Alexa was inspired by the interactive computer voice used in the original Star Trek TV series. The word “Alexa” was chosen because the “X” is easily recognizable for voice recognition. The word is also a homage to the famed ancient Library at Alexandria.
How Alexa Works
The Alexa Voice Service converts your voice signals into computer language commands that can execute a task (such as searching for a requested song). It then converts the computer language into sound signals so that the Alexa voice assistant can provide you with information verbally (such as time, traffic, and weather). Since the cloud-based Alexa Voice Service is needed to answer questions and perform tasks, a connection to the internet is required. Without an internet connection, there’s no Alexa interaction. This is where the Alexa app comes in.
Set up Alexa on an iOS or Android Phone
Alexa can be used in conjunction with your smartphone or tablet. To do this, download and install the Alexa app. Once either app is installed on your smartphone, they are identified by the Alexa app as devices that it can communicate through. You can use Alexa on either or both these apps wherever you go with your smartphone.
Set up Alexa on an Echo Device
You need your smartphone to initially configure Alexa with your Echo device. When that’s done, you don’t have to keep your smartphone on. You can communicate with the Echo device using Alexa.
The Wake Word
Once Alexa is configured on either your smartphone or Echo device, it can respond to verbal commands or questions using that device. You can also adjust voice response speed. Say Alexa, speak slower (or faster). To get a normal speech rate back, say Alexa, speak at normal speed.
How You Can Use Alexa
Alexa Skills provide interaction with third-party content and services. It also enhances your lifestyle by turning your Alexa-enabled device into a smart home hub. Examples of interaction with third-party content and services include ordering takeout food from a local restaurant, requesting an Uber ride, and playing a song from a specific streaming service, provided you enabled the designated skill for each of those options. In its role as a smart home hub, instead of accessing a control pad or using a handheld or app-based remote to control the functions of a specific device, you can tell Alexa, through a compatible Echo product, in plain English, to perform the task. For example, you can tell Alexa to turn something on or off, adjust a thermostat, start a washing machine, raise or lower a video projection screen, turn a TV on or off, view security camera feeds, and more. This can only be done if control for those devices is added to the Alexa Skills database, and you enabled those skills. In other words, instead of telling Alexa to turn off the lights, the TV, and lock your door with separate commands, you can say something like Alexa, good night. Alexa takes that phrase as a cue to perform all three tasks as a routine. By the same token, when you wake up in the morning, say Alexa, good morning. If you set up the routine beforehand, Alexa turns on the lights, starts the coffee maker, provides you with the weather, and activates your daily briefing as one continuous routine.
Compatible Alexa Devices
In addition to smartphones (both Android and iOS), Alexa can be configured with and accessed on the following devices:
