Have you ever imagined a world where AI-driven robots make coffee, do chores, and illuminate the house for you? Well, this is possible with enhanced AI technology that works conveniently through voice commands. The best part is that it’s always ready when you need it. All you have to do is say, Alexa.
There is a lot Alexa can do. Here's how to get started with this virtual assistant and have fun with it!Click To TweetSo, who’s Alexa?
Alexa is known as Amazon’s digital assistant and is like Apple’s Siri, which responds through voice prompts.
However, Alexa resides in Amazon’s Echo Dot or Echo. This AI has a wide variety of skills that makes her do anything. With the help of Alexa, you can schedule important dates on the calendar, set up reminders, and play your music playlist, among many other things.
Isn’t it surprisingly awesome?
HOME AUTOMATION IDEAS USING ALEXA
Create groups for each room
If you have various Alexa devices at home, it will be a good idea to group those in the same room under one primary heading. Such a heading enables you to control all of those devices under one voice command.
Let’s take an example; you have around six lights in your living room. Instead of calling out Alexa to dim or turn on one light at a time, you can say, “Alexa, turn on living room lights.”
Utilize routines
To group various skills under a single command, you have to scroll through the more menu in Alexa’s app. Tap on the “Routines” button and “+” button at the top of the page. Once you are done with that, hit the “+” for the routine name, when this happens, and add action and correspondingly add what you want to happen.
For example, you can create a routine to assist you in getting out quicker on weekday mornings. For this, program Alexa to switch on kitchen lights and coffee pot with the command – “Good Morning”
The possibilities are endless.
Change Alexa’s name
If you do not want the name to be “Alexa,” or if you happen to have an Alexis or Alex already at home and if it’s confusing the Echo, change the entire wake word.
For this, check the following pointers.
- Open the app
- Click on devices at the bottom of the screen
- Select the Echo device
- Go to the device settings by pushing the gear at the top of the screen
- Select wake word and choose what you want it to change to (Amazon, Echo, Ziggy, or Computer)
Get smarter with Alexa skills
You can even utilize this virtual assistant technology as your quizmaster to test your brainpower and, at the same time, improve the catalog of trivia knowledge.
Given below are some of the skills to look for in case you’re gearing up for the next Trivial Pursuit game night.
- Jeopardy!
- Question of the Day
- Trivial Pursuit Tap
- Categories Game
- Twenty Questions
Alexa can do more than home automation
Alexa is a pack filled with interesting skills that are certain to entertain people of all ages. From joke-telling skills to pop culture trivia, this AI has something or the other to delight both old and young.
You can check out some of our faves below.
- Goat Compliments
- The Office Quote Game
- Harry Potter Trivia
- Meow
- Magic 8-Ball
- Hipster Jokes
- Philosoraptor
I have to admit that i am completely intimidated by alexa. these have given me some ideas to help her help make my life easier!
We love Alexa in our house! Especially for making the grocery list.
This is an excellent article. I have an Alexa but am very unsure how to use it.
Alexa is great! We mainly use it for alarms, routines, speakers, intercoms, reminders, lists, and asking questions.
Changing the name is a good idea.
Especially in our house where someone’s name is Alex. Alexa and Alex are just too similar.
Great ideas, thanks for sharing! We do not use Alexa as a family, but I can see why many do.
It’s not for everyone, but we really love our Alexa!
I have thought about needing a alexa before. Just have a small apartment but will have to think about it now
If nothing else, Alexa is great for reminders and asking random questions.
Alexa kind of freaks me out
I’m sorry!! I know someone that isn’t really a fan either. They are afraid Alexa is always listening
I will have to try some of these when I get home!
Glad to hear you have Alexa at your home!
Thinking about it. You make it sound very easy. Slightly tech challenged here, but not a total idiot. Maybe…..”Alexa, make up my mind for me”.
Haha, I tried asking Alexa that but I don’t think she heard me and started playing some song lol
We use Alexa for lots of things.
Glad to meet a fellow Alexa lover!
We don’t have Alexa….someone I live with says it spys on you. Is that True???
Some people have their conspiracy theories about Alexa for sure
We have 2 Echo’s in our house, one in the kitchen and one in the living room. We mostly use it for turning on and off lights and playing music.
I’d also recommend Alexa’s alarms, routines, and reminders – they are some of our favs!
We love our Echos! thanks for the ideas!
We are right there with you when it comes to Alexa!