Alexa now lives in our kitchen, bedroom and computer room.  Here are some of the ways my wife and I interact with her.  All we need to say is, “Alexa, . . .

 

Play jazz, Chopin, “That’s Amore,” 1070 AM, oldies, a thunderstorm, or the news.

What is that song?

 

Read Tom Sawyer (free from Audible this month).

 

Set an oven timer for 20 minutes.  Set a pizza timer for 12 minutes.

What are my timers?  How much time is left on my pizza timer?  Cancel all timers.

Set an alarm for 5 p.m.  What are my alarms?  Cancel all alarms.

Remind me to drink water in 10 minutes.  What are my reminders?

 

When is Rosh Hashanah?  What day of the week is Sept. 20? e

 

Drop in on the kitchen (Alexa now becomes an intercom).

 

Add a gallon of milk to my Shopping List.  Add fix-the- door to my To Do List

Read my To Do List.   Read My Shopping List.

What’s the weather? (Local weather is programmed in.)

 

What’s my commute?  (My commute to the grandkids is default programmed in.)

What’s the commute to Costco?

 

What movies are playing?  What movies are playing at the Laemmle?

What action movies are playing?  What’s the rating of Wonder Woman?

 

What’s the phone number for Costco?  What’s the address for Costco?

 

Give me a recipe for cheese and broccoli.  How many teaspoons in 3 cups?

 

Add pens to my cart (the pens I ordered recently are entered).

 

Ask Uber for a ride (link your account on the Alexa App).

 

Trigger find my phone.   Trigger arm my Piper (security system).

(“Trigger” is the code word to link Alexa with a variety of IFTTT programs.

 

IFTTT stands for If This Then That)

 

Wikipedia Andrew Jackson.  Tell me a joke.   Play Jeopardy.  Open TV Time – what movies are on today?

 

Open Translated – “It’s been a lovely day” in Spanish. Slow down (to hear it slower).

 

My favorite Alexa skill?  Tell me a joke – it brightens up my day with smiles.

 

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertzebsen@gmail.com