Voice Activated Intelligent Personal Assistants
On 28th September 2016 the Amazon Echo voice-activated cloud-based intelligent personal assistant device named “Alexa” was introduced in the UK, having been available in the US since 6th November 2014 (see Wikipedia article). This blog post collects resources and links related to voice-activated computer assistants such as Amazon Echo, Apple Siri, Google Home and Microsoft Cortana.
- Amazon Alexa Web Interface
- New Device Setup
- Amazon Echo Documentation
- Amazon Alexa FAQs
- Multiple Amazon User Profiles
- Alexa integration with Google Calendar
- Alexa Skills:
- Radio: Tunein (built-in), RadioPlayer UK (add-on)
- Connect a Smart Home Device to Alexa [e.g. Belkin WeMo (built-in)]
- Twitter Reader (US only)
- Fix to Connect to UK BT Home Hub [Extra Blog Post] [Separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz Fix]
- Pair a Bluetooth mobile device to Echo [Then use Voice Control]
The Amazon Echo incorporates a wifi linked control unit along with a tubular speaker. The control unit on its own is available as the “Amazon Echo Dot” which can be connected to external speakers, though it also has a simple speaker incorporated for voice feedback.
Amazon Echo Dot First Time Setup
For some reason on a University network that should present several WiFi access point options (eduroam and central) only central showed. But except for that, connection to a Wifi network which requires a user name/password and conditions acceptance prompt was straightforward.
The Alexa Home Application on a web browser or mobile device shows the latest interactions, news, music player (with active controls), etc that are relayed via the device.
It appears that the ability to read out Kindle books is not present in UK devices yet.
The Echo and Echo Dot update themselves when idle for a period. See this page for the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot Current Software Version. Although my experience is that the version listed on web page may not be fully up-to-date and your Echo or Echo Dot may actually have a new version after an update.
Switching between WiFi Networks
If you move your Echo or Echo Dot to a location with a different WiFi access point, you will need to change the WiFi setup. The device will indicate it cannot make a WiFi connection. If you then hold the “Action” button for 5 seconds or so, it will show an orange ring and enter setup mode. This will create an “Amazon-XXX” named local WiFi setup to which you should connect your Alexa app device (such as an Apple iPhone/iPad). Then run the Alexa App, select “Settings”, select your device and enter “Update WiFi”.
Connecting a Wemo Smart Home Device
I tried to connect a Belkin Wemo smart home plug. An immediate issue was that I could not connect to a Wifi network that requires a login username and password, normally presented through a web page or pop-up dialogue. It appears that WEMO only supports WPA, WPA2, and WEP security types.
A “Restore” button on top of the device allows for the initial built in direct access Wifi settings to be restored to allow a new Wifi connection to be set up. Instructions for the procedure are here.
AudioBooks
The Amazon Echo and Dot can relay audio books from Audible (an Amazon company) and (in the US only at present) can do text-to-speech output for compatible Kindle books. If “WhisperSync” is enabled across your Amazon devices then the last page read is saved whichever modality you use.
- Alexa Audiobook Commands. E.g.
- Alexa, play book <title>
- Alexa, resume my book (on subsequent instructions to go back to last page being read)
- Alexa, restart (to go back to the beginning of the book)
- Alexa, go to chapter <number>
Alexa Future Developments and Alexa Prize
Developers and students can access an “Alexa Skills Kit” to add “Alexa Skills” and join in a competition to develop conversational AI extensions suitable for Alexa.
- The Alexa Prize – The Alexa Prize – $2.5 Million to Advance Conversational Artificial Intelligence – September 2016 – November 2017.
- University of Edinburgh Team Edina Entry (Federico Fancellu -Team Lead, Ben Krause, Emmanuel Kahembwe @MannyKayy, Daniel Duma @mstdan, Marco Damonte, Jianpeng Cheng, Mihai Dobre and Joachim Fainberg).
- New Alexa Skills Kit Template: Step-by-Step Guide to Build a Flash Cards Skill
- Echo Simulator – Alexa in a Browser
[Manage Login with Amazon – Revoke Permission]
Mucho Flow Outfit and Accessories for Genesis 3 Female
Our new product for our Daz store: Mucho Flow Outfit and Accessories for Genesis 3 Female. It is a 5 pieces complete outfit composed of: Shirt, Skirt, Shoes, Fitness Tracker, and Handbag in 3 versions (handheld, forearm, and standalone prop).
Also included are 10 poses for Genesis 3 Female(s), which turn this into a package to build a great scenes in seconds. You can load all the outfit at once, or each piece independently. Perfect for any cheerleader, trending girl, sports woman, dynamic characters, or any casual fashion and street scene.
Mucho Flow is a must have!
See images and get it here: Mucho Flow Outfit and Accessories for Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Also included are 10 poses for Genesis 3 Female(s), which turn this into a package to build a great scenes in seconds. You can load all the outfit at once, or each piece independently. Perfect for any cheerleader, trending girl, sports woman, dynamic characters, or any casual fashion and street scene.
Mucho Flow is a must have!
See images and get it here: Mucho Flow Outfit and Accessories for Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
YOLO Mix and Match Expressions for Sunny 7 and Genesis 3 Females
Our new release at DAZ3D: YOLO Mix and Match Expressions for Sunny 7 and Genesis 3 Females is a pack of expressions organized in three folders (Full Face, Upper Face, and Lower Face) for Sunny 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s), and you also have pose control ERC dials to apply each full face expression. So you can add expressiveness in three ways:
USING FULL AND PARTIAL EXPRESSIONS: Using the partial expressions, you can move all the face, or just the upper and lower parts of the face, mixing both as you like, creating your own original expression for your renders.
USING POSE CONTROL DIALS: Using the pose control dials, you can apply a full face expression as much as you like, and also mix it with another expression dial. It is great to create transitions between expressions in animations or series of renders.
USING BOTH: In many cases you can also mix the partial expressions with the dials.
See images and get them here: YOLO Mix and Match Expressions for Sunny 7 and Genesis 3 Females
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
USING FULL AND PARTIAL EXPRESSIONS: Using the partial expressions, you can move all the face, or just the upper and lower parts of the face, mixing both as you like, creating your own original expression for your renders.
USING POSE CONTROL DIALS: Using the pose control dials, you can apply a full face expression as much as you like, and also mix it with another expression dial. It is great to create transitions between expressions in animations or series of renders.
USING BOTH: In many cases you can also mix the partial expressions with the dials.
See images and get them here: YOLO Mix and Match Expressions for Sunny 7 and Genesis 3 Females
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
EJ Cintia For Genesis 3 Female
This is our new product for our Daz store: EJ Cintia For Genesis 3 Female.
Versatile, unique and charming, Cintia is a strong, beautiful woman with a great personality. With her special makeups and tattoos. Cintia can also be an elven warrior, a queen of the fairies in a dream of a Midsummer night, or whatever character you can imagine! A must have!
See images and get her here: EJ Cintia For Genesis 3 Female.
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Versatile, unique and charming, Cintia is a strong, beautiful woman with a great personality. With her special makeups and tattoos. Cintia can also be an elven warrior, a queen of the fairies in a dream of a Midsummer night, or whatever character you can imagine! A must have!
See images and get her here: EJ Cintia For Genesis 3 Female.
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Shena Hair for Genesis 3 Females
Our new product: Shena Hair for Genesis 3 Females is a beautiful and versatile hair that can look great in all kinds of characters, from casual fashionable girls to fantasy elves or warrioress princess, and gothic characters or vampires.
You can put it all back on one or both sides, make it longer or shorter, give it more volume, use it with any ear morphs including elven ears, widen and blow it with wind, and many more things with its 124 morphs.
See images and get it here: Shena Hair for Genesis 3 Females
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
You can put it all back on one or both sides, make it longer or shorter, give it more volume, use it with any ear morphs including elven ears, widen and blow it with wind, and many more things with its 124 morphs.
See images and get it here: Shena Hair for Genesis 3 Females
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Seabrooke Hair for Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product for our Daz store: Seabrooke Hair for Genesis 3 Female
Seabrooke Hair is a very customizable stylish hair with head scarf that can look wild, appealing and at the same time fashionable, perfect for boho chic girls, adventurer girls that love risk and want also be the center of all the looks.
You can put it all back on one or both sides, make it longer or shorter, give it more or less volume, make it straight, widen and mess, blow it with wind, and many more things with its 121 morphs. You also have lots of hair dyes: classical, two-colored, and Californian highlights, and 15 fabrics for the scarf. The many materials for the hair and the scarf and the many morphs give enormous versatility to this hair for any casual, fantasy or sci-fi character, or whatever you can imagine. A must have!
See images and get it here: Seabrooke Hair for Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Seabrooke Hair is a very customizable stylish hair with head scarf that can look wild, appealing and at the same time fashionable, perfect for boho chic girls, adventurer girls that love risk and want also be the center of all the looks.
You can put it all back on one or both sides, make it longer or shorter, give it more or less volume, make it straight, widen and mess, blow it with wind, and many more things with its 121 morphs. You also have lots of hair dyes: classical, two-colored, and Californian highlights, and 15 fabrics for the scarf. The many materials for the hair and the scarf and the many morphs give enormous versatility to this hair for any casual, fantasy or sci-fi character, or whatever you can imagine. A must have!
See images and get it here: Seabrooke Hair for Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Awesomity Mix and Match Expressions for Tween Julie 7 and Genesis 3 Female
Our new product for our Daz store: Awesomity Mix and Match Expressions for Tween Julie 7 and Genesis 3 Female
Don't let your characters have a poker face! Bring them to life! A versatile customizable expression set for Tween Julie 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s)! Make them happy, angry, joyful, bored, excited, sad, surprised... make your characters feel, make them tell a unique story. A must have!
Awesomity is a pack of expressions organized in three folders (Full Face, Upper Face, and Lower Face) for Tween Julie 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s), and you also have pose control ERC dials to apply each full face expression.
See images and get them here: Awesomity Mix and Match Expressions for Tween Julie 7 and Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Don't let your characters have a poker face! Bring them to life! A versatile customizable expression set for Tween Julie 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s)! Make them happy, angry, joyful, bored, excited, sad, surprised... make your characters feel, make them tell a unique story. A must have!
Awesomity is a pack of expressions organized in three folders (Full Face, Upper Face, and Lower Face) for Tween Julie 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s), and you also have pose control ERC dials to apply each full face expression.
See images and get them here: Awesomity Mix and Match Expressions for Tween Julie 7 and Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
EJ Gloria for Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product for our Daz store: EJ Gloria for Genesis 3 Female(s). Gloria is a character for Genesis 3 Female, that includes Iray materials (in addition to the traditional Daz Studio's 3Delight ones). She also includes several custom sculpted morphs: head morph, vampire fangs, stiletto nails, long nails, and genitalia crease, all usable with Genesis 3 Female Base. The body uses Genesis 3 Female Body Morphs, and a specially detailed skin.
Extremely versatile and beautiful, Gloria can be the next famous fashion model, as well as a glamorous diva, but she has a supernatural side too. She's a survivor than can also roam in the night as a feline rogue, or rule the storms and lightning as a super-heroine, or bite you and eat your soul as a vampire. A must have!
See images and get her here: EJ Gloria for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Extremely versatile and beautiful, Gloria can be the next famous fashion model, as well as a glamorous diva, but she has a supernatural side too. She's a survivor than can also roam in the night as a feline rogue, or rule the storms and lightning as a super-heroine, or bite you and eat your soul as a vampire. A must have!
See images and get her here: EJ Gloria for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Violin Soul: Balcony, Violin And Poses for Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product for our Daz store: Violin Soul: Balcony, Violin And Poses for Genesis 3 Female(s) is a complete set that includes a Violin and Violin Bow, unparented versions of the Violin and Violin Bow, a full Balcony scene, 6 independent props for all the pieces of the scene (bench, long balustrade, short balustrade, floor, pillar with vase that can be hidden, and vase), 6 Violin Player poses, and 6 Scene Poses and 6 cameras that frame these poses.
See images and get it here: Violin Soul: Balcony, Violin And Poses for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
See images and get it here: Violin Soul: Balcony, Violin And Poses for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Violin Soul Outfit For Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product at our Daz Store: Violin Soul Outfit For Genesis 3 Female(s).
Violin Soul Outfit is a set of Dress and Cloak for Genesis 3 Female(s), with 8 beautiful material presets for the full outfit and for each of the parts of the dress (top, belt, skirt, and metals) and for the cloak and its clasp. You can also hide the top or the skirt of the dress and mix and match it with other clothing, or use it as a skirt or top only.
See images and get it here: Violin Soul Outfit For Genesis 3 Female(s).
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Violin Soul Outfit is a set of Dress and Cloak for Genesis 3 Female(s), with 8 beautiful material presets for the full outfit and for each of the parts of the dress (top, belt, skirt, and metals) and for the cloak and its clasp. You can also hide the top or the skirt of the dress and mix and match it with other clothing, or use it as a skirt or top only.
See images and get it here: Violin Soul Outfit For Genesis 3 Female(s).
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Bahia Tropical Outfit for Genesis 3 Female
Our new product for our store at Daz3D: Bahia Tropical Outfit is a luxury swimsuit outfit with chains and a dangling belly ring with lots of features for Genesis 3 Female(s), that includes hide options and lots of materials to fully customize everything, even turning it into a top or panty only, showing only the chains you want, or making it strapless, giving it many different appearances, which makes it perfect for lots of situations. A must have!
See images and get it here: Bahia Tropical Outfit for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
See images and get it here: Bahia Tropical Outfit for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Nanika Atta Mix and Match Expressions for Aiko 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product is released at Daz 3D: Nanika Atta Mix and Match Expressions for Aiko 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
Although they were made especially for Aiko 7, they also work on Genesis 3 Female(s), and figures or characters based on her.
Nanika Atta is a pack of expressions organized in three folders (Full Face, Upper Face, and Lower Face) for Aiko 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s). With them, you can apply an expression that moves all the face, or partial expressions that move only the upper or lower parts of the face.
See images and get them here: Nanika Atta Mix and Match Expressions for Aiko 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Although they were made especially for Aiko 7, they also work on Genesis 3 Female(s), and figures or characters based on her.
Nanika Atta is a pack of expressions organized in three folders (Full Face, Upper Face, and Lower Face) for Aiko 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s). With them, you can apply an expression that moves all the face, or partial expressions that move only the upper or lower parts of the face.
See images and get them here: Nanika Atta Mix and Match Expressions for Aiko 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Samantha Hair for Genesis 3 Female(s), for Daz Studio
Our new product is out: Samantha Hair for Genesis 3 Female(s), released at Daz 3D. A very versatile hair that can look great in any character, sweet and seductive, natural and very customizable through lots of morphs and material presets included: 20 classic dyes, plus 10 two toned and 10 Californian highlights.
See images and get it here: Samantha Hair for Genesis 3 Female(s), for Daz Studio.
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
See images and get it here: Samantha Hair for Genesis 3 Female(s), for Daz Studio.
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
EJ Adora For Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product is released at Daz 3D: EJ Adora For Genesis 3 Female(s).
Adora is a very versatile character that can be a stunning casual beauty, and also a fantasy creature that can inspire amazing stories. Once a princess of the elves, she became the queen of darkness in her afterlife. A must have!
With casual makeups and lips that match perfectly, and also special options like: Mouth of Darkness, elven ears, 2 special fantasy eyes all red and all black, 2 fantasy full skin materials to choose, 3 fantasy makeups both for normal skin and the 2 fantasy skins, and extra detail icon to add extra pore detail for all her skins, that can be added or removed independently.
Get her here and see more images: EJ Adora For Genesis 3 Female(s).
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Adora is a very versatile character that can be a stunning casual beauty, and also a fantasy creature that can inspire amazing stories. Once a princess of the elves, she became the queen of darkness in her afterlife. A must have!
With casual makeups and lips that match perfectly, and also special options like: Mouth of Darkness, elven ears, 2 special fantasy eyes all red and all black, 2 fantasy full skin materials to choose, 3 fantasy makeups both for normal skin and the 2 fantasy skins, and extra detail icon to add extra pore detail for all her skins, that can be added or removed independently.
Get her here and see more images: EJ Adora For Genesis 3 Female(s).
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Sage Hair And Boho Headband
Our new product for our Daz store is Sage Hair And Boho Headband For Genesis 3 Female(s), an extremely versatile and customizable hair.
You can have it brushed and without headband, or with double or single headband, or messy on the top without headband, and also mix these four looks with lots of hair dyes, classical, two-colored, and Californian highlights, and has morphs to put it all back or all to the front, make the back round, adapt to elven ears, and many more. Using the many materials and morphs you can get the style that you need for any character, for boho, casual, fantasy characters, or whatever you can imagine. A must have!
See images and get it here: Sage Hair And Boho Headband For Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
You can have it brushed and without headband, or with double or single headband, or messy on the top without headband, and also mix these four looks with lots of hair dyes, classical, two-colored, and Californian highlights, and has morphs to put it all back or all to the front, make the back round, adapt to elven ears, and many more. Using the many materials and morphs you can get the style that you need for any character, for boho, casual, fantasy characters, or whatever you can imagine. A must have!
See images and get it here: Sage Hair And Boho Headband For Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Aloha Oukou Mix and Match Expressions for Kalea 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product is released at Daz 3D: Aloha Oukou Mix and Match Expressions for Kalea 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
Aloha Oukou is a pack of expressions organized in three folders (Full Face, Upper Face, and Lower Face) for Kalea 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s). With them, you can apply an expression that moves all the face, or partial expressions that move only the upper or lower parts of the face.
See images and get them here: Aloha Oukou Mix and Match Expressions for Kalea 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Aloha Oukou is a pack of expressions organized in three folders (Full Face, Upper Face, and Lower Face) for Kalea 7 And Genesis 3 Female(s). With them, you can apply an expression that moves all the face, or partial expressions that move only the upper or lower parts of the face.
See images and get them here: Aloha Oukou Mix and Match Expressions for Kalea 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
EJ Eloise for Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product is released at DAZ: EJ Eloise is a character for Genesis 3 Female, which includes special options like: two special eyes -blind eye and red, and blind eye with normal eye-, vampire teeth, tattoos that you can add where you want them (in each arm or both, in upper arms on each side, in each wrist, in the chest, in the abdomen, in the legs, or them all), stiletto nails, 4 special Celtic fantasy makeups and 2 special lips in addition to casual makeups and lipsticks.
See images and get her here: EJ Eloise for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
See images and get her here: EJ Eloise for Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Sweet Darling Outfit and Groceries for Genesis 3 Female
Our new product is released at Daz 3D: Sweet Darling Outfit and Groceries for Genesis 3 Female, a complete set of sweater, Capri pants, pump shoes, 3 full posable grocery bags, a parented apple, a parented can, and several props of food (cans, cookie boxes, banana, tomato, apples, coffee bag, milk carton, empty grocery bag), and 10 poses for Genesis 3 Female(s).
With Sweet Darling and Accessories you get a very sexy clothing plus a very detailed casual shopping set. Perfect for any scene in the street, indoors, or even pinups. A must have!
See images and get it here: Sweet Darling Outfit and Groceries for Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
With Sweet Darling and Accessories you get a very sexy clothing plus a very detailed casual shopping set. Perfect for any scene in the street, indoors, or even pinups. A must have!
See images and get it here: Sweet Darling Outfit and Groceries for Genesis 3 Female
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Forest Sprite Mix and Match Expressions for Izabella 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product is released at Daz 3D: Forest Sprite Mix and Match Expressions for Izabella 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
Don't let your characters have a poker face! Bring them to life! A versatile customizable expression set for Izabella 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)! Make them happy, angry, joyful, bored, excited, sad, surprised... make your characters feel, make them tell a unique story. A must have!
See images and get them here: Forest Sprite Mix and Match Expressions for Izabella 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Don't let your characters have a poker face! Bring them to life! A versatile customizable expression set for Izabella 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)! Make them happy, angry, joyful, bored, excited, sad, surprised... make your characters feel, make them tell a unique story. A must have!
See images and get them here: Forest Sprite Mix and Match Expressions for Izabella 7 and Genesis 3 Female(s)
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
EJ Graciana for Genesis 3 Female(s)
Our new product is released at Daz 3D: EJ Graciana for Genesis 3 Female(s).
Graciana can be a stunning beauty, and also a crazy antiheroine that is capable of everything, having even supernatural features like pointed teeth and white or red eyes. For those who want to explore her dark harlequin side, there is 4 full face special makeups based on the classic poker cards, stiletto nails, and the mentioned pointed teeth and preternatural eyes. And for those who just want a beauty, matching casual makeups, nail colors and lip colors, tattoos including a very appealing finger tattoo, and the two custom nail morphs, and a beautiful face and body. A must have!
See images and get her here: EJ Graciana for Genesis 3 Female(s).
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
Graciana can be a stunning beauty, and also a crazy antiheroine that is capable of everything, having even supernatural features like pointed teeth and white or red eyes. For those who want to explore her dark harlequin side, there is 4 full face special makeups based on the classic poker cards, stiletto nails, and the mentioned pointed teeth and preternatural eyes. And for those who just want a beauty, matching casual makeups, nail colors and lip colors, tattoos including a very appealing finger tattoo, and the two custom nail morphs, and a beautiful face and body. A must have!
See images and get her here: EJ Graciana for Genesis 3 Female(s).
- Jordi R. Cardona www.hiperia3d.com
