How do I use Alexa voice control?
What is Alexa?
Alexa is a virtual assistant developed by Amazon that uses voice recognition and natural language processing. It is available on Amazon Echo devices and other third-party devices. Alexa is managed by the Alexa Voice Service cloud-based platform.
According to Statista, over 70% of U.S. adults currently do not own a smart speaker assistant, so there is still room for growth in the market. However, Amazon Alexa leads the smart speaker sector with over 28% market share as of 2022.
How Does Alexa Work?
Alexa works by using far-field microphone arrays to detect voice commands within a given environment. These microphone arrays use beamforming technology to isolate the audio from a person’s voice command and suppress all other noises, even from several feet away [1]. Once Alexa detects a voice command, it is sent to Amazon’s Alexa Voice Service (AVS) in the cloud for processing.
The AVS handles speech recognition, natural language understanding, and other processing to interpret the voice command. Alexa taps into various skills and web services to fetch information or perform actions based on the command. For example, Alexa can play music from streaming services, control smart home devices, look up information online, interact with third party skills, and more. Advanced speech recognition models like neural networks enable Alexa to understand different voices and accents [2].
Setting up your Alexa device
Getting started with Alexa is easy. You’ll need to download the Alexa app and connect your device to your wifi network. Then you can set up your device from within the app by following a few simple steps.
First, download the Alexa app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. Once downloaded, open the app and sign in using your Amazon account credentials. This links your Alexa device to your Amazon account.
Next, go through the setup prompts within the Alexa app to connect your device to your wifi network. The Alexa app will walk you through instructions specific to your device to get it connected to the internet.
Finally, follow the rest of the setup instructions in the Alexa app to finish the initial configuration. This includes things like linking smart home devices, setting up voice profiles, allowing requested permissions, and more. The app makes it easy to customize your device settings.
According to Amazon’s official Alexa setup guide (https://www.amazon.com/alexa-setup-guide/b?ie=UTF8&node=17978645011), the key steps are to open the Alexa app, sign in, and follow the on-screen instructions to get your device online and ready to use.
Ways to Interact with Alexa
There are a few different methods you can use to interact with Alexa and issue voice commands:
Use wake words – To get Alexa’s attention, say the wake word “Alexa”, “Computer”, “Echo” or whichever wake word you have set up. Alexa will then listen for your command or question. The blue light ring will appear when Alexa is ready.
Push the action button – Your Alexa device likely has a button with a mic icon that you can push to activate Alexa instead of using a wake word. Press and hold the button while speaking your command.
Say commands out loud – With a wake word or the action button, you can speak your voice commands or questions aloud. Talk to Alexa as you would speak to a person. Say your command in a clear voice in one sentence. For example “Alexa, play some jazz music.”
Some key tips: speak naturally, enunciate well, and speak loudly and clearly. Alexa works best when the microphone can pick up your voice accurately. Position yourself facing the device within 15-20 feet for best mic pickup.
Voice commands
The most basic way to use Alexa is through voice commands. This allows you to speak naturally to Alexa and have it carry out tasks for you hands-free.
All voice commands start with a wake word. This is a trigger word that alerts Alexa to listen for your request. The default wake word is “Alexa”, but you can change it to “Echo”, “Computer”, or “Amazon” if you prefer.
After saying the wake word, speak your request in a clear voice. Keep your commands short and simple for best results. Some examples of voice commands include:
- “Alexa, play music” – starts music playback
- “Alexa, what’s the weather today?” – provides a weather forecast
- “Alexa, set an alarm for 7am” – sets an alarm at the specified time
- “Alexa, add milk to my shopping list” – adds an item to your Alexa shopping list
Alexa is designed to understand natural language, so you can phrase your requests conversationally. But clear, concise commands will ensure the best experience.
Check out this guide for 200+ Alexa voice commands to get you started.
Types of Alexa skills
There are many different types of skills that can be enabled to expand what Alexa is capable of. Some of the most popular categories include:
Smart home control: These skills allow you to use Alexa to control smart home devices like lights, thermostats, security systems and more. Popular brands include Philips Hue, Nest, Ecobee, Ring and ADT. You can do things like turn lights on/off, adjust the temperature, arm/disarm security systems and more just using your voice.
Music: Skills like Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn Radio and iHeartRadio allow you to stream music just by asking Alexa. You can request specific songs, artists, playlists and radio stations.
News: Get customizable flash briefings and on-demand news/information from sources like NPR, BBC, Fox News, CNBC and more. Alexa can read you the latest headlines, weather reports, sports scores and more.
Productivity: Skills like Todoist, Trello and Any.do allow you to add tasks, set reminders and manage to-do lists by voice. There are also calendar skills to manage your schedule.
Games: Alexa has skills like Jeopardy!, 20 Questions, Would You Rather and various trivia/quiz games you can play for entertainment.
There are many other categories like food ordering, travel, meditation, fitness and more. Enable skills in the Alexa app to get started.
Smart Home Control
One of the most popular uses for Alexa is controlling compatible smart home devices like lights, thermostats, appliances, and more using just your voice. With an Alexa-enabled device like an Amazon Echo, you can turn lights on or off, adjust the thermostat temperature, start playing music, and control many other smart devices in your home without lifting a finger.
Some examples of smart home devices that work with Alexa include:
- Smart lights and bulbs from Philips Hue, TP-Link, Lifx, and more
- Smart thermostats from Ecobee, Honeywell, Nest, and others
- Smart plugs and power strips from Belkin, Kasa, Wemo
- Smart locks from August, Schlage, and Yale
- Smart speakers and displays like Amazon Echo, Fire tablets, and Echo Show
- Smart appliances like refrigerators, washers, robot vacuums, and more
You can control these devices using your voice and simple commands like “Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights” or “Alexa, set the thermostat to 72 degrees.” The Alexa app lets you easily connect and manage all your compatible smart home devices too.
With the right smart home devices, you can create Alexa routines to automate multiple actions with one command. For example saying “Alexa, good morning” could turn on the coffee maker, turn up the thermostat, turn on the lights, and play the morning news – all with one simple voice command!
Alexa privacy
One common concern people have with Alexa is privacy. Amazon stores customers’ voice recordings and other data in the cloud to help improve Alexa’s voice recognition and natural language abilities. However, some find it unsettling that Amazon retains voice recordings indefinitely.
To address privacy concerns, Amazon allows users to review and delete their Alexa recordings. You can access stored recordings in the Alexa app under Settings > Alexa Privacy. From there, you can listen to and delete individual recordings or choose to have recordings automatically deleted after a set period of time, such as every 3 or 18 months.
Users can also manage privacy settings in the Alexa app, choosing whether or not to allow Amazon to use voice recordings to develop new features and improve Alexa. Under Alexa Privacy Settings, you can opt out of helping develop new features or having your voice recordings used entirely.
While Amazon states voice recordings are not associated with customers’ Amazon accounts or identities without their permission, some privacy advocates argue companies like Amazon should not store users’ voice data at all without an opt-in choice. Overall, being aware of Alexa’s privacy settings can help you feel more in control over your data.[1]
Alexa troubleshooting
Sometimes Alexa may not respond as expected. Here are some tips for troubleshooting common issues:
Check your wifi connection. Make sure your Echo device is connected to a strong wifi network. Weak wifi can cause Alexa issues with hearing and responding to requests. Move your device closer to your router or consider getting a wifi extender.
Make sure you said the wake word clearly. Alexa needs to clearly hear its name (Alexa, Echo, Amazon, Computer) to know you want its attention. Enunciate the wake word and speak at a normal volume and pace.
Restart your Alexa device. A quick restart can help if Alexa is having issues. Unplug your Echo for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. This will refresh the connection. You can also restart via the Alexa app.
Update the Alexa app. An outdated Alexa app can lead to problems. Check your app store for any available updates and install the latest version. This will ensure compatibility with Alexa’s servers.
For additional troubleshooting tips, see Amazon’s guide at https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201399130.
Tips for using Alexa
To get the most out of Alexa, here are some useful tips:
Know what skills are available
Alexa has a vast range of third-party skills that can add to its functionality. There are now over 100,000 skills available (Source), covering areas like productivity, gaming, health and fitness, music and audio, travel, and more. Browse the skills store on the Alexa app or Amazon website to discover new skills that are helpful for you.
Create routines for common tasks
Routines allow you to trigger a sequence of actions with a single command. For example, you could create a “Good morning” routine that turns on the lights, gives a weather report, plays the news, and brews your coffee machine. The Alexa app makes it easy to set up customized routines for your daily activities.
Customize your Alexa wake name
Tired of saying “Alexa” all the time? You can change your Echo device’s wake word to “Echo”, “Computer” or “Amazon” (Source). Go to Settings in the Alexa app, then select Device Settings to change the wake word for your Echo.