Amazon Echo Support - Quick Setup And Feedback

[d.kiran]

First, I don't think Securifi did a good job of on-boarding customers on Echo. So here's a quick start.

To enable Alexa integration, follow the below steps. Currently Alexa works on FireTV (requires voice remote or App), Echo, Echo Dot.

1. Download the Alexa App on your smartphone (iOS or Android)
2. Go to Skills section and search for Almond or Securifi and enable the skill.
3. Login to Securifi and enable connection between Alexa and Securifi.
4. You should get an email confirmation.
5. Test Alexa by using the following format "Alexa, Ask Almond to <Scene_Name>. You have to say the scene name exactly.

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Now here's my feedback.

1. Make Almond name shorter in skills. I hate it when Alexa says, Sorry we could not find Almond Smart Router and Automation or some such statement.

2. Clean up the available scene names. I would recommend that you enforce a standard. Here's what I came up with quickly, others can add.
<Verb> <Device/Groups>, <Specific Value>

<Verb> - Turn On, Turn Off, Turn Up, Turn Down, Dim, Brighten
<Device/Groups> - Heater, HVAC, Front Lights, Kitchen Lights, All Locks
<Specific Value> - Here you can specifify Dim Lights to 50%, Turn on Heat to 72 etc.

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Here are some supported scene names that are weird
almond, arc, bishop leaving, christmas, coach, covina, coquina, crab, crawl, cupola, dad, display, doral, east, hanger, nighstand, oscar, paige, rack, swamp, stream, tank, tea etc..

[Ashok]

@ d.kiran,

First, I don't think Securifi did a good job of on-boarding customers on Echo. So here's a quick start.

To enable Alexa integration, follow the below steps. Currently Alexa works on FireTV (requires voice remote or App), Echo, Echo Dot.

1. Download the Alexa App on your smartphone (iOS or Android)
2. Go to Skills section and search for Almond or Securifi and enable the skill.
3. Login to Securifi and enable connection between Alexa and Securifi.
4. You should get an email confirmation.
5. Test Alexa by using the following format "Alexa, Ask Almond to <Scene_Name>. You have to say the scene name exactly.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Now here's my feedback.

1. Make Almond name shorter in skills. I hate it when Alexa says, Sorry we could not find Almond Smart Router and Automation or some such statement.

2. Clean up the available scene names. I would recommend that you enforce a standard. Here's what I came up with quickly, others can add.
<Verb> <Device/Groups>, <Specific Value>

<Verb> - Turn On, Turn Off, Turn Up, Turn Down, Dim, Brighten
<Device/Groups> - Heater, HVAC, Front Lights, Kitchen Lights, All Locks
<Specific Value> - Here you can specifify Dim Lights to 50%, Turn on Heat to 72 etc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are some supported scene names that are weird
almond, arc, bishop leaving, christmas, coach, covina, coquina, crab, crawl, cupola, dad, display, doral, east, hanger, nighstand, oscar, paige, rack, swamp, stream, tank, tea etc..

I would say this is just the start and a lot of improvement would be happening, your feedback would be updated to our team.

[xtbs26]

I agree with d.kiran. I was excited to see Echo support but a little disappointed in the way it works. With Smartthings I can simply say "Alexa, turn off living room" and that is sufficient. Hopefully this is just a first step and things will get to that point. I would love to go back to the Almond as I really miss the rules interface but not until the Echo stuff is ironed out.

[Ashok]

@ xtbs26,

I agree with d.kiran. I was excited to see Echo support but a little disappointed in the way it works. With Smartthings I can simply say "Alexa, turn off living room" and that is sufficient. Hopefully this is just a first step and things will get to that point. I would love to go back to the Almond as I really miss the rules interface but not until the Echo stuff is ironed out.

It is already in progress and hopefully, it would be there sooner than I expect.

[Ashok]

@ All,

Now that we trying to add more support and improve the performance of the Amazon Echo, would request every one again to click here and add the Scene names you like or prefer, there is one more column for suggestions too.

[AutoHome]

@ All,

Now that we trying to add more support and improve the performance of the Amazon Echo, would request every one again to click here and add the Scene names you like or prefer, there is one more column for suggestions too.

Hi, I've never used google docs so I'm not sure if my input was saved but I've been using this format for controlling my lights: "<location> <on/off>" i.e. "kitchen on" "kitchen off" so I added the following to the suggestion column:

indoor on
indoor off
garage on
garage off
backyard on
backyard off
interior on
interior off

Thanks

[Ashok]

@ Autohome.

Thank you, I have corrected it, on the google doc under Voice command name, we could provide any preferred name and give a small eg under function for that scene name. Apart from this if you have any other suggestions, you can put them under suggestions column.

[Shazster]

Which securifI account & password are required to set up Almond+ skill on the Aman Echo?

DISREGARD  - FIXED.

[d.kiran]

@Ashok - Couple of suggestions.

1. I think you/Securifi is following the wrong way of doing this. This is not scaleable. You cannot anticipate all the scenes that your users will have. The ones on this forum are a small percentage. The ones who will fill out that spreadsheet is an even smaller percentage.

2. You need to enforce a pattern. With Alexa, you are going to say "Alexa, ask Almond to" and then scene name. Pick a pattern that makes sense and enforce them. For example, I had two scenes, "Turn Front Lights On" and "Turn Off Front Lights". Obviously if I say "Turn Front Lights Off" Alexa doesn't recognize the scene. But it doesn't make sense for you to have two scenes that do exactly the same thing, but are worded differently. You only have 50,000 phrases anyway.

3. You should be using the SmartHome skill - https://developer.amazon.com/public/solutions/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/overviews/understanding-the-smart-home-skill-api . Why is Securifi not using this ? Any particular reason ? This is obviously a better fit than what you're using now.

[Ashok]

@ d.kiran,

Thank you for your suggestions we are considering almost all the options to make a better utilization of the Amazon Echo, it is a bit early to confirm anything as the work is still going on and would surely update with anything new on this.

[d.kiran]

3. You should be using the SmartHome skill - https://developer.amazon.com/public/solutions/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/overviews/understanding-the-smart-home-skill-api . Why is Securifi not using this ? Any particular reason ? This is obviously a better fit than what you're using now.

I believe I had to update this thread. Looking at the Smart Home Skills features provided by Amazon, I think Scene support is invaluable. Smart Home Skill is not a better fit, they address different situations.

[penright]

Just tried setting up echo. Looking at the FAQ's it talks about two skill's. 1. Almond 2. Almond Smart Home. I found the Almond (#1) but not the smart home (#2). Did you merge them into one skill? This is my first skill to set up so I might be doing it wrong also.

[mparadis]

Go into the app and under skills search for "almond" there should a skill named "almond" and one named "almond for smart home." Let us know if that works.

[penright]

Let us know if that works.

Typical user ... I swear that is what I did, this time I found both. Sorry for the confusion. Thanks.

[mparadis]

No worries! Glad it works.