Amazon has rolled out Alexa Guard, which offers various home security features that may be enabled with voice commands.
Amazon has rolled out Alexa Guard, which offers various home security features that may be enabled with voice commands.
Alexa Guard enables Echo devices to detect the sound of a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm going off as well as the sound of broken glass. When homeowners change the setting to the Away mode under Alexa Guard, the voice assistant will send notifications to the user’s phone when it detects the unusual sounds.
Alexa Guard also works with other connected devices on the Alexa platform. If users connect Alexa Guard with lighting at home, it will automatically turn on and off the lights, making it to look like someone’s home.
Furthermore, it also works with security systems from Ring and ADT. When Alexa Guard senses something unusual, it will send alerts to the security systems.
Works with professional security systems
To let Alexa further connect with other security systems, Amazon introduced a new Security Panel Controller API in the Alexa Skills Kit.
Security system providers can update their Alexa skills with this API, so that customers can arm, disarm or check their security system status with voice. Companies including ADT, Ring, Abode and Scout Alarm currently support the new API.
Homeowners can, for example, ask things like “Alexa, is Ring armed?” or “Alexa, disarm.” When disarming the security system, users would need to say a 4-digit PIN code which they programmed in the Alexa setting before enabling this voice feature.
Amazon has been gradually moving into the home security business. The company started in May to offer Alexa-centric home security packages, which include Echo Dot, Wink Hub 2 and Ring Video Doorbell.