Computer Shopper - UK (2019-08)

ISSUE 378|COMPUTER SHOPPER|AUGUST 2019 8585

group. That makes controlofdevices so
much easier,asyou no longer need to
remember whether youcalled it living room
or lounge, bedroom twoorkids’ bedroom.
If youwanttocontrol devices in another
room, youcan still use the old wayof
speaking, such as saying to your kitchen
Echo, ‘Alexa,turn on dining room lights’.

Routines are Alexa’sway of doing multiple

things in one go, all under the control of a

single command word, time or throughthe

press of abutton. For example, you can setup

aroutine trigger by saying, ‘Alexa, goodbye’,

which will turn off all of your lights and smart

plugs –handy if you’re always leaving lights on

when you go out. Or you could say, ‘Alexa,

turn on movie mode’, which would dim the

lights and turn up the thermostat.

The choiceonwhatdotoisentirelyupto

you, but we’ll showyou howtoget started

with Routines here so thatyou can startto

automate your home. To getstarted, open the

Alexa app, tap the menuicon(top left) and

then select Routines.

1.CreateanewRoutine

Tapthe Plus icon to create anew Routine,

then tap the When this happens box. You

getthe choiceoffour options: Voicelets

you enter the voicecommand thatyou

wanttouse; Schedule lets you pick a

specific time, including repeats on the

days you choose; Devicemonitors when

one of your smartdevices does something,

althoughwedidn’t have anysupported

options forthis newfeature; and Echo Button

watches forthe press of one of Amazon’s

buttons, which cost £20 forapair.

We’ll go with Voice, so select this and

then enter the phrase thatyou wanttouse.

Then tap Next.

2.Controlasmartdevice

TapAdd action to add whatyou wantto

happen. You’ll see abig list of possibilities,

but we’re going to startwith smarthome

control, so select SmartHome from the list.

Next, you getthe option to control adevice,

group or scene (scenes are special,

predefined routines thatare built into

some smartdevices, such as Hue lights,

where you can save your bulb settings).

Select agroup or device, and then use the

options to choose whatyou wanttodo.

Options varydepending on the device.

For example, with aHue bulb, you can turn it

on or off, or setthe brightness and colour; a

smartthermostatmay onlygive you the

option to setthe temperature. TapNextwhen

you’re done, then repeatthis step to add

more devicecontrol.

3.GetAlexatodootherthings

Routines don’t have to be about controlling

smartdevices; you can also use Routines to

make Alexa do other things. When creating

your Routine, tap Addaction, then you can

select the other options. For example, you

can have Alexa read out your calendar,

reportonthe traffic (based on the settings in

the app thatyou’ve entered, such as your

work address) or read out the latest news

and weather bulletins.

With these options, you could have Alexa

tell you about the weather and what’s in your

calendar, before turning off all your lights and

smartplugs as you head out. If you’d like a

delay, you can use the Wait Action to add a

pause in minutes or hours: a10-minute wait

between aweather reportand turning the

lights off should do it.

TapSavewhen you’re done.

4.ManageyourRoutines

Youcan nowrun your Routine using the

trigger thatyou set, such as pressing abutton

or saying the wake word. Alternatively, if you

have atime-based Routine, you can use the

Alexa app. Go to the Routines partofthe app

and tap the Playbutton next to your routine.

To manage Routines, tap the name of your

Routine. Youcan toggle the Routine on or off if

you wanttotemporarilydisable it. Youcan

add newactions or delete and reorganise the

list of currentactions. Tapthe three dots (top

right) and select Delete Routine to getrid of

one you don’t wanttouse anymore.

HowtocreateRoutines

THEULTIMATEGUIDE TOAMAZONALEXA

To createaGroup, go to the Alexa app

and tapDevices, then tapthe plus icon

and select AddGroup. Giveyour Group a

name (there’s alist of common rooms that

youcan select from to makelifeeasier).

Now, select the Echo devicethat’sinthe

room (if thereisone)and the smart devices

that areinthat Room and tapSave.

Now, on the Devices screen, you’ll see

your Group. If you’vegot lights in it, you

canuse the lightbulb icon to toggle the

lights on and off. Tapthe Group to view

the list of devices that areinit, and you

canselect each devicefor controlortap

the Edit button to add or remove devices

from your list.