Alexa Voice Service Research Articles

Let Us Create an Alexa-Enabled IoT Device Using C#, AWS Lambda, and ESP Module

Purpose: Voice-operated query is becoming popular. Alexa Such a device that is now widely used. Several vendors provide built-in Alexa services to their devices. In our fast day-to-day life, it is the most relevant Technology. It is safe and convenient also. Doing multiple work at a time is a common scenario. We can quickly get weather updates while cooking. We use our voice to operate AC, Fan, light, and electronic gadgets. Several tech giants like Amazon made Technology easy for us. Our non-Alexa devices can easily convert into Alexa enabled. We can operate our device or electric equipment just over voice. Here we provide the procedure for creating an Alexa-enabled device quickly. Using several AWS services like Alexa Skill, Lambda, and IoT, We can quickly build an Alexa-enabled custom device for us. Design/Methodology/Approach: The Alexa-enabled devices can be built following a series of processes. To create the Alexa-enabled device, we develop Alexa skills inside the Alexa developer console, write and upload command processor Lambda function using C# language inside the Microsoft visual studio, and configure the IoT profile inside the AWS IoT cloud server. Furthermore, finally, create ESP firmware to operate the equipment. To send the voice command, we need any Alexa-enabled devices. It may be an echo dot, mobile phone, or PC application. Findings/Result: Combining Amazon Alexa with IoT devices presents a potent synergy, bringing immense potential for improved user experiences and expanded automation and control capabilities. Developing an Alexa-enabled IoT device with C# and AWS Lambda is relatively uncomplicated, provided you possess some programming skills and familiarity with cloud computing. The device gains internet connectivity by leveraging an ESP module, facilitating seamless communication with the Alexa Voice Service, and empowering voice-based commands and responses. The versatility of this device spans a wide array of applications, encompassing the management of lights, switches, appliances, and more, all of which can be further tailored to specific user requirements. Originality/Value: Several documents are available to create Alexa-enabled devices. Here we provide the procedure with a block diagram and data flow so that the researcher can easily create and integrate it into their research work. All information is practical-oriented. We can quickly build Alexa-enabled devices using the practical example following this work. Paper Type: Experimental-based Research.

Development of Smart Librarian with the Virtual Assistant (PRIMO)

In modern life, with the ability to perform tasks, the virtual assistant (VA) can make our lives easier and smart. The virtual assistant can perform as a librarian, very smartly, and effectively. We build our VA with Raspberry Pi and Alexa Voice Service. As a result, few discussions that occur in library environments such as find books, short review books, university notice are accurately performed. The common way of communication used by people in day to day life is through speech. If the assistant system can be heard to the customer for the handle of the day to day affairs, then grant the right reply, it will be much simple for customers to transmit with their assistant system, and the assistant will be much better “Smart” as a personal assistant. We heard a very old story “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”, where the mouth of a treasure cave secured by magic. It unrolls on the words "unroll sesame" and seals itself on the words "near sesame". The magic is a VA in the modern world. The VA system built on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, natural language processing, and voice recognition technology.

A Voice-Enabled Game Based Learning Application using Amazon's Echo with Alexa Voice Service: A Game Regarding Geographic Facts About Austria and Europe

An educational, interactive Amazon Alexa Skill called “Österreich und Europa Spiel / Austria and Europe Game” was developed at Graz University of Technology for a German as well as English speaking audience. This Skills intent is to assist learning geographic facts about Austria as well as Europe by interaction via voice controls with the device. The main research question was if an educational, interactive speech assistant application could be made in a way such that both under-age and full age subjects would be able to use it, enjoy the Game Based Learning experience overall and be assisted learning about the Geography of Austria and Europe. The Amazon Alexa Skill was tested for the first time in a class with 16 students at lower secondary school level. Two further tests were done with a total of five adult participants. After the tests the participants opinion was determined via a questionnaire. The evaluation of the tests suggests that the game indeed gives an additional motivational factor in learning Geography.

Voice Activated Semi-Autonomous Vehicle Using Off the Shelf Home Automation Hardware

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a new trend in technology that is already changing the world in which we live by interconnecting physical objects that can collect or transmit information to us and to each other. In this paper, an application of the use of the IoT is presented by the development of a semi-autonomous utility vehicle using off-the-shelf home automation (smart) components. The system is composed of hardware and software elements that are integrated into a self-propelled scaled down version of an off-road vehicle, a lawn mower. A Web application was built and enabled for Android devices to command and control the vehicle, various applets in the application were enabled to be triggered using the Alexa voice service and an Amazon Tap speaker. The vehicle can be controlled through voice commands and is capable of moving in four directions at five different speeds. It is able to move at an average velocity of 35.7 m/min among its five speeds on vinyl floor, and at an average velocity of 20.8 m/min and 16.3 m/min on concrete and grass, respectively. The ultrasonic sensors installed on the vehicle proved their reliability by stopping the vehicle at an average distance of 7.3 cm away from different obstacles. This paper contributes to existing knowledge on the IoT by providing a demonstration of a semi-autonomous vehicle capable of cloud-based control both with voice commands and through a Web app.

Alexa, are you listening to me? An analysis of Alexa voice service network traffic

With approximately 8.2 million Echo family devices sold since 2014, Amazon controls 70% of the intelligent personal assistant market. Amazon's Alexa Voice Service (AVS) provides voice control services for Amazon's Echo product line and various home automation devices such as thermostats and security cameras. In November 2017, Amazon expanded Alexa services into the business intelligent assistant market with Alexa for Business. As corporations integrate Alexa into their corporate networks, it is important that information technology security stakeholders understand Alexa's audio streaming network behavior in order to properly implement security countermeasures and policies. This paper contributes to the intelligent personal assistant knowledge domain by providing insight into Amazon Voice Services behavior by analyzing the network traffic of two Echo Dots over a 21-day period. The Echo Dots were installed in a private residence, and at no time during the experiment did family members or house guests purposely interact with the Echos. All recorded audio commands were inadvertent. Using a k-mean cluster analysis, this study established a quantifiable AVS network signature. Then, by comparing that AVS signature and logged Alexa audio commands to the 21-day network traffic dataset, this study confirmed disabling the Echo's microphone, with the on/off button, prohibits audio recording and streaming to Alexa Voice Service. With 30---38% of Echo Dots' spurious audio recordings were human conversations, these findings support the Echo Dot recorded private home conversations and not all audio recordings are properly logged the Alexa Application. While further Alexa network traffic studies are needed, this study offers a network signature capable of identifying AVS network traffic.