There’s a cheaper way to get one that spending the $200 or so to buy one..
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Amazon has released a guide that teaches users how to make their own Alexa-powered Echo using the Raspberry Pi.
The new device will have limitations.
Amazon’s Echo smart speaker has been quite the successful IoT device in recent months thanks to the wide array of functions it has and the compatibility with a handful of different smart home products. Amazon also suggests0 basic programming experience may be needed and familiarity with shell, though their excellent instructions ought to do a good job of holding your hand if needed.
Fast-forward to March 2016 and Fitbit’s new collaboration with Amazon Echo. Instead, you’ll have to either click on the “Start Listening” button in the app running on the Pi or wire a physical button to your project. That’s a sweet deal for a device that retails for Rs 20,000 here.
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This is not the first time that a DIY instructions for an Amazon Echo have appeared but these are official, much simpler and very detailed, taking you through every needed step. “As we look at how this integration could evolve in the future, there is an endless world of possibilities from fitness coaching and nutrition tips, to guidance before bedtime to help you get a more restful night’s sleep”. You’ll need the Raspberry Pi 2 board and included micro-USB power cable, a microSD card with an operating system, an ethernet cable, a USB mini-microphone, a USB keyboard and mouse along with an HDMI monitor, and optionally a Wi-Fi adapter. More on “SSH” later. Now, the company has introduced a number of improvements to one of these tools, Alexa Voice Services (AVS), which will enable a variety of new features, including the ability to adjust the volume, control the playback of media, set timers, and more. Your customers can simply speak to Alexa through the microphone on your device and Alexa will respond through your device’s speakers.
