5 Things You Didn’t Know Alexa Could Do

Smart home technology has been one of the most popular tech innovations of the past year or so and it has led us into feeling as though we are living

11:31 10 May 2018

Being able to play music, get weather reports and learn fun facts just by using our voices is something we used to only see in films and TV shows. However, the release of smart home devices such as Google Home and Amazon Echo have made these features accessible to us all. For those who own a smart home device, you may feel that you know exactly how to use it, but Alexa has a lot of hidden features you probably weren't aware you could use. If you own or are thinking of getting an Amazon Echo, here are some fun tips to help you get the most out of it.

 

 1. Flip a Coin

For those times where you just can't decide what to do, Alexa can help you with that. All you need to do is say "Alexa, flip a coin" and she will tell you whether it lands on heads or tails. If you have a more complex decision to make, or if you're simply embroiled in a game of D&D and find yourself lacking a 20-sided dice at that critical moment, just ask Alexa to roll whichever die you need and she'll roll it for you and announce the number!

 

2. Get Lottery Results

Instead of having to get your phone out and search for the latest lottery results to see if you are a winner, Alexa can do that for you. All you need to do is download the Lottery skill from the Amazon store which will quickly install to your Echo device and you can find out if you have won your fortune in seconds! The internet has caught on to how popular the lottery is and even has sites such as lotto.net which allow people to bet on lotteries all around the world, so it makes sense that Amazon would get Alexa involved too!

 

3. Get Your Schedule

One of the greatest benefits of smart technology is that is can be used to make our home and professional lives so much easier. Alexa really shines as a personal assistant, and by syncing your Google Calendar with your Amazon Echo, she can tell you exactly what your day looks like when you ask her “Alexa, what’s on my calendar?”

 

4. Help Get to Sleep

If you sometimes struggle with falling asleep, Alexa can help you out. By asking her to help you sleep, Alexa will begin to play ambient sounds such as rain falling or white noise to help create a more relaxing atmosphere for you to fall into a deep slumber.

 

5. Clean your House

Ok, this may be a bit of an exaggeration, Alexa can’t quite start dusting your house or clean your windows (yet) but if you have a self-cleaning vacuum like the Roomba, you can sync it with your Amazon Echo and simply say “Alexa, tell Roomba to start cleaning” and hey presto, your floor will be clean in no time!

In the coming years we will see smart home tech get more advanced, but where it's at right now is pretty impressive. Sure, Alexa can't exactly cook your favorite meal or walk the dog for you, but she is already on her way to being a very capable personal assistant and commands like these prove just how useful this technology can be.