Voice Control

Alexa-enabled products work with devices such as lights, switches, thermostats, and more, that you can control using your voice. Ask Alexa to switch on a lamp, turn on the fan, dim the lights, or increase the temperature. Some products work directly with Alexa and other smart home ecosystems require a compatible hub.

AMAZON ECHO

The Echo is the black cylinder that started it all—a Bluetooth speaker equipped with far-field, always-on microphones and internet-connected smarts. The device can control smart home products, play music from your phone, Amazon Prime, and Spotify, and even order products off Amazon just by listening to your voice.

With hundreds of Alexa Skills you can customize the virtual assistant to your liking.

AMAZON ECO DOT

Take the Echo, slice off the top, and you’ve got the Echo Dot. The Dot ditches the high-quality built-in speaker to cut down on cost, while still giving you all of Alexa’s smarts. A smaller built-in speaker does let you talk to Alexa, but it’s not good enough for streaming music. Instead, you can connect the Dot to speakers you already own via Bluetooth or an audio out jack.

CONTROL4 HOME AUTOMATION MEETS VOICE CONTROL

Control4 is the one of the first home automation companies to combine smart home scenes with the convenience of the Alexa far-field voice recognition, coordinating connected devices throughout the home. With support for over 9,900 popular lighting, audio, video, security, and comfort products, Control4 provides automation to the entire home. Providing homeowners with the flexibility and level of control they desire, devices can also be controlled individually with simple commands to turn a single light on or off, dim lights to create the right mood, or even adjust the temperature from bed.

UPCOMING GOOGLE HOME

Alexa’s not the only game in town anymore. Google announced the Google Home in May. After its October 4th launch event, the company showed the always-listening virtual assistant in detail, complete with lots of highlights of how Google Home can best its primary competition — the Amazon Echo. Just like with Echo, you can use your voice to tell Home to add an event to your calendar, set the temperature of your thermostat, or stream your favourite song.