When the Amazon Echo first hit the streets, it was really nothing more than a glorified speaker. A lot of people were scratching their heads trying to figure out why Amazon would come out with such a device.
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But over the few years that it has been available, Alexa and grown into a major competitive device in the race to become #1 in the Artificial Intelligence race. Companies such as Apple (Siri), Google (Google Home) are loosing the battle quicker then one can change their underwear.
The one thing that helps Alexa to grow is the ability for 3rd party developers to make add-ons (called Skills) for the device and be able to use Amazon’s networking infrastructure to host those skills and make them available to all end users.
Besides the basic commands that you can ask Alexa (such as time, date, etc.) Amazon (and developers) is making sure that one can use Alexa in everyday life.
The following is just some of what you can do with Alexa:
- Listen to an Audiobook where ever you are – You’re listening to an auto book next to your Alexa. You then remember to get something from the kitchen. You can then pick up a fire tablet and say “Alexa, send that to my Fire Tablet.” The Audiobook will then be “moved” to the tablet.
- Expand the Echo – Besides all of the things that the Amazon Echo can already do, there is a web site to help expand the device even further. The web site is called IF THIS, THEN THAT (http://www.ifttt.com/). This web site offers add-ons (called Applets) that a user can find, download, and use with their Alexa.
- Find your phone – Ever loose your phone? Well, now Alexa can help you find it by calling it. Just say “Alexa, trigger find my phone.“
- Make a TO DO List – Having a to do list for some people is paramount. Well, Alexa has such a feature and it’s simple to use it. Just say “Alexa, create a new to-do list” and it will. To add something, just say “Alexa, add wash dishes to my to-do list.” Alexa will then verify that it is added.
- Make a shopping list – Just like the to-do list, a shopping list is created the same way. To add something, just say “Alexa, add milk to the shopping list.”
- Shop (or reorder) items on Amazon.com – Yes, you can either go shopping or reorder an item on the world’s biggest market place. When ordering something for the first time, Alexa will ask you to set up a 4 digit password so it can verify a purchase or item reorder.
- Arrange a Ride – Without having to touch your phone, much less turn it on and fire up an app, you can orally arrange an Uber or Lyft ride. “Alexa, ask Uber to request a ride.” If you already have an account with Uber or Lyft and have coordinated these services, you can call a car to your house.
- Make your home “smarter” – Home automation is gaining in popularity. With a comparable home plug, you can make your home totally automated with Alexa. For example, with a compatible device plugged in to a lamp, you can tell Alexa “Alexa, turn on the living room light.” The possibilities are endless.
- Find “Easter eggs” – No, not actual Easter eggs. These are little things that programmers put into apps (or skills) for a user to find later. There are too many to mention here, but I’d like to invite you to use Google.com, books from Amazon.com, and other search engines to find them.
- Arrange a ride – Without having to touch your phone, much less turn it on and fire up an app, you can orally arrange an Uber or Lyft ride. “Alexa, ask Uber to request a ride.” If you already have an account with Uber or Lyft and have coordinated these services, you can call a car to your house.
- Make it read to you – Besides Audiobooks, Alexa will read most text books from Amazon.com’s vast library.
- Keep track of appointments – If you use Google Calendar, you can link Alexa up to that calendar so someone can ask it “Alexa, what’s on my calendar today?“
Again, these are just some of the many commands that you can ask Alexa.
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