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Taizan t1_iw6at3c wrote

Reply to comment by Guywithquestions88 in Alexa-Powered Side Table Mixes Drinks on Command by shakhawat0410

It can do much but it does not do it well. If you do not use the exact wording that it expects it fails. Like saying "echo play song X from y from playlist z". Also all too often it reacts without the keyword being mentioned which is always weird.

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King_Tamino t1_iw6jg17 wrote

I stopped using sentences and mostly using keywords and routines that I created manually. Increased the experience significantly.

I don’t think it’s a „every task should be done through „-thing but rather increase the experience of what you have or make some things like setting a timer easier.

For example, I got a routine that turns off all lights I might have forgotten, turns on a playlist with calming music and sets a timer to stop the music.

Regulation of the brightness of your lamps. Dimming. Or color changing is a nice feature too and I know I would use it less if I would need to use a button on the wall. Also a routine that turns the lights on 20 minutes before it gets dark. With a fixed brightness is cool

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jjj49er t1_iw6nvfn wrote

You can do all those things with your phone. Why buy another device that does the same thing, but with less control over what it does in the background?

I have all my automation set up in my watch. I prefer to push a button rather than talk, but that's just me.

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King_Tamino t1_iw6oskc wrote

Yeah that’s probably you. I hate watches. And I use my phone enough on work, if I come home it often enough ends up in a corner. I was mobile game .. addicted.. long enough to make that decision.

Also all that you said would require me to be there. Live. Things like Alexa work even if you are not there or others can use it rather instinctively.

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TexacoRandom t1_iw7awg3 wrote

Plus, sometimes my hands are full. I could be working on a project or playing a video game, and I don't have to stop working or pause a game to pull up whatever on my phone. I can just tell Alexa to play a song or tell me the weather while I continue to work or play.

Same thing with cooking, I can make Alexa set timers or change the music without wiping my hands off, or stopping what I am doing.

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Cast_Rate t1_iw7kofe wrote

This is especially true when playing VR. Alexa is a life saver when you're wearing a headset

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paco1342 t1_iw7nxyx wrote

I have a smart light in my laundry room and as I’m walking through the house to go do laundry, I’ll just say “Alexa, turn the laundry room lights on” so I don’t have to flip a switch, fumble in the dark, or make sure it’s on before I carry things. It’s a small convenience, but it’s one of many and I use them often.

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jjj49er t1_iw6p6tz wrote

You can use whatever device you have at home; a desktop, laptop, raspberry pi, or tablet. They can be triggered from the other side of the Earth. I know I'm a watchaholic, but my point was that you can use any of your devices (which you have control of) rather than buying a dedicated device that listens to you all the time and does who knows what in the background.

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Gcodelife t1_iw7dvaf wrote

I have zero issues doing all that without alexa. The best thing about a smarthome, is not having to ask it to do things that it can do on its own.

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