The variety of products that are compatible with Alexa is getting wider and wider on a daily basis. Smart speaker users that bought an Alexa-enabled one can attest to this fact since they use it to rock their music, get info on news and weather, and attempt any quiz. Even users of Internet-connected smart home devices won’t argue since products like Nest Learning Thermostat; a Ring Video Doorbell can use Alexa, Amazon’s digital assistant, for their control as well. Manufacturers will tell you giving a voice command is now easy and conscious reasoning-free but what they won’t tell you is the complicated set-up process that preceded the enabling of these commands.
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Alexa is simply a virtual assistant developed by Amazon, capable of voice interaction, music playback, the setting of alarms, playing audiobooks and providing information like Traffic, Sports e.t.c. It can control various smart devices by using itself as a home automation system. Extension of its abilities can also be done. All you have to do is install “skills.” And these skills are provided by third’party vendors.
Let’s tell you all you need to know about How Alexa Can Help You To Control Your Smart Home:
1. Connecting Your Phone, Tablet
As long as your device’s manual displays work with this virtual assistant, you are good to go. All you have to do is open the Amazon app on your device, tap on “Devices.” to access the Devices menu, select the “+” button and then “Add Device.” from the options listed out before you, using that set-up menu, select the type of device you own, choose the brand of that device, and adhere to the step-by-step instructions.
If your device cannot be found on the list, do not give up yet. After accessing the Device menu, tap the menu button and then “Skills And Games,” this takes you to the Alexa Skill store. That should work.
Alternatively, after accessing the device menu, use the search button to search for the brand of your device, if your branded skill is displayed, tap it to reveal its listing. For installation of that skill, click on “Enable to use.” and adhere to the set-up instructions.
2. Organizing Your Phone, Tablet
As soon as you add your device, organizing them and your smart speaker into groups according to their location in your home won’t be a bad idea. Creating a Bedroom group and adding the smart lights in that same room makes you get your desired response when you say “Alexa, turn on the lights” and not “Alexa, turn on the living room lights.” Yes, I agree, its almost the same thing but the voice command comes with a more natural feel that way. Here is how to create your groups. Tap the “+” button, then click on “Add Group,” name your group and add the relevant devices, speakers and scenes. Once you’ve added the right things to your group, save it, your group will be ready to use immediately.
3. Automating Your Phone, Tablet
To make those smart devices in your home smarter, you are allowed to automate them to finish tasks on triggers you have stated out. Triggers like arrival/exit from home, sensors, and voice commands. To make this clearer, you are allowed to automate your devices so when you utter these words, “Alexa, good night.” your lights automatically go off and your front door locks. An Alexa feature with the name “Routines.” is your guy for the creation of animations. Here is how automation is done. In the app, access the menu section, then Routines, then “+” to show you the new Routines set-up screen. Using this screen, click on “When this buttons.” to work on a trigger for the routine. Decide on a trigger and save. This move will take you back to the New Routine screen. Now tap “Add action.” to select what action you should expect the routine’s trigger to perform. Your options here are many. It could be adjusting the speaker volume, playing music, having Alexa say a phrase, reading calendar events e.t.c. The using multiple actions on routine to have a simple “Alexa, good night.” do things to signify you are done for the day is also possible. As soon as you are through with adding your preferred actions, click on create and your routine will be set for use.
Connecting all your devices and creating multiple routines goes a long way to ensure you take full advantage of Alexa.
