When it comes to controlling smart homes, there are a number of ways to do it including fancy remote controls and apps running on your smartphone or tablet. Amazon wants people to be able to control their smart homes using nothing but their voice via Amazon Echo.
Amazon has added support for smart home gear including Belkin WeMo and Philips Hue to the supported list for Echo. The support for the new gear pushed out to Echo units this week and allows the gear to now be controlled using your voice rather than fishing out a smartphone or tablet to exert control over your house.
Echo is a simple looking device that resembles a speaker shaped like a cylinder. Hidden inside that cylindrical body is an array microphone that is always listening for your command. Once set up what users can do is say things like “Alexa, turn on the kitchen light” and the Hue light will turn on automatically.
You can also use voice commands to dim lights to a specific percentage. To start Hue products that are supported by Echo include the Hue A19 bulb, Hue Lux, Hue Bloom, and the Hue LightStrip. Using Belkin Wemo devices you could use your voice to start your morning coffee brewing and lots more.
SOURCE: SlashGear
I’m excited to see how the Echo continues to evolve as a “smart home hub” and how it will compare with Apple’s HomeKit. I think Apple’s HomeKit will be voice controlled as well via Siri, but they sure aren’t saying. As a Realtor in Salt Lake City, I’m seeing an increasing in demand for smart home technology, but only if it’s easy to control and tie together. The Echo appears to be the device to tie many different devices together, adding the convenience of voice control. If it works well and is affordable, it will be successful. Can’t wait to see it in action.