With lives becoming busier filled with family events, work, and other things, you might turn towards smart home devices to make your life just a little bit easier. These smart home devices allow you to control the temperature of your home, the lights, and the security system all through your phones and your voice. These devices are extremely useful, but are you aware of the functions of your device that are the most useful? Listed below are the most useful and fun features that you could be missing out on.
#1. Automated actions with “Routines”
Have you ever wished that your smart home device you perform functions after you simply state a command? Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa both have a feature called “Routines” that allows you to do just that. An example of this would be if you said “Alexa, good night” and Alexa would turn off all your lights, lock your doors, and turn on outside lights if you wish. If you want to create a Routine go into the Alexa app, go to the menu and then tap Routines. Once you tap Routine then tap the + sign to start a new sequence. Select “When his happens” and then choose your trigger. The trigger can be a phrase, a schedule, or a motion sensor event. Then tap “Add action” to start creating the Routine. The last step is choosing the device you want to trigger the routine from and then tap create.
#2. Make Announcements
One distinct feature of the Amazon Echos, Google Homes, or Apple HomePods is the ability to turn the device into an intercom. This feature allows you to use your smart device to broadcast a message throughout your whole house. For example you could say “Alexa tell everyone it’s time for bed” and Alexa will record your voice and play the message on every Echo in your home.
#3. Free phone calls
One of the best features on your Amazon Echo is the ability to make hands-free phone calls. All you have to do is link your mobile number with your Echo. To make this possible you will need an Amazon account, your cell phone number, and the Alexa app on your phone. Open the Alexa app, go to Conversations, and then follow the on-screen directions to verify and link your cell phone number.
#4. Translate languages
If you are learning a new language or need help translating a word, going to the internet for help can be frustrating. Thankfully your Google Home will do the work for you. You simply ask Google what word you want to know in a specific language.
#5. Control your TV
Did you know that you can control your TV using your Amazon Echo device and your voice? If you have an Amazon Fire TV streaming device, controlling it through your device is easy. To set this up open your Alexa app then go into the Music, Video, Books and select Fire TV. Once you have selected Fire TV, link your Alexa device and follow the directions that are on the screen.
If you want to control your device using your voice, say “Alexa” followed by a command such as pause, skip, go back.
Your Google Home device can control your TV through a linked Chromecast streaming device that is connected to your home network. This feature allows you to stream a specific movie or show from Netflix, a YouTube video, or Spotify and Pandora.
#6. Multi-room audio
If you multiple Echos or Google Homes in your house, you can set them up to play the same sounds/music all at once. To set up the multi-room audio go into Settings on the Alexa app and find Audio Groups. Then select Multi-Room Music. From there, you will see all of your smart home groups so you will need to select Add Group and then tap Amazon Multi-Room Music Group. Once you have tapped on the multi-room music group you will have to name the new group and then select all the Echo devices you wish to include.
If you have a Google Home, you can also set up a multi-room audio feature. To access this feature you must create “Groups” on your Google Home app. Tap Devices in the upper right hand corner of your screen, then select the speaker you want to add, then tap Menu, and then tap Create Group.
Written by: Megan Williams
Social Media 4 Seniors phone number: (865)437-6556
Social Media 4 Seniors email: jdancu@socialmedia4seniors.net
Social Media 4 Seniors webiste: www.socialmedia4seniors.net
