Alexa/ echo dot talk to me I’m clueless

WanderingJuniper · 08-09-2020, 12:56 PM

In light of forced virtual schooling and my oldest most responsible child going off to college we need some more tools. I have some birthday money left and I am thinking of spending it on an echo dot.

How do you use yours?
What can it do?

Can I remind my 15 and 16 yo about classes, responsibilities family events using it without having to send them a text myself in real time?

I am kind of wanting to be able to say “Remind C that he had bio at 10am.” Before I leave for work at 6am and have it shout at my kid about it at 10am.

Talk to me. I know nothing.

Llee · 08-09-2020, 01:19 PM

We love ours.

We can use it for reminders, alarms, playing music, looking up random facts. I know my husband has ours set up for an intercom system, but I always forget to do that.

Full disclosure--we're a tech-heavy household. We have ?10? Alexas and Google minis throughout the house. The girls don't have any in their rooms; during the days they bring a speaker or mini into their rooms.

WanderingJuniper · 08-09-2020, 02:19 PM

So if my kids were playing video games in their room we would need more than one in the dining room for it to be effective? They link together? We have a small house. The first floor is pretty open so I was thinking one on a shelf in the dining room would work for the first floor.

Llee · 08-09-2020, 02:53 PM

We made sure there was a device for each area. So two in living room, 1 in the kitchen (plus the 2 that they use for their rooms), one in the family room, one in the office, plus ?3? others we have.

The Tickle Momster · 08-09-2020, 05:16 PM

We use ours for reminders, alarms, timers, listening to music and asking random questions.

I used to be able to make an announcement using the app on my phone. Something changed and I was unable to last time. I love that feature! I pull it up and record my voice telling the kids to do something. It announces thru echo (or all of them, we only have 1).

Soliloquy · 08-09-2020, 11:53 PM

I simply love Alexa. It's almost like having a personal assistant. I have an older Echo Tap, though. I really like that mine has a battery so I can pick it up and take it outside with me. My oldest has an echo dot in her room. Because my Tap is older, it cannot communicate with her Dot. I don't think you'll have that problem.

We also have Google Home Minis. I like Alexa better.

And yes, I can say to mine,

"remind me tomorrow at 10 to plug in the crock pot" or whatever. And it will.

Or

"Remind me every day at 3 pm to feed the dogs."

The reminder is announced and it also goes to my phone.

08-09-2020, 12:56 PM	#1
WanderingJuniper Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,819	Alexa/ echo dot talk to me I’m clueless In light of forced virtual schooling and my oldest most responsible child going off to college we need some more tools. I have some birthday money left and I am thinking of spending it on an echo dot. How do you use yours? What can it do? Can I remind my 15 and 16 yo about classes, responsibilities family events using it without having to send them a text myself in real time? I am kind of wanting to be able to say “Remind C that he had bio at 10am.” Before I leave for work at 6am and have it shout at my kid about it at 10am. Talk to me. I know nothing.

08-09-2020, 01:19 PM	#2
Llee Moderator Dancing stands with all seahorses who are journeying to freedom Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 19,197	Re: Alexa/ echo dot talk to me I’m clueless We love ours. We can use it for reminders, alarms, playing music, looking up random facts. I know my husband has ours set up for an intercom system, but I always forget to do that. Full disclosure--we're a tech-heavy household. We have ?10? Alexas and Google minis throughout the house. The girls don't have any in their rooms; during the days they bring a speaker or mini into their rooms. __________________ It's me, dh, Dressy Bessy (Sept 08) and Dancing Daisy (May 10) Lead the children to see in every pleasant and beautiful thing an expression of God's love for them. Recommend your religion to them by its pleasantness. Let the law of kindness be in your lips. ~Ellen G. White

08-09-2020, 02:19 PM	#3
WanderingJuniper Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,819	Re: Alexa/ echo dot talk to me I’m clueless So if my kids were playing video games in their room we would need more than one in the dining room for it to be effective? They link together? We have a small house. The first floor is pretty open so I was thinking one on a shelf in the dining room would work for the first floor.

08-09-2020, 02:53 PM	#4
Llee Moderator Dancing stands with all seahorses who are journeying to freedom Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 19,197	Re: Alexa/ echo dot talk to me I’m clueless We made sure there was a device for each area. So two in living room, 1 in the kitchen (plus the 2 that they use for their rooms), one in the family room, one in the office, plus ?3? others we have. __________________ It's me, dh, Dressy Bessy (Sept 08) and Dancing Daisy (May 10) Lead the children to see in every pleasant and beautiful thing an expression of God's love for them. Recommend your religion to them by its pleasantness. Let the law of kindness be in your lips. ~Ellen G. White

08-09-2020, 05:16 PM	#5
The Tickle Momster Rose Garden previously mlrowley Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NW WA Posts: 17,952	Re: Alexa/ echo dot talk to me I’m clueless We use ours for reminders, alarms, timers, listening to music and asking random questions. I used to be able to make an announcement using the app on my phone. Something changed and I was unable to last time. I love that feature! I pull it up and record my voice telling the kids to do something. It announces thru echo (or all of them, we only have 1). __________________ Michelle wife to Tom ('95) Momma to: DD (A) 21 and her DH (YM) 21 DS (T) 19 DD (C) 17 '07 DS (N) 14 Save Save

08-09-2020, 11:53 PM	#6
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Alexa/ echo dot talk to me I’m clueless I simply love Alexa. It's almost like having a personal assistant. I have an older Echo Tap, though. I really like that mine has a battery so I can pick it up and take it outside with me. My oldest has an echo dot in her room. Because my Tap is older, it cannot communicate with her Dot. I don't think you'll have that problem. We also have Google Home Minis. I like Alexa better. And yes, I can say to mine, "remind me tomorrow at 10 to plug in the crock pot" or whatever. And it will. Or "Remind me every day at 3 pm to feed the dogs." The reminder is announced and it also goes to my phone.

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