5 ms·

Ask HN: Would you be interested in an open-source Amazon Echo?

15 points by throwawayvoice 10y ago

Hey HN, A recent Amazon Echo question got a lot of attention here. I've considered developing Alexa Skills, but I don't like that Amazon needs to approve your Skill in order to add it into the Alexa platform for general consumption. One of the blockers here is that if you try to build an integration with a device without that brand's permission, it could be an infringement issue. I was thinking I'd use Wit.ai to build open integrations for all or most home automation devices with open APIs. Users could then use the software in DIY projects with something like a Raspberry Pi and their own server. How much interest is there for this?

taprun 10y ago
No. I don't want to have a device listening to everything I say or do.
- malekascha 10y ago
  I think that the open source nature of this project would help in that regard. Since there wouldn't be a specific set of hardware tied to it like with the Echo and other devices, you could make a rig that only begins listening upon being prompted to by a button.
- throwawayvoice 10y ago
  My idea here is that the software is entirely open and self-hosted, so it's not making calls to a server you don't control. You'd still be entirely in control of your information. I don't know if that changes your opinion.
essofluffy 10y ago
Yes.
askldfhjkasfhd 10y ago
You may be interested in this -- Amazon open sources an RPi ALexa system. https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi
- throwawayvoice 10y ago
  This is cool! It's similar to what I'm thinking of. But the Alexa Voice Service can't be self-hosted, so it's not really an open solution.
drdaeman 10y ago
If the idea's a complete autonomous, self-hosted system, then, of course it's interesting. Especially, if it won't be English-only or, even better, could be taught other languages by a skilled end-user.
- herbst 10y ago
  Agreed. But its as far from self hosted as even possible by using Facebooks Wit.ai.
runjake 10y ago
If you actually got so far as to implement half of what you mentioned, you'd be crazy not to commercialize it. At some point, you'll need to develop commercial agreements with other corporations. At that point, you'll probably need to have been commercialized. Also, Amazon already has open source activity around Alexa: https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi tl;dr: Just decide and get started.

taprun 10y ago

No. I don't want to have a device listening to everything I say or do.

malekascha 10y ago
I think that the open source nature of this project would help in that regard. Since there wouldn't be a specific set of hardware tied to it like with the Echo and other devices, you could make a rig that only begins listening upon being prompted to by a button.
throwawayvoice 10y ago
My idea here is that the software is entirely open and self-hosted, so it's not making calls to a server you don't control. You'd still be entirely in control of your information. I don't know if that changes your opinion.

essofluffy 10y ago

Yes.

askldfhjkasfhd 10y ago

You may be interested in this -- Amazon open sources an RPi ALexa system. https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi

throwawayvoice 10y ago
This is cool! It's similar to what I'm thinking of. But the Alexa Voice Service can't be self-hosted, so it's not really an open solution.

drdaeman 10y ago

If the idea's a complete autonomous, self-hosted system, then, of course it's interesting. Especially, if it won't be English-only or, even better, could be taught other languages by a skilled end-user.

herbst 10y ago
Agreed. But its as far from self hosted as even possible by using Facebooks Wit.ai.

runjake 10y ago

If you actually got so far as to implement half of what you mentioned, you'd be crazy not to commercialize it. At some point, you'll need to develop commercial agreements with other corporations. At that point, you'll probably need to have been commercialized. Also, Amazon already has open source activity around Alexa: https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi https://github.com/amzn/alexa-avs-raspberry-pi tl;dr: Just decide and get started.