and then we speed off into space with a nice Star Trek skill.

First test your hearing with today's skill; Hearing Screener. Then test your sanity to the very limit with that infuriating audio clip you probably hoped never to hear again… And lastly, decide to subscribe to the excellent Maccessibility podcast in your favourite podcatching app or via www.maccessibility.net. Today's demo contains clips from the excellent Maccessibility episode; 156 Celebrity-airdrop.

With huge thanks to Nick of Buttonpush Apps/Voice Skills Inc, there is now a newly updated daily flash briefing version of the 'Dot to Dot' podcast. As Amazon won't allow any words relating to the Echo or A-lady in the names of their skills, its new name is 'The Daily 5 Minute Skill Demo Show' and you can find it by searching for it in your local skillstore or, as with all skills, you should just be able to say, "A-lady, enable the daily 5 minute skill demo show."

Come with us as we navigate the complex command-decisions of a would-be starship captain far out in the uncharted reaches of space. Well actually it's just Patrick Steggle ([email protected]) on his couch and I'm just doing my usual top and tail wafflage. No sound-effects but then we are dealing with the vacuum of space here…

Both of today's demos were recommended in a recent weekly email from Amazon. The first thrusts you into the disturbing world of a safe lunar landing, whilst the second swiftly removes any disturbing aspects from activities undertaken adjacent to your A-lady.

Back after a prolonged absence during which the world seemed a little less shiny, Penny Golden ([email protected]) brings us a nice number-related skill that will improve your maths in a flash.

This simple skill provides a handy timer for people with a deadline needing to use the 'Pomodoro' technique; 25mins of study followed by a 5min break X4 and then a 20min break and so on till you fall senseless with fatigue and/or starvation over your work.

Patrick Steggle ([email protected]) is back with another worthy wordy skill; Watch Your Words. If you, or someone near you, is very small and in the habit of saying "Bananas" at inopportune moments then this skill might be just the challenge you're looking for.