Alexa

[TarHeelEer]

My wife gave me a Show for Christmas. I've got everything I can hooked up, including my cameras now. As I keep getting more connected devices, I can see where she'll be amazing.

First, I'm waiting on everyone to be gone to say, "Alexa, play THE's rock everywhere really loud".
Second, where's the Alexa controlled drone to get me snacks and food from the fridge to the livingroom?

 

[rog1187]

My wife gave me a Show for Christmas. I've got everything I can hooked up, including my cameras now. As I keep getting more connected devices, I can see where she'll be amazing.

First, I'm waiting on everyone to be gone to say, "Alexa, play THE's rock everywhere really loud".
Second, where's the Alexa controlled drone to get me snacks and food from the fridge to the livingroom?

What automation devices do you have - lights, thermostat, ?

 

[TarHeelEer]

What automation devices do you have - lights, thermostat, ?

Lights and outlets. Thermostat is on the list. She won't like it when I get that one.

It was nice controlling the Christmas lights with one group for the house, and not having to walk everywhere.

 

[WVUBRU]

I got an Echo Dot. Have no use for one. Didn't want one to begin with. Might as well put it in the trash.

 

[rog1187]

Lights and outlets. Thermostat is on the list. She won't like it when I get that one.

It was nice controlling the Christmas lights with one group for the house, and not having to walk everywhere.

What system are you using or your lights? Is it just lights on outlet or some hardwire (ie outdoor lights)? What thermostat are you looking at?

I've been thinking about doing the same. Contacted my security place today and it was outrageous what they wanted to hooked through their system.

 

[TarHeelEer]

I got an Echo Dot. Have no use for one. Didn't want one to begin with. Might as well put it in the trash.

The kids already had dots in their rooms, and they use them. My wife uses their Dots as a telecom to call them to dinner, that sort of thing.

 

[rog1187]

I got an Echo Dot. Have no use for one. Didn't want one to begin with. Might as well put it in the trash.

You could set it up to yell at kids on your lawn...you won't have to get out of your chair when your reading the newspaper or watching the evening news.

 

[TarHeelEer]

What system are you using or your lights? Is it just lights on outlet or some hardwire (ie outdoor lights)? What thermostat are you looking at?

I've been thinking about doing the same. Contacted my security place today and it was outrageous what they wanted to hooked through their system.

Christmas lights on outlets that are connected, I have 5 so far, and I hooked those up immediately for Christmas. I have 2 bulbs, but I've come to learn we don't have many full size bulbs in the house anymore.

I haven't looked at thermostats yet. I won't for a few more months. Doing it yourself with Alexa has to be much more reasonable than some outside vendor. If I can afford it...

 

[WVUBRU]

Christmas lights on outlets that are connected, I have 5 so far, and I hooked those up immediately for Christmas. I have 2 bulbs, but I've come to learn we don't have many full size bulbs in the house anymore.

Not criticizing at all but I'm curious. I use timers for all the Christmas decorations we put up. Wouldn't you rather do that or do you actually like talking to a machine and having it talk back?

 

[Airport]

Not criticizing at all but I'm curious. I use timers for all the Christmas decorations we put up. Wouldn't you rather do that or do you actually like talking to a machine and having it talk back?

Sounds like a wife, talking back that is!

 

[Mntneer]

What system are you using or your lights? Is it just lights on outlet or some hardwire (ie outdoor lights)? What thermostat are you looking at?

I've been thinking about doing the same. Contacted my security place today and it was outrageous what they wanted to hooked through their system.

Where are you at... and what's your budget. :wink:

Security companies are not automation companies, even though they like to pretend they are. What you guys need is an automation system to integrate all those systems to generate true automation. :smiley:

Not criticizing at all but I'm curious. I use timers for all the Christmas decorations we put up. Wouldn't you rather do that or do you actually like talking to a machine and having it talk back?

I don't talk to Alexa (only when I'm REALLY being lazy). Our Control4 system automatically turns our lights on and off based of a set schedule I created. Every Christmas morning I have Christmas music blare through the house automatically at 9:00am. The teenage kids can't stand it.... I find it funny as hell.

 

[rog1187]

Where are you at... and what's your budget. :wink:

Security companies are not automation companies, even though they like to pretend they are. What you guys need is an automation system to integrate all those systems to generate true automation. :smiley:



I don't talk to Alexa (only when I'm REALLY being lazy). Our Control4 system automatically turns our lights on and off based of a set schedule I created. Every Christmas morning I have Christmas music blare through the house automatically at 9:00am. The teenage kids can't stand it.... I find it funny as hell.

Not sure of a budget - just really exploring the options right now. I know I'd like interior and exterior lights as well as thermostat. I have Arlo cameras which have met my needs. I can set my alarm remotely so I'm good there. What else is there for automation?

 

[Mntneer]

Not sure of a budget - just really exploring the options right now. I know I'd like interior and exterior lights as well as thermostat. I have Arlo cameras which have met my needs. I can set my alarm remotely so I'm good there. What else is there for automation?

What isn't there really.... For automation we are Control 4 dealers, but sell everything from Audio/Video to Thermostats to Lighting to Cameras to Security to Networking. Essentially we bring all those separate systems into a single system that only requires a single app or remote to utilize.

 

[TarHeelEer]

Not criticizing at all but I'm curious. I use timers for all the Christmas decorations we put up. Wouldn't you rather do that or do you actually like talking to a machine and having it talk back?

I could use it for the timer if I liked. There are just so many possibilities that she can control. Although, I am waiting for the day they allow me to use "Hal" as the password rather than Alexa, and change the voice. Just calling someone for a short call while cooking dinner hands free is nice.

 

[Mntneer]

I could use it for the timer if I liked. There are just so many possibilities that she can control. Although, I am waiting for the day they allow me to use "Hal" as the password rather than Alexa, and change the voice. Just calling someone for a short call while cooking dinner hands free is nice.

I find it all unnerving at times. Last night I'm helping my son with his Chemistry homework. We are talking about how to figure out the number of valence electrons. So we pull up google on my phone, I start typing determine the num.... and it shows as the first selection.... "determine the number of valence electrons". Freaky..... :flushed:

 

[MichiganHerd]

My wife has pretty much turned our whole house into a smart home, so much so, that it's almost non-liveable for a non-tech guy like myself.

We have two shows, several dots, and a few echo plus. One thing I like about our setup, is that we also bought a chargeable speaker that we can place one of the dots into, making it easier to take outside to whereever you want, as long as you're in reach of your wifi.

I've pretty much made summer time miserable for my black neighbors, as they don't seem to care for David Alan Coe.

 

[rog1187]

What isn't there really.... For automation we are Control 4 dealers, but sell everything from Audio/Video to Thermostats to Lighting to Cameras to Security to Networking. Essentially we bring all those separate systems into a single system that only requires a single app or remote to utilize.

Out of Morgantown?

 

[TarHeelEer]

I find it all unnerving at times. Last night I'm helping my son with his Chemistry homework. We are talking about how to figure out the number of valence electrons. So we pull up google on my phone, I start typing determine the num.... and it shows as the first selection.... "determine the number of valence electrons". Freaky..... :flushed:

Add a contact to your phone, and Facebook wants to add them. Say anything, Facebook and Google are trying to sell it to you. I'm all in and all out. Right now I'm making my living designing such systems... But one day I could see me going to the mountains, living off the land unplugged, and being one of the freaks they show on television.

 

[mule_eer]

Add a contact to your phone, and Facebook wants to add them. Say anything, Facebook and Google are trying to sell it to you. I'm all in and all out. Right now I'm making my living designing such systems... But one day I could see me going to the mountains, living off the land unplugged, and being one of the freaks they show on television.

My wife has brought up getting an eco or alexa or whatever system. I keep pointing out that I don't really want to install listening devices that are connected to the world in my home. The convenience isn't worth potential pitfalls to me. I joke with my wife about my retirement plan being a disconnected one. I have to spend too much time connected now, and I look forward to a future where I can be unreachable if I choose to be.

Edited to Add: Ironically, I'm posting this rant on a message board.

 

[TarHeelEer]

My wife has brought up getting an eco or alexa or whatever system. I keep pointing out that I don't really want to install listening devices that are connected to the world in my home. The convenience isn't worth potential pitfalls to me. I joke with my wife about my retirement plan being a disconnected one. I have to spend too much time connected now, and I look forward to a future where I can be unreachable if I choose to be.

Edited to Add: Ironically, I'm posting this rant on a message board.

I have been known to unplug that thing at times already... lol

IE, no, the world doesn't need to know everything I'm doing.

 

[Soaring Eagle 74]

My wife gave me a Show for Christmas. I've got everything I can hooked up, including my cameras now. As I keep getting more connected devices, I can see where she'll be amazing.

First, I'm waiting on everyone to be gone to say, "Alexa, play THE's rock everywhere really loud".
Second, where's the Alexa controlled drone to get me snacks and food from the fridge to the livingroom?

One auto-command you’ll never have to speak: “Alexa, please send all of my personal information to Amazon.” Built in feature.

 

[MichiganHerd]

If you happen to place a Show into your bathroom, don't forget to place a towel over it, if you happen to be the type that likes to stroke the monkey. Otherwise, she'll be watching you, and she might even break out laughing.

 

[Original Mountaineer1]

The kids already had dots in their rooms, and they use them. My wife uses their Dots as a telecom to call them to dinner, that sort of thing.

Do you live in a Trump like mansion? Just scream!

 

[TarHeelEer]

Do you live in a Trump like mansion? Just scream!

Not a chance She texts me if I'm in the next room

 

[dave]

Do you live in a Trump like mansion? Just scream!

Yeah we rext each other when we are in the next room.

 

[Mntneer]

Out of Morgantown?

Martinsburg. If I was in the area I'd hook you up. I know a guy who does do some work around the Mo-town area however.

 

[rog1187]

Martinsburg. If I was in the area I'd hook you up. I know a guy who does do some work around the Mo-town area however.

Shoot me his contact info in a DM. Thanks