Home Automation With Philips Hue, Amazon Echo, And logitech Harmony
On a whim I bought the Amazon echo at an introductory rate. I used it off and on, though not a whole lot. I used it mostly to listen music and as a kitchen timer.
I then found out that the Philips Hue, plugged into the Amazon Echo. I can now control my living room lights by voice.
For what ever reason I felt very strongly to buy the Philips Hue for christmas.
The following month I bought the Logitech Harmony, which allows you to control home entertainment systems, TVs, and other household items through a remote or cell phone app.
The downside is that Harmony cannot be controlled by the Echo directly. I did an internet search, and found that using a service called, IFTTT (If this than that), I can control some harmony features through Amazon Echo.
To see how to connect Harmony to Alexa, follow this guide located HERE.
My TV viewing, living room lights, can now all be controlled by voice. Since I mostly watch Netflix or Amazon Prime, I can turn my Xbox One on by voice through the Kinect. Watching netflix is controlled by voice as well.
With all of this, there are times it breaks down. It is not perfect, and sometimes it is easier to use the app on my cell, or Xbox One controller to do something. I am interested to see what the future brings.
For a detailed write up of Home Automation, check out this SITE.
I then found out that the Philips Hue, plugged into the Amazon Echo. I can now control my living room lights by voice.
For what ever reason I felt very strongly to buy the Philips Hue for christmas.
The following month I bought the Logitech Harmony, which allows you to control home entertainment systems, TVs, and other household items through a remote or cell phone app.
The downside is that Harmony cannot be controlled by the Echo directly. I did an internet search, and found that using a service called, IFTTT (If this than that), I can control some harmony features through Amazon Echo.
To see how to connect Harmony to Alexa, follow this guide located HERE.
My TV viewing, living room lights, can now all be controlled by voice. Since I mostly watch Netflix or Amazon Prime, I can turn my Xbox One on by voice through the Kinect. Watching netflix is controlled by voice as well.
With all of this, there are times it breaks down. It is not perfect, and sometimes it is easier to use the app on my cell, or Xbox One controller to do something. I am interested to see what the future brings.
For a detailed write up of Home Automation, check out this SITE.
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