Voice Activation for IT SMEs

[Part 5 in a series of posts helping IT Resellers make Smart Home part of their business]

Something happened in the second half of 2016. Sales of Smart LED Bulbs jumped 250%.

Why?

Well, it did coincide with the launch of Amazon Echo and Google Home. And, as Adam Smith of Energenie says, "Amazon Echo has set Smart Home alight" - so it would seem there's a link. Indeed, Adam points out how now over 3M UK homes now have at least one Smart device.

Seems voice activation is a game changer when it comes to Smart Home. And if you're interested to learn more, read on...

Elephant in the room?

There's a problem using Smart devices. It's to do with the way they're operated. For something as simple as turning lights on it's often easier to use the switch than your phone.

You could argue this is about circumstances. That there'll be times when one is better than the other. Flicking the switch as you walk into a room. Using your phone if you're on the sofa. And while this may have made things more convenient I'm not so sure it's made anything smart. After all, what's so slick about using a remote control? And what's so clever about using the switch? Smart Home? No.

Don't switch your lights on or off, ask them

Of course, neither using a remote control or switch is Smart. Neat, cute, convenient… yes. Ingenious… maybe. But not smart. For me, smart is cleverer than that. And ‘cleverer' is out there. It's alive and kicking. It's called voice activation.

Voice activation makes it possible to speak, ask for things to happen and, like magic, they do. Now it doesn't matter whether you're near the switch. It doesn't matter if your mobile's out of reach. As long as your voice assistant can hear you saying "Alexa" or "OK Google", you can change the lights.

Be demanding

Language is a complex, powerful thing. Utter a sentence and you communicate meaning in three ways. What you've said, how you've said it and why.

Now I'm no expert but I do know language excels at collapsing meanings into a few words. My point is this: a short sentence can represent something that takes several actions. I've already made the case for how much more convenient voice activation is. Now I'm making it for how speech makes ‘doing' tasks quicker, easier and simpler too.

Case in point: do what our IT Manager does when he's working late and wants a relaxing workspace. He doesn't search for his mobile. He doesn't open the Smart Bulb app. He doesn't select the colour function. And he doesn't change it to what he wants. He just says, "Alexa, switch colour bulb to orange". And it happens. That's Smart.

Built-in functionality

Different voice assistants go about things in different ways. You'd expect Amazon's Echo to work in a different way to the Google Home.

Both come with a range of similar functions and features. Both have their own built-in services. Both have services you can download (Amazon Echo has skills, Google Home has Actions). Both work with IFTTT and Stringify too.

Now, to keep this post simple I'm going to talk about Amazon's Echo from here on. This isn't because I've any issues with Google Home, not at all. It's to cover each in detail would make this blog long. And I had to choose one.

Shopping list

Both voice assistants come with very similar but different shopping list features. For the Echo it's a built-in function on the device and in the app.

Once you've set-up your Echo, all the features are ready to go. And using the shopping list couldn't be easier. To add an item say, "Alexa, add bread to my shopping list", or, "Alexa, I need to buy paper towels". And Alexa confirms what she's (?!) done with, "I've added bread/paper towels to your shopping list".

When you want to know what's on your list ask, "Alexa, what's on my shopping list?" and she reads it back. You could also look and see what's on the app or your the website too. But whichever way you do it, it's pretty useful, no?

Add to basket

Do I need to spell out the jump that's coming? About how a shopping list doesn't have to be for food... it could be for anything!?! Of course not.

But did you expect this: "Alexa, add a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti G1 to my Target basket". Wouldn't it be great if you could do that? So when you go to your Target basket it's listed – ready to buy. Well don't get too excited you can't do this...

But while we all dream over possibilities here's what you could do now. Say, "Alexa, add GeForce GTX 1050 Ti G1 to my shopping list". Sure, it won't add it to your Target basket but it's made noting what you need a lot quicker, easier and convenient. [And yes, it does work I checked it.]

Using the Echo shopping list meant you didn't need to stop work and find a pen and paper. You did it as you went without interrupting your job. And when the email alert to submit your Target basket comes - per my blog "Home Automation - Smart Home Step 3" - you play back the list and place it. Ask, "Alexa, what's on my shopping list?" and she'll tell you. Neat. (And when you're finished use the app to clear down the list ready for tomorrow).

Could do better

This was the fifth in a series of blogs about Smart Home. The series isn't about the technicalities of Smart devices. I'm not dwelling on the specifications of plugs, switches and the like. My intention is to build your knowledge and competence - IT Resellers - in their use. So you can sell Smart devices and services to customers with confidence.

Starting with setting up a simple plug, we've also used motion and open sensors to achieve useful stuff. We've also looked at IFTTT, an important web service that enables you to link devices with things like email. And in this blog we've focussed on voice activation by using devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home.

We've come a long way. But if you think this is the end of the road think again. There's still more to cover with voice activation. And we haven't even started with location services or geo-fencing. When I started this series I said the possibilities with Smart Home are amazing. Hopefully you're starting to think that too. Until the next blog…