Roberts notes that down the line, Alexa may be programmed to speak to Fitbit users in a different tone depending on their preferences. You can play Jeopardy, listen to music and podcasts, even control your lights and thermostat. For example, if you inquire about your step count at 9 a.m., you might be reminded that “you’ve got to start somewhere”, or encouraged to “try to take a walk today, but don’t forget to stop and smell the roses”.
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The integration will work with all Fitbit’s wearable trackers, since it’s tied through the Fitbit app. Fitbit previously had voice interaction through an integration with Microsoft Cortana, but that was more about users logging food and activity by voice, rather than using voice interaction to check up on their activity. Ask about your daily walks, and Alexa will reply with how many more miles you need to reach your goals.
Fitbit announced on Thursday you can now ask the Echo’s voice assistant, Alexa, how many steps you’ve walked, calories you’ve burned and how many hours you’ve slept.
Amazon smartly created third-party systems for Alexa, which means that any designer can bring new capabilities for Echo customers to test. At first, these ideas were a tad silly, like 8-Ball simulations or other that provide pick-up texts. In addition, this new Alexa skill offers words of encouragement and adjusts these responses based on the time of day. Its latest TV spot will air during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday, featuring hoop legends Steve Smith and Grant Hill testing out the new Fitbit integration.
Alexa will never be able to prepare nourishing meals for you or force you to go to the gym, but positive affirmation goes a long way to staying healthy.
Altogether, the wearable’s integration with Alexa has equipped Echo’s digital assistant with between 50 and 60 statements, Tim Roberts, the head of design and research for Fitbit, told Forbes.
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Today users of the Fitbit App, paired with all Fitbit trackers, including the recently launched Fitbit Blaze™ and Fitbit Alta™, can activate the new skill via the Alexa app for all of Amazon’s Alexa-enabled devices, including Amazon Echo, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Echo Dot and Amazon Tap.
