Geofencing might sound like a high-tech term, but today’s smart devices make it easy: choose specific items for your smart home based on where you are. Voice assistants like Alexa allow you to customize a wide range of actions based on your specific location. Coupled with the right devices, this can add some cool features to your smart home.
Set up a geofencing routine on Alexa
If that feature sounds like something you’d like to set up, here’s what you can do and how Alexa enables geolocation. Follow these steps and you’ll be running your own location-based activities in no time!
Step 1: Open the Alexa app on your desired device.
Note: Alexa will use this device to estimate your location when working with geofence routines. This means that location-based services must be activated for this device and it must be a device that you always have with you when you leave home. That makes a smartphone your best bet.
Step 2: choose Further in the bottom right corner of the Alexa home page. In the menu that opens, select routines.
Step 3: Choose a small Further in the upper right corner to start creating a new routine. This allows Alexa to set up all sorts of actions with connected smart devices.
For the geofence to work, you will need to have Alexa-compatible devices set up in the voice assistant app. Fortunately, a large number of devices work with Alexa (and more as Matter support rolls out), so you shouldn’t have much trouble setting up your routine. If necessary, you can go to Devices in the Alexa app to make sure the necessary devices are set up and Alexa can control them.
Step 4: Create a routine name that allows you to easily identify it, something like “leave the house” or “come home.”
Step 5: Choose When this happens. You will now have the option to choose from several different triggers to start your routine. choose Place continue. Please enable location-based services on your device if necessary.
Step 6: Then select the addresses. You can enter an address, set a permanent residential or business address, or just use your current location if you’re at home. When you select an address, choose whether the routine will run when the device next either Foliage.
Step 7: Go back to your routine, you will choose add an action and choose what the geofencing routine will do. This is where your options really open up, but it’s a good idea to be selective. Smart House to see the devices you can work with. For example, if you have a smart bulb on your porch light, you can set the location to yours. Homedevice for next, and the action to turn on the smart light. That way, when you and your device are nearby, it will always turn on the light when you get home. You can also set another routine to turn off the lights when you leave, automating the whole process.
Let’s say you have a compatible smart lock that works with Alexa. You can set up your routine to Foliage and the locking action of your smart lock, ensuring your home is always locked when you’re away.
There are many more options, depending on the type of device you have and what you want to configure. Explore the actions you can take and think about what will be most helpful to you.
Step 8: When you’re done, select Save save the routine Since your activation is location-based, activate your location-based services on your device and Alexa should do the rest.
Limitations of Alexa geolocation
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If your Alexa has multiple users, it’s important to create separate profiles for them. Geofencing like this works based on device location, so multiple users can have their own geofencing routines as long as they have separate profiles and devices.
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Geolocation is not available in all regions. If you can’t access this option, search for your region to see what Alexa services are available.
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Child-targeted skills generally can’t use any location-based data, so they’re not suitable actions for geofences.
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Geolocation with Alexa usually doesn’t work if your phone is idle or turned off. You may need to adjust these settings if you find that geolocation is not working correctly.
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If something goes wrong, make sure your phone is up to date and restart the Alexa app. Sometimes Alexa’s geolocation stops working when a certain update hits, so keep an eye out for updates for the app and the operating system you’re using.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn