While vocal assistants become more conversational with new IA upgrades like Alexa Plus and possible Siri update, this is the ideal time to think if you use them to their most complete capacities. One of the interesting ways to test vocal assistants like Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant is to see how much they can help with quick home safety questions.
Whether you do a fractional safety assessment, obtaining advice during a safety installation or a double check safety regulation, here is how an “Alexa” or “Hey, Google” voice command can be surprisingly useful – and everything you need is the phone in your pocket.
Note: When I tested these questions, Google’s vocal assistant was still the Google assistant. This year, it will finally be replaced by Gemini, the last effort of Google’s conversational AI. I will continue to test these services, but this is now as the voice assistants work.
Where should I put a fire extinguisher?
Voice assistants like Alexa are gifted to use information on protecting your home from fires and is particularly well informed about fire extinguishers. They easily provided me with information not only on the place to put it (kitchens and garages, where many fires start), but also the height of mounting it on a wall and what should not be done with a fire extinguisher (put it on the stove, for example).
Don’t you know where to put your smoke detector? Ask for advice from Google Assistant.
What are the laws on fire alarm in my state?
This is a useful question when you install or improve any type of smoke detector in your home, whether it is only one DIY device or security system. I found that some vocal assistants were better than others in this question. Google Assistant was most useful, explaining a government site and giving specific information on which the State required that houses to install smoke alarms. Siri gave useful information, but was less reliable to exploit the laws of states, while Alexa was the least useful here.
Is my garage door closed?
This question concerns those who have complementary intelligent garage door modules that work with Alexa and Google Assistant (not as often with Siri). He can quickly answer questions to find out if the door was closed or not after everyone left for the morning. If you do not have an intelligent garage doors controller, you can find renovations of less than $ 100 that work with most modern garage doors.
Genie’s Smart Garage offers many advantages, including the support of the voice assistant.
Is the front door locked?
With an intelligent lock added to your front door, you can ask Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri at any time if the door is locked, unlocked or even if it has been opened. Even when you are on the move, you can use the application to lock or unlock it if necessary. In addition, many smart locks have automatically automatic features, so if you forget to lock them, they will lock themselves after a few minutes.
Is there a power failure in my region?
It can be difficult to know if the power is out only at your home (which could indicate an electrical problem that you should manage) or if it has come out for the whole neighborhood. Again, Google Assistant did the best here, providing me with a link to my local energy utility to see the latest news from the breakdown. Siri followed with a similar link – while Alexa thought that I wanted an electric supply company at 3,000 miles away. It may be something that Alexa Plus can approach.
Apple HomePod allows Siri to answer questions without the need for a phone.
Is my security system armed?
If your voice assistant can connect to your domestic security system (Alexa and Google Assistant can usually), you can ask him if your security system is armed or not. It is useful if you are not at home and someone makes a surprise visit to your home, or if you arm your system manually and you do not remember if it is or not.
Who left the house recently?
This is intended for more advanced conversational AI services that can consult your home security videos and even recognize faces with good subscriptions. Google already has these abilities with the Gemini vocal assistant, and this feature came with Alexa Plus. I would be very surprised if the update of Siri’s AI did not include it either. Even third party startups are starting to offer these services.
With this type of AI, you may wonder who left the house to get an idea of the moment when loved ones can have left, and talk about a security video to see where they could have gone. This can be very useful, especially if you live with elderly parents and you need to watch them. You can also submit to other questions like: “Where did I leave my keys?” Or: “have foreigners come to the door today?” and so on.
Intelligent screens are easy ways to keep your eyes on dear beings.
Can my vocal assistant call me 911 for me?
It depends on the vocal assistant. Currently, Siri and Google Assistant can compose 911 for you – useful if you run out of time and your hands are trembling. Alexa cannot call 911, unless you pay the Alexa Emergency Assist functionality (which will cost you $ 6 per month), which allows you to call emergency services.
At the end of the line, Google Assistant is the most useful for home security and security issues, followed by Siri and Alexa. For more information, read the best advice to dissuade burglars, spots to never put your safety devices and home safety checks that you need to do when you arrive at your airbnb.
