Alexa is pretty cool. Imagine trying to explain to your younger self that one day there’d be a super clever hunk of metal that sat on your coffee table and spoke back to you. They’d probably be pretty impressed, and rightly so!
Alexa is there to make life easier – and she’s a pro at it. She can set reminders, turn down thermostats, play your favourite mood-boosting tune and more. But Alexa’s not just helpful – she’s got loads of fun features that can help you get more out of your smart speaker.
How do I create an Alexa skill?
One of the coolest things about Alexa is the ability to create custom skills. These are essentially voice-powered apps that can do almost anything – think creating games, quizzes, productivity tools and more. They’re pretty neat, but if you’ve never heard of Alexa skills before, no worries – you can easily build them with the Alexa Skills kit. Here’s how to get started:
1. Choose a skill
First off, you’ll need to decide what you want your sparkly new skill to do. What specifically do you want it to accomplish? You’ll need a clear idea of your end goal. Have a think about what information or tasks your skill will provide and what voice commands will trigger it.
2. Set up a developer account.
To create an Alexa skill, you’ll need to set yourself up an Amazon Developer account. It sounds fancy, but it’ll give you access to the golden Alexa skills ticket: the Alexa Skills Kit. Plus, you’ll find a bunch of other resources to help you perfect your Alexa skill.
3. Get to grips with the Alexa Skills Kit
The Alexa Skills Kit is a collection of tools, templates and information that makes it easy to build and publish Alexa skills. Once you’ve got your head around it, you’ll be able to create custom interactions and responses and test your skills on a compatible device.
4. Publish your skill!
Built and tested your skill? Then it’s time to hit publish! Submit your skill to the Alexa Skills Store for certification and publication. Once it’s up, Alexa users can enable it and start using it right away. Don your imaginary developer hat with pride!
What funny things can Alexa do?
Alexa’s got a great sense of humour. If you’re looking for a laugh, Alexa has plenty of jokes, trivia and fun facts up her sleeves. Try out these commands:
Alexa, tell me a joke.
Alexa, let’s play a game of trivia.
Alexa, sing a song.
Alexa, who you gonna call?
Alexa, tell me a fun fact.
Alexa, perform a magic trick.
Alexa, high five.
Alexa, drop a beat.
Alexa, use the force.
Alexa, beam me up.
Tried a couple out? Admit it. You cracked a smile.
What can I ask Alexa?
Alexa’s always ready to help – and there’s almost nothing she can’t answer. Whether you want to know the weather, get the latest news, set a timer or get the answer to a deep philosophical question, she’s got your back. Try asking her a couple of these:
Alexa, do you believe in ghosts?
Alexa, why did the chicken cross the road?
Alexa, what’s the weather like today?
Alexa, are we in the Matrix?
Alexa, how high can you count?
Alexa, what is the value of pi?
Alexa, do aliens exist?
You might be surprised by some of her answers!
Found what you need?
If you have – great. If not – don’t worry. You can always chat to an expert in-store or via video call on ShopLive. They’ll be able to give you the lowdown on loads of great smart tech and accessories.