5 ms·

I have an Amazon Echo in every room of my house, and I use it to control home automation, such as all of my lights, my ecobee thermostat, and my entire home the

I have an Amazon Echo in every room of my house, and I use it to control home automation, such as all of my lights, my ecobee thermostat, and my entire home theater (via a logitech harmony). I even use it to switch on and off my humidifier and space heater (and manage the temperature). My wife and I also use it to manage my shopping list (via the OurGroceries skill/app). I can use it to remote start my car and preheat or cool it down in the morning. I can even control my adjustable tempurpedic bed base, and have an IFTTT trigger which makes my bed vibrate whenever my amazon echo alarm goes off in the morning. The possibilities are endless, and it's only going to get better.

JohnJamesRambo 10y ago
Isn't it easier just to do that stuff with your hands?
- azinman2 10y ago
  Not if your hands are busy, or your place is big, or you're already snuggled on the couch and you just want 1 thing to turn on/off.
- zippergz 10y ago
  I have my home automation stuff hooked up to Alexa also, and no, it's not always easier to do it with my hands. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. I am often baffled by this "I'll just use the light switch" response to home automation. It's not that you can't "just use the light switch," but there are situations where it makes life measurably better to not have to. First world problems, for sure, but they exist. For example, if I'm sitting comfortably in my recliner and I decide I want to watch a movie, it's pretty great to be able to tap a few buttons on my phone to dim the lights without getting up. It's even better to now be able to say "alexa, turn on movie lights" to do it without digging out and unlocking my phone. Or if I'm making dinner, feeling hot, and my hands are covered in tomato juice, it's awfully nice to be able to adjust the air conditioner by voice. These aren't life changing things, but they are pretty nice luxuries that have increased my family's quality of life.
  - daveguy 10y ago
    > increased my family's quality of life. Seriously, man? I get that you want to justify the thousands you spent on home automation, but come on.

JohnJamesRambo 10y ago

Isn't it easier just to do that stuff with your hands?

azinman2 10y ago
Not if your hands are busy, or your place is big, or you're already snuggled on the couch and you just want 1 thing to turn on/off.
zippergz 10y ago
I have my home automation stuff hooked up to Alexa also, and no, it's not always easier to do it with my hands. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. I am often baffled by this "I'll just use the light switch" response to home automation. It's not that you can't "just use the light switch," but there are situations where it makes life measurably better to not have to. First world problems, for sure, but they exist. For example, if I'm sitting comfortably in my recliner and I decide I want to watch a movie, it's pretty great to be able to tap a few buttons on my phone to dim the lights without getting up. It's even better to now be able to say "alexa, turn on movie lights" to do it without digging out and unlocking my phone. Or if I'm making dinner, feeling hot, and my hands are covered in tomato juice, it's awfully nice to be able to adjust the air conditioner by voice. These aren't life changing things, but they are pretty nice luxuries that have increased my family's quality of life.
- daveguy 10y ago
  > increased my family's quality of life. Seriously, man? I get that you want to justify the thousands you spent on home automation, but come on.