If industry trends are correct, most of us are talking to Alexa in our homes.
Reports from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week all point to the consumers’ love of Amazon’s Echo, a voice activated speaker who goes by Alexa, and its ability to integrate many of other smart products in our homes for convenience and cost savings.
There’s an entire product inventory built around the ability to voice command your home appliances. You can turn down the temperature, or turn up the volume of your favorite song. You can turn on the lights and turn off the celling fan.
Hungry? Just let Alexa know. On the market are several Alexa-friendly refrigerators, which means you can order your groceries with the Alexa voice controls coordinating what you need with what you have via the refrigerator’s touchscreen technology. Check out the one by Samsung.
Not sure how to make your wife’s favorite dish? Ask Alexa to pull a recipe from the Food Network. And Bartender app and Drink Boy can help find a wine or specialty drink to complement your dish. Just ask Alexa to find it.
Alexa can even preheat your oven with appliances from companies like GE that have WiFi connectivity, but you’ll have to ask Alexa to talk to Geneva, GE’s keyword for appliance control. Whirlpool and Bosch are also in on the game.
Washers and dryers are even getting in on the Alexa party. (Now if she could just fold the laundry….)
Using smart thermostats like the Nest, Alexa can be used to make it warmer or cool things off a bit. And working with smart outlets and products such as Philips Hue light bulbs Alexa can control your lights so you can turn them on even when your hands are full.
TV providers like Dish are launching Alexa compatible controls that will change the station or find your favorite show.
There are door locks and security cameras that are Alexa responsive.
To get the most out of Alexa, industry advisers suggest getting a starter kit with a smart home hub. The hub connects all the compatible smart devices to the cloud for compatibility and ease of conversation with Alexa, according to Digital Trends.
Alexa is not only functional with some existing products, it’s actually encouraging technology companies to create new products that will sync with Alexa in the home and even in your car.
If only your kids listened to you like Alexa.