Pets are part of our smart homes, too, and it’s no surprise that they can get involved in how our smart tech works. That can lead to surprising results, especially with our voice assistants and smart displays, like those from Google and Amazon. While pets have their own smart devices that are made for special types of interaction, the funniest moments are often when they start noticing controls that are meant for humans. Here’s some of the situations we’re talking about!
Parrots learning how to order from Alexa
@maxtheafricangrey2000♬ original sound - Max Franklin
There are many cases of parrots, especially African Grey parrots, learning to talk to Alexa and experimenting with the responses they get. They even order food and other items. It’s incredible the way they learn to imitate their owners to get a specific result, and Alexa’s predictive algorithms make it all too easy to add items to a shopping list or an Amazon order.
iDevices may sound like an Apple product, but this connected home brand is pretty agnostic when it comes to its platforms. On Tuesday, the product company announced that its Connected Home line is now compatible with Google Assistant, making it one of the first and few brands to work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. So no matter what company you choose to run your smart home, chances are, you can add something from iDevices.
iDevices boasts a wide range of products, most recently debuting a number of in-wall options like their new Wall Switch, Dimmer Switch, and Wall Outlet. The company hopes to create smart home products that “integrate seamlessly and invisibly into users’ worlds,” and can all be operated sans a smart home hub. That said, if you do want to control your devices from a central place, you have plenty of options to choose from.
“The smart home ecosystem continues to evolve, and we are evolving with it,” said Chris Allen, iDevices’ CEO. “Our unique software architecture allows us to expand compatibility easily and quickly, so we continue to offer a comprehensive smart home solution to consumers. When people think ‘smart home’, words like ‘simple’, ‘easy-to- use’ and ‘helpful’ should come to mind. We’ve made it easier than ever to adopt the smart home, no matter what kind of system you prefer to use.”
Google Assistant is also now compatible with a few other device makers, including Nubryte and Universal Devices. Nubryte is known best for its Touchpoint, a smart touchscreen that is meant to do away with light switches. Users can not only control their lighting, but also see surveillance video, chat via intercom, and keep up with weather and calendar information by way of the device. Universal Devices also dabbles in lighting control, making it a prime candidate for Google Home Assistant integration.