X Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2018

Everybody remembers the Jetsons, America's favorite futuristic family, and their world of flying cars, robot servants, automatics meals and voice-controlled devices. It was once considered science fiction but it's actually much closer to reality today, with some aspects of it already here. We have already developed numerous devices that make our lives easier, such as the Roomba, Nest, Echo, Siri, Ecobee Thermostat and many others.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are also an integral part of the smart home. Most companies are trying to develop products that will be capable of anticipating the needs of their consumers and taking care of them, because that is what they believe people want, to spend less time handling an increasing number of devices in their homes.

What is a Smart Home?

The latest technology trends always sound cool, but it’s important for industries to know if the idea will stick. What something does far outweighs its trendy hashtag.

So let’s start with your first question: What is a smart home?

According to Coldwell Banker and CNET, a smart home is “[a] home that is equipped with network-connected products (i.e., “smart products,” connected via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar protocols) for controlling, automating and optimizing functions such as temperature, lighting, security, safety or entertainment, either remotely by a phone, tablet, computer or a separate system within the home itself.”

A lot of tech here, so let’s look at some examples:

Ever seen one of those home security commercials where you can control your system through your phone?

That’s an example of a smart home.

With smart home technology, you can forget to close your garage door or even activate your security system altogether.

Instead of that quick panic attack when you just remembered that your garage is wide open, all you have to do is tap into an app and down goes the door. No extra gas or heart palpitations required.

Smart homes operate around something called the Internet of Things (IoT), a new term in the tech world that is changing our everyday life.

In the example above, the Internet of Things is how your phone is connected to other technologies in your home. IoT can be as simple as a tablet that can lower your thermostat and turn on your ceiling fans.

In a way, your smartphone or tablet quickly becomes a remote control for your home.

Artificial Intelligence will do all the workFrom Google Home in Amazon Echo, the world saw how cars did what people used to do. The AI ​​machines can accept commands such as turning on the music, turning on the backlight, changing the TV stations, turning on the heater, and others. Imagine that you will return home after a long working day and just give out commands to do everything the way you like. That's not all, Moli, the world's leading IT company, conducts research on a domestic robot that is capable of replicating human gestures and performing many human actions. Amazon EchoAmazon Echo is one of a series of loudspeakers and devices that can be controlled with your voice. Managed voice Amazon "personal assistant" on these devices is called Alexa, which will perform various tasks for you and manage various systems.Echo devices have microphones that have improved noise reduction and voice recognition in the far field, which means that you can ask Alex a question from any direction, even when playing music, and she still needs to hear you.Personal assistant Amazon Echo will answer the answer word "Alexa".The Amazon Echo range includes the standard Echo (this is a second generation device), Echo Plus, Echo Show, Echo Dot and Echo Spot. In the US, there is Echo Tap.If you have more than one echo, echo-point, echo show, echo or other device with Alexa support in your home, for example Sonos One, Alexa will respond from the device closest to you.It always listens to your team, but you can turn off the microphone on Echo devices and devices such as Sonos One if you need privacy. AlexaAlexa is a virtual digital assistant developed by Amazon for its line of Amazon Echo and Echo Dot computing devices. The capabilities of Alexa mimic the capabilities of other intelligent assistants, such as Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, Google Assistant and Samsung Bixby.Alexa responds to voice control, returning information about products (on Amazon, of course), music, news, weather, sports and much more. The internal engine for Alexa Amazon runs on Amazon Web Services in the cloud, which allows Alexa to study individual preferences or family preferences and expand its functionality over time.In addition to Echo products, Alexa is also supported by Amazon Fire HD tablets and Fire TV set-top boxes. Some of the third-party products also began to support Alexa, including Nucleus Intercom, Ford SYNC car infotainment systems and Invoxia's Triby dynamics and messaging system. How Alexa Works

Alexa gets its name from the ancient library of Alexandria, and it can be activated by first saying a trigger word (either "Alexa" by default or "Echo," "Amazon" or "Computer," based on your preferences), followed by your query or request. Alexa uses natural language interpretation to process and act upon requests.

In addition to returning information, Alexa also enables Echo devices to function as smart home hubs that can control Internet of Things connected devices like smart lights, thermostats and electronics.

Beyond its built-in capabilities, Alexa offers more than 3,000 "Skills" from Amazon and third-party developers that users can add to extend Alexa's functionality, including one for IFTTT, which can help coordinate and automate interaction between other connected devices.

Privacy Concerns with Alexa

Alexa is only designed to send short query and request information following being triggered, but it is always listening in the background for its trigger word.

With Alexa always listening for its trigger command when conversations take place within its range, and because Alexa continually collects data to learn more about the users interacting with it, its use has raised privacy concerns among some.

Amazon Echo devices do feature a mute button that will disable the device’s microphones, but users do need to physically press the button in order for Alexa to stop listening

What can Alexa do?

Alexa will play music, provide information, deliver news and sports scores, tell you the weather, control your smarthome and even allow Prime members to order products they've ordered before.

She updates through the cloud automatically and learns all the time. The more you use Echo devices, the more Alexa adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary and personal preferences.

What can you ask Alexa?

There are plenty of things you can ask Alexa to do. A feature called Skills in the Alexa app enable you to customise your Echo device with capabilities to suit your preferences.

There are several skill categories within the Skills section of the app, including Connected Car, Food & Drink, Travel & Transportation, Music & Audio, Smart Home, and plenty more. To get started, you just have to tap Enable Skill when you've found one that is suited to you.

Some will require you to link to an existing account or separate subscription to use. For example, to use Uber with Alexa, you'll need to have signed into your Uber account within the Skills section of the the Alexa app. Here are just a few examples of what you can ask Alexa to do.

"Alexa, wake me up at 7 in the morning"

"Alexa, what's on my calendar today?"

"Alexa, what's the weather in London?"

"Alexa, play Taylor Swift from Amazon Music"

"Alexa, read my audiobook"

What apps and services work with Alexa?

Numerous companies offer partnerships with Amazon Echo devices, as you will have seen from some of the questions above.

There are thousands of skills available but here are some of the services that work with Alexa and what they mean you can do.

Just Eat

The Just Eat partnership means you can get Alexa to order you a take away from one of the thousands of restaurants it has available.

Met Office

The Met Office skill is available for various locations around the United Kingdom so make sure you download the one specific for you. You can then ask Alexa for detailed weather forecasts.

Uber

Need an Uber from home? No problem. Just ask Alexa to request you one and you'll have a driver on its way to you.

The Guardian

For those that read The Guardian, Alexa will give you a rundown of the paper's top stories so you can find out which ones you'll want to read before your commute.

Jamie Oliver

Need a recipe from the Jamie Oliver app but have your hands full? Just ask Alexa and she'll find it for you so you can carry on with whatever you're doing.

Fitbit

Want to know how you slept or how many steps you've done? Fitbit's partnership with Echo means you can just ask Alexa and she'll let you know. No need to open the Fitbit app.

Spotify

The Spotify partnerships allows users to request songs, artists or playlists through Alexa, which she will then play through Echo's 360-degree omni-directional audio.

Google Home

Google Home is a brand of smart speakers developed by Google. The first device was announced in May 2016 and released in the United States in November 2016, with subsequent releases globally throughout 2017.

Google Home speakers enable users to speak voice commands to interact with services through Google's intelligent personal assistant called Google Assistant. A large number of services, both in-house and third-party, are integrated, allowing users to listen to music, control playback of videos or photos, or receive news updates entirely by voice. Google Home devices also have integrated support for home automation, letting users control smart home appliances with their voice. Multiple Google Home devices can be placed in different rooms in a home for synchronized playback of music. An update in April 2017 brought multi-user support, allowing the device to distinguish between up to six people by voice. In May 2017, Google announced multiple updates to Google Home's functionality, including: free hands-free phone calling in the United States and Canada; proactive updates ahead of scheduled events; visual responses on mobile devices or Chromecast-enabled televisions; Bluetooth audio streaming; and the ability to add reminders and calendar appointments.

The original product has a cylindrical shape with colored status LEDs on the top for visual representation of its status, and the cover over the base is modular, with different color options offered through Google Store intended for the device to blend into the environment. In October 2017, Google announced two additions to the product lineup, the Google Home Mini and the Google Home Max.

The iOS and Android app used to initially set up the smart speaker and Google's streaming devices has the same name. In October 2016, Google Cast was re-named Google Home, leaving "Google Cast" as the name of the technology.

History

In March 2016, reports were published about Google developing a wireless speaker to compete against the Amazon Echo. Google Home was officially announced at the company's developer conference in May 2016, where it was also announced that Home would run Google Assistant (a conversational evolution of Google Now intended to be integrated in other products announced at the conference as well).

Google Home was released in the United States on November 4, 2016. On October 4, 2017, Google announced Google Home Mini, a cheaper, smaller version of Google Home, that was released on October 19, 2017, as well as Google Home Max, a larger version of Google Home, that was released on December 11, 2017.

What is Google Home?

Google Home is a Wi-Fi speaker that doubles as a smart home control center and a personal assistant for the entire family. You can use it to playback entertainment throughout your home, effortlessly manage everyday tasks, and ask Google things you want to know. It's basically an Amazon Echo device, but it's Google version.

The device itself has interchangeable bases available in various colours and finishes (such as metal and fabric, allowing you to match it to your decor). Underneath that swappable shell there is a speaker that can playback songs and allow Google Assistant to talk to you. And at the top, there is a capacitive touch display with four LEDs.

You'll use this display to interact with Home, trigger Assistant, adjust volume, and so forth. As for buttons, there are none (just dual mics that listen for your voice). There is, however, a single mute button on the shell. Google Home can filter and separate speech from noise and offers "best-in-class voice recognition", according to Google.

The actual speaker insider features dual side-facing passive radiators, which deliver full range, clear highs, and rich bass. And the entire contraption is available in three colour variations: Mango, Marine, and Violet bases join Carbon, Snow, and Copper tops. The $20 bases can be swapped out, too. So you can buy several of them, if you want.

What about Google Home Max and Mini?

In 2017, Google expanded the Google Home line to include the Google Home Max and Google Home Mini. Think of Google Home Max as the Sonos-level version of Google Home. It's a premium speaker product. Meanwhile, the Google Home Mini is more like an Amazon Echo Dot. It's a compact, affordable speaker. Both have Assistant.

These three speakers make up the Google Home family. Although they have different speaker specs and tech specs, the important thing to remember is that you can use any of them for music and video playback, smart home control, and usual voice command queries.

Music and video playback

Because Google Home is a Wi-Fi speaker, it can stream music directly from the cloud. With it you can access songs, playlists, albums, artists, and podcasts from your favourite music services just by asking with your voice. Or, if you prefer, you can send music from your Android or iOS device through Google Cast.

Google Home will let you control your video content. Let's say you want to watch your latest episode of Daredevil on Netflix, or some sort of cat video on YouTube. Just issue a voice command to Google Home, and then the content will appear on your TV. This only works if you've set up both devices in the Google Home app, however.

Smart home hub

Google Home can be a control center for your entire home, because it has access to Google Assistant. It will let you do the basics like set alarms and timers and manage to-do lists and shopping lists. It will also connect your smarthome and support popular network systems. But you need the Google Home app to do any of this.

Once you set up your Google Home device in the Google Home app and all your smart devices in your home, you will be able to control them, whether they're smart lights, switches, doors, or Google's own Nest products. Google plans to work with developers so you can control things beyond the home too, such as booking a car or ordering dinner.

The best part is you will be able to do this with just your voice.

Ask Google

Speaking of your voice, Google Home will let you ask Google anything.

You can ask for the weather update or seek facts on Wikipedia. You will have access to Google's 17 years of search experience. That allows you to ask specific questions such as "How much fat is in an avocado?" or "What is Wayne Rooney's shirt number?" Those types of questions would stump Amazon Echo, but not Google.

Because Google Home has Google Assistant, you can be conversational and ask follow-up questions, too, like "Where did he go to school?" and then Google Home will be able to connect the "he" pronoun to your previous question about Rooney or whoever in order to serve up an accurate answer. You can even ask complex stuff.

Which services does Google Home support?

At launch, Google Home works with YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music, TuneIn, and iHeart Radio. In the UK, there are specific services, such as BBC, Telegraph, and Guardian news sources. To connect your accounts of these services to your Google Home, you will need to use the Google Home app.

With support for these services, you can ask, "OK Google, play that Shakira song from Zootopia." Without having to name the song, Google Home can figure it out and play it from your favourite app. Thanks to Google Assistant and its machine-learning capabilities, Google Home knows you and your preferences and learns over time.

Google Home also works with Nest, SmartThings, Philips Hue, and IFTTT, which means you'll be able to control these smart home devices and activate your IFTTT recipes using the speaker. Google Home also acts as a Chromecast Audio receiver. We know we sound repetitive, but again, you must set these up with the Google Home app.

What is Google Assistant in Google Home?

At Google I/O 2016, Google announced a new Siri-like bot that is an adaption of Google Now and OK Google. It's Google Assistant, and it improves the two-way conversation experience of those services with AI and machine learning.

These advances essentially add context to your questions. For instance, when you say, "OK Google", followed by "What's playing tonight?", Google Assistant will show films at your local cinema. But, if you add, "We're planning on bringing the kids", Google Assistant will know to serve up showtimes for kid-friendly films.

You could then say "Let's see the Jungle Book", and Assistant will buy tickets. You can even ask, "Is the Jungle Book any good?", and then the assistant will display reviews, ratings, and a trailer. Google Assistant is able to string your questions together in order to determine context and serve up the right information.

It can do basic stuff like retrieve your travel itinerary, daily schedule, commute time to work, package delivery information, and more. Google Home isn't the only device with access to the Google Assistant, however. You'll also be able to use the assistant with Android Nougat devices and your Android Auto head unit.

Here's how Google explained its new assistant:

"The assistant is conversational - an ongoing two-way dialogue between you and Google that understands your world and helps you get things done. It makes it easy to buy movie tickets while on the go, to find that perfect restaurant for your family to grab a quick bite before the movie starts, and then help you navigate to the theater."

References

Amazon Alexa review: What is Alexa and what can Amazon Echo do? — Available at: https://www.pocket-lint.com/smart-home/news/amazon/138846-what-is-alexa-how-does-it-work-and-what-can-amazons-alexa-do (accessed 27.02.2018);

Amazon Echo – Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Echo (accessed 27.02.2018);

Actions on Google—Available at: https://developers.google.com/actions/smarthome/ (accessed 27.02.2018);

Amazon Echo с голосовым помощником Alexa: подробный обзор —Available at:https://theroco.com/2017/02/23/amazon-echo-review/ (accessed 27.02.2018);

Best Google Home Compatible Devices to Work with Google Assistant - Available at: https://mashtips.com/smart-home-devices-for-google-home/ (accessed 27.02.2018).

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