I’m never putting one of these in my home.
I’m fine walking to a light switch or walking to the thermostat.
When the hallway light was left on again it’s really damn nice to simply say “Turn Off Hallway Light” while staying under my nice warm covers. It’s also pretty swank to have the garage lights turn on when the garage door opens then turn themselves back off 5 minutes after the garage door closes. Someone left their closet light on? No problemo, my automation catches that and shuts it off.
Window coverings like blinds and drapes? Yeah, those are opening and closing automatically based on the position of the sun, even when I’m not home to do it. Did it rain while I was at work? Automation keeps my sprinklers from running tonight.
All of that is being done by Home Assistant and absolutely no Internet is required to make it work.
it’s really damn nice to simply say “Turn Off Hallway Light”
Can you use a custom wake word? The only reason why I’m still using Alexa is for the “computer” wake word.
HA doesn’t have “Wake Word” yet. It supposed to be coming before the end of the year. Right now you have to PTT (Push To Talk) to make it listen and for the privacy minded this is actually better than an always listening device.
Still, a lot of people want WW support and it is on the road map.
