Amazon has introduced a new Smart Soap Dispenser that works with its Alexa voice-activated assistant. The gadget includes a set of 10 LED lights that will count down as you wash your hands for 20 seconds to keep germs and harmful bacteria away. As an Alexa gadget, you can also pair the Smart Soap Dispenser with a compatible Echo device to access a supporting Alexa Routine that will play your favorite songs or tell you a joke or fun fact while you scrub away. That’s an optional feature and the dispenser itself doesn’t include a microphone or speaker. You also don’t need an Echo device to access its best gimmick. Depending on how far underneath the nozzle you hold your hand, the device will provide you with more or less soap from its 340-gram reservoir. The closer you place your handle to the nozzle, the less soap it will dispense. Outside of those features, the Smart Soap Dispenser comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and a micro-USB port for you to charge the device. Amazon says the internal battery can last about three months on a single charge. At US$54.99, the Amazon Smart Soap Dispenser is more expensive than many of the “dumb” automatic soap dispensers you can buy, including a lot of the ones you’ll find on Amazon’s own marketplace. It also feels like it’s a year late. Many tech companies added hand washing-related features last year. (SD-Agencies) | 