Amazon Echo and its integrated Alexa skill set together help mobile app developers create new and innovative voice-enabled apps almost every day today. The interface is natural and complements the physical world around us, especially after the onset of IoT based devices. These have together led to the formation of new smart home skill APIs. These APIs help developers create Alexa skill kits to help control the smart devices in a home. From lights to thermostats, everything can be voice controlled, all thanks to Alexa Skill Set.
This is exactly what the Internet of Things is all about. In this article, we are going to see how some devices can be connected and controlled through the Amazon Web Services platform along with Alexa’s skills.
This is especially important for people who already own physical devices and are willing to connect them to other IoT devices.
Amazon Echo & Alexa
Alexa has been the topic of discussion ever since it hit the markets. Thanks mainly to it becoming the undisputed star of the technology spectrum, hitting the markets for Apple and Google directly. Thousands of products on the likes of Alexa’s AI system have been launched, all set to be controlled by its beautiful virtual assistant voice. There has been no shortage of praises from customers and media alike.
New audio systems, toys, vacuum cleaners, other home appliances like lights and TV viewing devices, refrigerators, have all become among the default shopping list of people since the popularisation of Alexa. All these devices can be controlled by Alexa’s voice control system.
On these likes, millions of Amazon Echo devices have been sold all over the world. Thousands are being sold right now, while you are reading this. All of this is directly benefiting Amazon to grow quickly every single day, to rise up the ladder of success.
With these skill sets and more, Alexa can be readily connected to the sprinkler system and can turn it on and off in any home setting. It can order a vacuum cleaner to start working or to stop working as per its own likes. Alexa can even tap into your child’s lunch menu to report to you about what they are eating and what they are not at the school.
This is one of the hidden advantages of Alexa not many are aware of.
These skill sets make it very easy for Alexa to be connected to various home devices and provide its services. This gives Amazon the edge in the IoT space.
Making Lives Simpler
Img src: amazon.in
Let’s assume you have a set of lights in your room, a bedside lamp and a bulb on the other wall. You are trying to sleep and you do not want to get out of your bed to switch these two lights off. You have to work twice as hard, plus when you get out of bed and come back you are letting your sleep leave your eyes. You are disturbing you essential slumber. Imagine doing this every day. Getting out of bed to switch the lights off, then switching them back on again the next morning. It requires manual interaction with these devices.
When you introduce Alexa’s skill set to your home, everything becomes easy for you. Everything becomes automated for you. You can ask Alexa to turn the lights off for you, from the comforts of your warm bed and the task will be done. Or you could simply use your smartphone application and use gestures to do the same. Waking up in the morning sounds fascinating as well. Alexa run IoT can help you make your life smooth.
What is the basic idea here though? It is about how everything around you is connected to every single thing- the internet. Your lights, your garage door, your home appliances, your meals, your garden sprinklers, every single thing. With mere voice commands and gestures, you can sequence everything inside your house as per your convenience and feasibility. You no longer have to manually interact with every single item in your home.
Not only are you going to be able to use your home appliances as per your convenience and manage your home, but also you will able to interact with Alexa and actually get to know about the things happening around you. You could be sipping your coffee, having your breakfast and get to know what is the weather outside like or what time does the train leave the station. Alexa is going to answer all your doubts, all your queries without you having to physically touch any of your mobile devices.
It's a revolution of sorts
Amazon Has An Edge In The IoT Space
Too many companies are coming up with new innovations every single day in the IoT world. One of these innovations is the Amazon echo. Echo devices simply sit in the corner of your house quietly but are power packed devices to do anything for you in a just under a moment. These innocuous devices are what the world needs right now to shape the future.
Author Bio: James Grills is a technical writer with a passion for writing on emerging technologies in the areas of mobile application development and IoT technology. He is a marketing advisor - currently associated with Cumulations Technologies a mobile app development company in India.
COMMENTS