An Alexa Powered Smart Home (Smart Home Series, Part 1)

My Smart Home, Part I:
Powered by Alexa & The Amazon Echo

Alexa is Amazon's Voice Controlled Personal Assistant

Alexa is Compatible with a Plethora of Devices

  

After last week's article reviewing The Dash Wand, I received an email request asking me to talk a little more about Alexa and my own Smart Home.  So today, a new series begins, focusing on the Smart Home. We'll take a look at my own Smart Devices, and how they have changed my life for the better.

This series will begin with an introduction to Smart Devices, as well as an Introduction to Alexa, Amazon's software-based Personal Assistant. Alexa acts as the hub for my own Smart Home devices, and she adds the voice control component to them. Later articles will go into more depth about how to use Alexa, how to integrate various devices into your smart home, and how to use Alexa to tie it all together and make it simple to operate. (In fact, I would not have expanded my own stable of smart devices had I not fallen in love with the Echo's ease of use.)

If you'd like to be notified when new articles in the series are published,we recommend you subscribe via e-mail, using the box in the sidebar of this  blog, or follow us on Twitter.  (Facebook can be flaky at showing followers our posts.) Future posts in this series will include items such as Smart Outlets, Smart Thermostats, and Smart Light-bulbs.  Today's post will concentrate on Alexa, Alexa-enabled devices, and the Amazon Echo.

What is a Smart Home?

Many of us remember the voice-directed computers featured in classic science fiction. 2001: A Space Odyssey had Hal, and on Star Trek, Spock often called to the computer for help. And while neither Knight Rider's KITT nor the Jetson's Rosie have materialized yet, we have made great strides in artificial intelligence over the last couple of decades. In 2017, having a voice controlled home is no longer in the realm of science fiction, nor limited to the wealthy.

Simply put, a Smart Home is a home equipped with lighting, heating, and other devices that can be controlled remotely, usually by means of a computer or a mobile phone. A smart device is merely a single component of a Smart Home. Smart devices usually depend on a live internet connection to function.  Most can be controlled via wi-fi, even if you are not inside your house.

Today, you can buy devices with smart technology built in.  You can also buy accessories to bring smart technology to older devices.  You can find Smart Devices in all categories, from lighting to entertainment to security to appliances. Most devices come with some sort of app to use as a controller. Some devices also use hubs for communication. (We will be covering various smart devices and their capabilities in future articles in this series.  Again, if you have an interest in this area, you may want to subscribe to this blog, and/or follow us on Twitter, so you don't miss a single article.)

Many manufacturers are making smart devices. Some of the more common names in Smart Home Technology are Wink, Nest, Belkin We-Mo, TP-Link, Phillips Hue and Ecobee. Samsung is probably the leader in Smart Appliances, including refrigerators and washers, and is getting into the hub and lighting areas as well.

Most smart devices do not have built in voice control. To control the device, you must open an app on a phone, tablet, or computer.  That is where Alexa, and her Echo Family of devices come in.  Alexa is an easy and economical way to bring hands-free control to your Smart Devices.  Alexa brings voice control to your Smart Home and frees you from the apps.

What is Alexa, and What Can She Do?

Alexa is the name of Amazon's software-based Personal Assistant.  Alexa is not a smart device per se, but rather, can interface with a plethora of smart devices, including those made by other manufacturers.  In addition, Alexa powers Amazon's own array of smart home devices, which in turn, extend voice control to compatible Smart Home devices.


Alexa is more than just a smart device controller. Alexa has one of the best AI's I have ever seen. Natively, she can do searches and answer questions.  Alexa can pretty much do anything a Google Search can do, and more.  Alexa can set timers and alarms. Alexa can read you the news or the weather. She can play your music and read books to you. She can shop. She can keep lists and even interface with your calendar.  She can tell you the time or perform conversions. And she can play games.  She can interface with many web pages and web services. She can even order delivery or take-out.

Alexa is personalized through an app. This app is available on desktop and mobile platforms. It is available through Google Play, Apple iTunes, and the Amazon App Store. There is also a web-based version (for the smartphone challenged.)  Alexa also comes pre-installed on many Amazon devices, including most of the Fire line.  Certain "skills" must be enabled through the app before they will work on an Alexa-enabled device. Alexa will let you know when a certain skill needs to be enabled before use.

As of February 2017, there were more than 10,000 Alexa skills. Of course, many of these skills are more useful than others.  As Amazon has made the Alexa api open and free to use, more skills are being added every day.  In addition, Amazon has partnerships with product developers, so you are beginning to see Alexa on non-Amazon products.  This also means that if you have a device with Smart capabilities, there is probably an Alexa skill that will interface with the device.  Furthermore, it means you can buy devices from a variety of manufacturers and control them all through Alexa, rather than having to worry about opening a half a dozen different apps.

Some devices can take advantage of ALL of Alexa's capabilities; other devices offer more limited Alexa features.  If you read the review of the Dash Wand, you'll notice I referred to it as having "Alexa Lite."   That means it does not offer the entire range of Alexa's capabilities. For example, the Dash Wand can voice control smart bulbs, but it cannot play music or do timers.  My Fire TV Stick cannot control my Smart Lights.  So before deciding on an Alexa-capable device, you'll want to ensure it is capable of the "skills" and functions you will need.  Amazon devices are pretty clear on which Alexa functions they support. Non-Amazon devices may take more research.

You'll also notice I refer to Alexa as "she" or "her," rather than "it." That is because Alexa speaks in a soothing, female voice.  And the more time you spend using Alexa, the less you'll feel like she's an "it."

What is the Amazon Echo?

The "flagship" of the Alexa-enabled line is the Amazon Echo.  It came out for the Holiday Season of 2014.  Generation One Echos were limited to Prime Members, by invitation only.  Those lucky enough to snag one of the invites also received a 50% discount off the $199 price.  These Generation One Echos included a voice remote exactly like the one available for the Fire TV Stick.  By the time they were available to the general public, the voice remote was no longer included.  (It is available as a $30 "accessory," but I do not recommend that purchase. It was eliminated because most folks never really figured out why it was needed.)

The Echo is a Smart Assistant packaged in a high quality, Bluetooth-enabled speaker.  It connects to your home network via wi-fi.  It has very powerful internal antennas so it does NOT need to be close to the router to get a good signal.  It boasts "360° immersive sound," and can interface with many popular music streaming services, (including Pandora, Spotify, and of course, Amazon Music.) You can also use it as a Bluetooth speaker, and can stream music from your phone or tablet to the Echo. It also has 7 internal microphones, so it can hear you from quite a distance away.  It can distinguish voice commands from other ambient noise fairly well.

The Echo is currently priced at $ 179.99.  It is available through Amazon, as well as through various third-party retailers (like Walmart, Best Buy, and B&H.)  It is 1.3" x 3.3" x 3.3", and weighs approximately 6 ounces. It comes in black or white.

How Do I Use the Echo?

The Echo runs on a/c power, and it's always connected.  To activate Alexa, you speak the chosen wake word, listen for her confirmation beep, then speak your request.  The default wake word is "Alexa," but you can change that to "Echo," "amazon," or even "Computer" through the app.  (If you have more than one Echo device, you can configure different wake words for each, if you want.)  If you have more than one Echo, Alexa will sense which device is closest, and will respond through that one.

There is a button on top to turn off the microphone, should you wish.  There are also volume controls on the Echo itself, but I never use them.  (I use voice controls for volume.There are also volume controls in the app.) You speak to Alexa in regular, conversational language.  (Currently, Alexa only speaks English, German, and " a bit of Pig Latin".)  To have Alexa stop whatever she is doing or reading, just say "Alexa stop," or "Alexa, cancel X."  She also responds to "Alexa, OFF!" and "Alexa, SHUT UP!"

What Can the Echo Do?

As the flagship in the line, The Echo has full Alexa capabilities.  That means it can do everything described in the "What is Alexa" section above.  More specifically, it has the following abilities.

• Perform Searches:  Alexa can search for nearby restaurants and attractions, as well as give you information on businesses.
• Answer Questions: Ask Alexa any question, and she'll do her best to answer
• Order Food: Enable the appropriate skill, and you can order from Dominos, Seamless, GrubHub, Pizza Hut, and many more. If you are in an area served by Amazon Restaurants, of course, Alexa can voice order for you.
• Play Music: Amazon can stream from Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora, TuneIn and SiriusXM, among others. If you are a Prime Member, it gives voice access to the Prime Music Library and all its playlists. You can also stream as you would to any Bluetooth speaker.

• Read News, Weather, and Sports Updates: Alexa can give you news updates, local weather, and international and/or team specific sports updates.  
• Movie Information: Alexa can tell you what movies are playing at nearby theatres, as well as the times. It can give movie synopses and ratings.
• Create Lists: Alexa can create and maintain all sorts of lists, including to do lists, reminder lists, and shopping lists. Of course, it can add items to your Amazon Wish Lists as well.
• Set Alarms and Timers: Alexa can set multiple alarms and timers at once.
• Play Games: Alexa can play popular games like 20 Questions and Jeopardy.  There are dozens of different game skills that can be enabled.
• Read Books and Stories: Alexa can read your Kindle Books and audio books. It has skills that enable stories for children. It can read you "A Visit from St. Nick" on Christmas Eve.

• Control Your Smart Home:  Adds voice control to lights, fans, switches, thermostats, garage doors, sprinklers, locks, and more, including devices from WeMo, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, ecobee, and others. (We'll be talking extensively about this throughout this series.)
• Act as an Intercom: Amazon recently updated the Echo to support use as an intercom. Of course, you'll need more than one Alexa enabled device to use this function.
• Call Other Echos: Amazon recently added free, wi-fi calling to the list of Echo skills. You can only call other Alexa users who have opted in though.
• Call an Uber: With the Uber app and the corresponding skill enabled, you can use your Echo to call an Uber.
• Check Your Google Calendar: Alexa can tell you about things listed in your Google Calendar.
• Check Wikipedia: Alexa can access Wikipedia articles and read them to you.
• Create "If Then Than That" Routines: If you are a fan of the "If Then Than That" app, Alexa is one of the few hubs with full app compatibility.
• Shop: You can use Alexa to shop on Amazon, or for price comparison purposes.
• Fun Stuff: Alexa just does a lot of fun stuff. Try asking her an off the wall question, like "Who let the dogs out?" or "Who loves you baby?" Ask her "What is the meaning of life?" Children and adults alike will get a giggle out of many of Alexa's answers. Remember, Alexa also can speak in Pig Latin if you ask.

Again, new skills are being added every day.  You can see the categories and find all types of skills through this link, or simply search "Alexa Skills" at Amazon.com. Alexa also has a Twitter account she uses to publicize new skills and fun Alexa tricks. Alexa compatible devices usually contain app and skill information in their set up guides.

The Echo also has a few Prime Exclusive Benefits. Amazon regularly runs "Alexa only" deals, especially during the Holiday Seasons and during Amazon Events, like Prime Day.  You can voice order anything Amazon sells, order from Amazon Fresh or Amazon Restaurants, track Amazon purchases, and a lot more. I expect them to add "Contact Amazon Customer Service" to the list of prime-exclusive Alexa benefits any day.

However, you do not need to be a Prime Member to benefit from Alexa or the Echo.  Outside of shopping, few skills and functions rely on an Amazon membership.  I would suggest tying Alexa to SOME music service though, even if it is your own digital library.  I find I use my Echo for music streaming on a daily basis.  If you're not a Prime member, you can choose your favorite compatible streaming service (like Pandora or Spotify.)

How Does the Echo Help with Your Smart Home?

I mentioned I have various Smart Devices. I also said Smart Devices typically come with their own apps to control them.  If all of your smart devices come from the same manufacturer, chances are you'll be able to control them with the same app.  If you have a mishmash of smart devices, chances are you'll need several different apps, one from each manufacturer.  Alexa allows me to control  all of these various devices without having to open several apps.

For example, in my bedroom, I have a we-mo controlled light bedside, a TP-Link controlled fan, and a Philips Hue Bulb in the lamp on my dresser. Without Alexa, I'd need to open three separate apps just to turn on my bedroom devices.  Instead, I just say "Alexa, turn bedroom on,"  and voila! When I want to turn off just the dresser lamp. I say "Alexa, turn off dresser."  There is no need to think about which app a particular device is controlled by. Even better? There is no need to bring a phone into the bedroom, and I can turn the fan on and off at will, half asleep, just by mumbling a few words.  There's no need to reach for anything or even sit up!

Alexa allows you to control individual items, such as "dresser." It also allows you to group items together, so one command activates all devices in the group. A group can consist of one or more Alexa-compatible devices.

For the bedroom, I have a group named "Bedroom." I also have a group called "Sleepy," which controls just the two lights.  Another group, bedlights, controls the same two lights. I can ask Alexa to turn off either sleepy or bedlights, and it does the exact same thing.  Likewise, I have a group called "Living Room" with that room's devices in it, as well as separate groups for various different lighting configurations.

I have a group I'd suggest ALL smart device users create: Everything.  Every time I add a new smart device to my collection, with the exception of the thermostat, I also add it to the group called "Everything." That way, when I leave the house, I can just tell Alexa to "Turn Off Everything." Then, of course, Alexa switches ALL connected Smart Devices off.  (It's why the next smart outlet I get is going on the coffee pot. Quite frankly, the outlet is less expensive than a replacement carafe for the machine I forgot about and left on all day.)

So Alexa allows me to place items from different manufacturers into "groups" for easy control, as well as adding voice control capabilities to those devices.  It allows me to control groups of devices without having to open several apps.  For that reason alone, I ensure new devices feature Alexa compatibility.

Grouping devices is done through the Alexa app.  And Alexa makes it super easy to add new devices to her control.  All you need to do is say "Alexa, discover my devices."  In a few seconds, you'll see those new gadgets listed under the "Smart Home" tab of the Alexa app, ready to be added to your groups.

The Amazon Dot

The Amazon Dot is the Echo's little sister.  Dot can do everything that Echo can do, at a much lower price point.  She is only about the size of a hockey puck.  She is also only $50.  Dot comes in Black or White.

If the Echo is a Boom Box, the Dot is a transistor radio. If the Echo is an Acura, the Dot is a low-end Honda Civic.  It will get you to the same place, just with a lot less style and comfort.  It has neither the robust speaker nor the numerous microphones of the Echo.  However, it has an AUX jack so that you can connect an external speaker. It can also connect to a Bluetooth speaker.  If you have an existing speaker (or set) you are not using, you can easily connect it to the Dot to enhance its audio quality. This means that potentially, you can get better audio quality from a Dot than an Echo, sometimes at a lower total price.  And if you are going to use the Dot for streaming music, you're going to want to add an external speaker or some Bluetooth headphones.

Whether you choose the Echo or the Dot depends on where and how you are planning to use her.  The Echo can hear commands from a farther distance.  She has better internal wi-fi antennas.  Only the picky audiophiles will need to pair the Echo with another speaker.

However, many of us have spare speakers at home, possibly from an old PC.  I have a couple of Bluetooth speakers I've won in sweepstakes that I rarely use, as well as an old iPod dock.  If you have a lot of extra speakers laying around, and you do not need Alexa to hear you from very far away, The Dot is probably the better purchase.

I live in a small house with an open floor plan.  The Living area and kitchen are on one floor, and the bedrooms are upstairs.  I have an Echo on the living level and a Dot in my bedroom.  I have an old cell phone that I keep in airplane mode and an old iPod dock next to the Dot. The old phone holds a lot of music, so that is usually connected to the iPod dock. However, when I want to use the Dot for music, I just switch the AUX cable over. (I got my AUX cable at the Dollar Tree.) Most of the time, I am using the Dot for alarms, news and weather briefings, time, or smart home control, and thus do not need the enhanced speaker capabilities of the Echo.

However, the wi-fi is a lot wonkier in the Dot than on the Echo. I have crappy, unreliable internet service since being sold out to Frontier, which I am sure contributes to the Dot's connectivity issues. However, I find the Dot "drops out" a LOT more frequently than the Echo.  I think I've rebooted the Echo twice in the year and change I've had it. I reboot the Dot frequently. Often, it fails to reconnect after I've had to reboot my modem. Rebooting the Dot always solves the connectivity issue.  But the Dot is also located MUCH closer to my access point than is my Echo. The Echo is a much better choice for weak signal spots in your house.

Jeff Bezos, Head of Amazon, says he has Dots in almost every room of his house, including the bathrooms, and Echos in his living and "play" areas.  The nice thing about the Dot and the Echo is that they play well together.  If two devices hear your command, Alexa determines which you're nearer to, and she uses that device to respond.  Things like timers, alarms, and music playback are device resident, meaning an alarm you set on your bedroom Dot will not sound on your living room Echo.  However, devices and playlists set up on an Echo will also be available on your Dot.  And most things set up on any Alexa device are accessible through the app at any time.  I can open the Alexa app from my living room to cancel an alarm I've set on my bedroom Dot.

The Amazon Tap

The Amazon Tap is Echo and Dot's Strange Cousin.  It is a portable, battery powered, Bluetooth Speaker with Alexa built in.  Originally, you had to tap the device to "wake" Alexa. However, earlier this year, Amazon issued an update that can make the Tap an "always listening" device, like the Dot or Echo.  It is priced at $130.

The Tap's speakers are better than the Dot's, but not as good as the Echo's.  If you need a device you can take with you, then the Tap is worth a look.  Otherwise, you're probably better off with a Dot or Echo.  It has short battery life when "always listening" is enabled. If it's not enabled, you need to physically interact with the unit to issue a command, making it little better than using Alexa on a fire tablet or even a Dash Wand.  The Taps are also the easiest of the family to find in the "Warehouse Deals" section, indicating a lot of returned units. Warehouse Deals is where Amazon sells used, open box, and returned products, as well as some refurbs.  Thus, The Tap is probably the least popular of the Alexa family.


The Tap does come in a variety of fun colors. If you live in a city where open wi-fi is prevalent, you may have use for the portability of the Tap.  It is a good Bluetooth speaker for the money, with the added feature of having Alexa built in.

New Alexa Devices: The Echo Show and The Echo Look

Recently, Amazon announced the Echo Look and the Echo Show.  I have no personal experience with either device.

The Echo Show is an Amazon Echo with an added screen.  Thus, it is capable of receiving video content in addition to audio.  As far as I am concerned, I already have video capabilities and Alexa compatibility on my $50 Fire Tablet. If I want to look at a screen, I have a PC or tablet in most every room. I also have a phone with "OK Google" and a small screen.

Like the Echo and the Dot, The Echo Show is an "always listening" device.  It is 7.4” x 7.4” x 3.5” and weighs 40 ounces.  It has both an internal camera and a  touchscreen, and it comes in Black or White. The Echo Show sells for $229.99.  Amazon is currently running a promotion that discounts the cost of 2 Shows by $100. I am unsure if this promotion extends past July, 2017.  I also would not be surprised to see this discounted on Prime Day 2017.

The Echo Look is an Echo with a camera.  It is marketed as a "Style Assistant." I think it's a specialty product for Teens and Fashion Bloggers.  Here is how Amazon describes it:

With Echo Look, you can take full-length photos of your daily look using just your voice. The built-in LED lighting and depth-sensing camera let you blur the background to make your outfits pop, giving you clean, shareable photos. Get a live view in the Echo Look app or ask Alexa to take a short video so you can see yourself from every angle. View recommendations based on your daily look and use Style Check for a second opinion on what looks best. And, because Alexa is built in the cloud, she’s always getting smarter—and so will Echo Look.

The Look basically takes photos of your outfits and documents your wardrobe.  It also makes "wardrobe recommendations."  I imagine it is a product with a very limited market. Currently, it is available by invitation only.  It costs $200.

Other Alexa-Enabled Devices

Amazon sells several other Alexa enabled devices, including Fire Tablets, Fire TV Sticks, and Dash Wands.  Most of these devices do not have the "always listening," voice command capabilities as the Echo and the Dot.  If you are not looking for voice control, any one of these devices may fit your needs.  Personally, I have a Fire Tablet and a Fire TV stick in addition to my Echo and my Dot, but they are used more for entertainment than for control.  But if you're interested in more entertainment-related functions, you may not NEED the advanced capabilities available in Echo and Dot devices.

Summary

This is Part One of a new series on Smart Devices and Smart Homes.  We have barely brushed the surface of Smart Homes, Smart Devices, and Device Control.  We have not even fully explored Alexa's capabilities yet.  As this series continues, we will explore these topics more in depth. Meanwhile, if you have any specific questions, send them to us so that we can address them in future posts.  This includes questions about devices, Alexa skills, set-up, integration, and anything else you are curious about.

This post introduced Alexa, and the family of Alexa enabled devices, including the Amazon Echo and the Amazon Dot.  It talked about the Echo family's function as a Smart Device Hub, how it can eliminate the need for several apps, and how it can extend voice control to a plethora of smart devices.

As this series continues, we'll delve deeper into the Smart Device Market, discussing various options to introduce smart technology into your own home without breaking the bank.  I am building my own smart home slowly, taking advantage of sales, and spending my credit card reward points on new additions.  As older devices begin wearing out, I look to replacing them with connected, smart devices, without straining my limited budget.

Stay tuned to this blog for the rest of the series. And please, let us know if there are specific devices or functions you'd like to see us include.  The next post in the series will talk about Smart Lighting and how to integrate it into your home.

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You can send questions and feedback via email (techlaurels at gmail), by Facebook Messenger, tweets, or Twitter Messaging. You can also use the comment section of this blog. We hope you'll join us for the rest of this series. And as always, thank you for reading.