Alexa-fying the house
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2021 3:50 pm
I wanted to get a camera setup on the bird feeders so my wife could watch the birds while sitting comfortably at her desk. I picked up an Echo Show older model refurbished on black friday along with a wireless battery camera for outdoors. I told the kids I was setting this up and for Christmas they sent us Echo dots, light bulbs and outlets. I have spent the last few days setting it all up. It is really very slick.
The house is 150 years old and when wiring was added they put it in so it was easy for the electrician, but not very convenient for dwellers. The switch for the light in the hall and on the stairs is at the end of the hall at the top of the stairs. There is no light or switch in the living room, so you hunt for a table lamp in the dark. With Alexa you can turn them off and on without needing to hunt for a switch in the dark.
The echo devices can be used as an intercom, and music can play wherever you want it. It is nice to watch the birds, with out needing to go stand at the windows. Overall this has been a big improvement to the house's livability. I imagine overtime, we will turnoff features we do not need, and perhaps find features we would like to use. Just adding up the prices, it seems the total cost of everything was less than $150 and it was money well spent.
The house is 150 years old and when wiring was added they put it in so it was easy for the electrician, but not very convenient for dwellers. The switch for the light in the hall and on the stairs is at the end of the hall at the top of the stairs. There is no light or switch in the living room, so you hunt for a table lamp in the dark. With Alexa you can turn them off and on without needing to hunt for a switch in the dark.
The echo devices can be used as an intercom, and music can play wherever you want it. It is nice to watch the birds, with out needing to go stand at the windows. Overall this has been a big improvement to the house's livability. I imagine overtime, we will turnoff features we do not need, and perhaps find features we would like to use. Just adding up the prices, it seems the total cost of everything was less than $150 and it was money well spent.