I searched and couldn’t find anything about Amazon Echo’s new Trigger phrase capability, so thought I’d post. Apologies if it’s been discussed elsewhere.
Amazon added the ability to “trigger” activity by using a phrase, rather than just simple turn on and off.
I’m using it now to call my cellphone (“trigger phone”) because I always lose it, and also to turn on heat (“trigger heat”) to 72 degrees when I’m feeling chilled.
Integration with SmartThings is a bit limited at this time, since most of the exposed behavior from ST is activity you turn on or off, but I suspect there may be more that can be done I haven’t thought of, which is why I’m posting this here in the forum.
This too shall be moved on the right thread… There are ways to fire routines using Alexa. However, Amazon is piloting own routine triggering engine, which will open up new capabilities…in few weeks as ST folks would say.
Is not live yet, they took it down, or at least I don’t see it in my app anymore. When I tried it, it didn’t really work but I liked the concept of firing Alexa phrases with a routine. I think that would be very powerful.
One last thing I did want to note, is that you can lock and unlock doors directly with Alexa, by using a trigger phrase, and connecting it to the ST channel on iFTTT. The channel does have lock, unlock commands.
That was one thing people seemed to really want, because Alexa wouldn’t allow direct locking and unlocking.
New Echo app routine feature. I played with it the other day, it wasn’t really working and when I checked back last night, setting routine option was gone…
The new Alexa functionality that I am talking about is creating routines directly in Echo app. They will be called ‘Routines’ just like in ST universe. @JDRoberts may be making good use of them…
Right, there are now SmartThings routines and Alexa routines. (Alexa routines are not yet in official release, so you May not have them yet. They just showed up for me one day, no announcement.)
To Have echo execute a SmartThings routine, see the FAQ I linked to above.
To set up an echo routine, you use the echo app.
Basically lets you create a list of several different Alexa commands and then have Alexa do them all with one voice command.
To include a smartthings routine in an echo routine, you would just flip the virtual switch associated with that SmartThings routine in the connected home part of the echo routine.
I’m still working out how I’ll use them, but I’m sure I will.
I was able to play with that feature this weekend, but it’s no longer available for me either. I contacted support and they responded within 15 min after I emailed them saying that I need to call in so they can troubleshoot.
There are ways to fire routines using Alexa. However, Amazon is piloting own routine triggering engine, which will open up new capabilities…in few weeks as ST folks would say.
