Categories: AlexaSmart Home

Amazon Alexa Grows Up

For those looking to automate their homes, the Amazon Alexa platform took great strides this week with significant “Routine” enhancements.

While some were fired up by location-based triggers, I can’t say I’ve experienced consistent reliability over the years with geofencing. However, two new conditions make all the difference as I look to standardize on a single, efficient platform. “Wait” and new timers take Alexa from pretty trivial routines to complex macros… that I’ve already begun implementing. And Alexa voice control is actually an afterthought.

For example, when my backdoor Ring detects motion overnight, a series of Hue lights will turn on (to either assist us into the house or deter an unwelcome guest). Then, after 15 minutes, the lights will go dark.

The hubless hub isn’t quite there, as so many sensors and accessories have yet to be integrated (such as my Hue motion detectors), but we’re getting tantalizingly close – especially those in possession of a Zigbee-endowed Echo.

Published by
Dave Zatz