question

Ben asked Aug 31, '15

Alexa Emergency

Idea for those with disabilities or conditions where they may be unable to access a phone. User: Alexa, Emergency Echo: Emergency mode activated, if you do not cancel within 30 seconds I will alert the listed contacts (using SMS), verbal countdown begins. If the user says, Alexa emergency stop or Alexa emergency cancel within the 30 seconds the emergency mode is deactivated prior to sending the SMS to listed contacts. Could this be done using the Alexa skills kit? Obviously we all know voice recognition is not 100% accurate, but this sort of functionality could potentially save someones life.

alexa skills kit debugging

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jjaquinta answered Aug 31, '15

There are a few problems with this idea, insofar as what is implementable in a skill. 1) You can't insert pauses. A period give you the longest pause possible. So your countdown would be approximate. 2) You can't interrupt Alexa. Once she's reading something, she doesn't listen until she's done. (Except, maybe "Alexa Quit") 3) Alexa will only listen for 8 seconds after she says something. Then she drops the session. Given the vagaries of the system, I wouldn't try to implement something with as serious consequences as an emergency service. I think the general idea has merit. You might set up a "speed dial" service where, through a companion web page, the enter in a message and a number/email list into one of ten slots. Then they can say "Alexa, open speed message and send to seven". "OK. Telling mom@home.com 'send me money'".

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Naikel answered Aug 31, '15

What I would do is this: You: Alexa, emergency (or something like that) Alexa: There has been an emergency. Please confirm by saying yes or cancel You: yes Alexa: sending messages... And then your skill send SMS or automated calls or whatever via your webserver or something.

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Sushil Singh answered Sep 1, '15

From what I understand even a command like "Alexa Emergency" is not allowed from SDK you will need to say "Alexa launch Emergency"

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justin answered Sep 1, '15

Moving this conversation to Getting Started, as Community Projects are for releases. Sorry all!

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The Stig answered Sep 2, '15

What about having Alexa do a countdown? That way the connection stays open?

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