智能技术(Smart tech)比以往任何时候都更先进，领先的语音助手是亚马逊 Alexa 和谷歌助手(Amazon Alexa and Google Assistants)等实用程序。
许多人都知道智能家居集线器必须提供的基本功能，但他们的知识(knowledge doesn)通常不会超出简单的命令范围。
事实是，亚马逊 Alexa(Amazon Alexa)是一款非常先进的智能家居控制器(home controller)，可以真正将您的技术提升到一个新的水平。利用这项技术的最佳方法之一是使用名为Routines的功能。
智能设备本身当然有用，但对于真正的智能家居，您确实需要技术协同工作。
Amazon Alexa Routines是实现此目的的好方法，允许您通过Amazon Echo 设备(Amazon Echo device)使用单个命令控制多个设备。
在 Alexa 中创建例程
要启动和运行例程(Routine)，需要执行几个步骤，但这并不像您想象的那么复杂。我们概述了以下步骤，以帮助您启动和运行您的智能技术。
第 1 步。(Step 1. )如果您还没有，请导航到App Store (iOS) 或 Play Store ( Android )。本指南将按照 iPhone 上的步骤进行操作，但任何Android 设备(Android device)上的过程都应相同。
第 2 步。(Step 2. )如果这是您第一次使用Alexa 应用程序(Alexa app)，请创建和/或登录您的亚马逊帐户(Amazon account)。有一个简短的设置过程(setup process)，您可以将应用程序链接到您的Echo 设备(Echo device)，但该过程非常简单且不言自明。
步骤 3.(Step 3. )在Alexa 应用程序(Alexa app)中，点击屏幕左上角的侧边栏以展开应用程序选项。
第 4 步(Step 4. )。点击 例程(Routines)。
第 5 步。(Step 5. )点击创建例程(Create Routine)。
第 6 步： (Step 6. )Alexa例程是条件触发器。这意味着系统被分解为两个独立的部分：将启动例程的事件和Alexa的响应(s response)。让我们从单击When This Happens开始。这与我之前写过的IFTTT 的工作(how IFTTT works)方式非常相似。
第 7 步。(Step 7. )下一个屏幕为您提供了几个事件选项。对于智能家居设备，您显然会选择Device。但是，有大量不同的智能设备与Amazon Alexa集成。
为了提供每个人都可以遵循的指南，我们现在将点击日程安排(Schedule)。只要您的设备与Amazon Alexa配合使用，并且您已将其连接到Echo，创建例程的过程就应该具有类似的功能。
第 8 步。(Step 8. )在下一个屏幕上有两个选项，设置时间( Set Time)和重复(Repeat)。选择您希望触发器触发的时间，以及您希望它重复的频率。我们将设置为每周三(Wednesday)下午 12:05 重复。
第 9 步。(Step 9. )您可以在此处选择发生的情况。点击添加操作(Add Action)。
第 10 步。(Step 10. )下一个屏幕为您提供了一系列可供选择的选项。让Alexa在我们通过点击Alexa选择的(Alexa says)日期和时间(day and time)说些什么。
第 11 步(Step 11. )。Alexa 并不是(Alexa isn)最熟练的喜剧演员，但无论如何，让她给我们讲个笑话吧。
第 12 步。(Step 12. )点击添加以创建您的(Add)Alexa 例程(Alexa Routine)的第一部分。
第 13 步。(Step 13. )下一个屏幕将显示您选择的选项。Alexa例程的部分吸引力在于它们能够结合多个动作。让我们通过点击Add Action(Add Action)为我们的例程添加另一个方面。
此时，您还需要选择要播放笑话的设备，如果您有多个Echo设备，请记住这一点。
第 14 步。(Step 14. )让我们选择通知(Notification)选项，以便我们也可以在手机上收到提醒。
第 15 步。(Step 15. )选择您想要在通知中显示的文本，然后点击下一步(Next)。
第 16 步。(Step 16. )如果下一个屏幕上的确认看起来正确，请点击添加(Add)以结束您例程的最后一部分。
第 17 步。(Step 17. )这将带您回到一个屏幕，该屏幕显示您如何构建条件触发器的摘要。如果一切看起来都正确，请点击创建(Create)以结束您的第一个例程！
第 18 步。(Step 18. )在主Alexa 页面上(Alexa page)，您现在应该看到您的Routine。您的例行程序右侧的蓝色箭头将允许您编辑您的任务，包括更改频率甚至完全删除它等选项。
右上角(right corner)的按钮用作开始创建下一个例程的快捷方式。
随意(Feel)尝试 Alexa Routines 必须提供的各种选项。我们创建的例程并不是非常有用，实际上只是为了让您了解创建过程是如何工作(creation process works)的。Routine 功能(Routine feature)真正闪耀的地方在于它能够连接您的各种设备。
使用与亚马逊 Alexa兼容的设备，您可以在说“ (Amazon Alexa)Alexa 早安(Alexa Good Morning)”时打开灯并调节温度，或者在特定时间调暗灯光并打开一些轻松的音乐，这样您回家时就可以放松从工作。
还有其他智能家居自动化服务，例如 IFTTT(home automation services like IFTTT)和Stringify，它们稍微复杂一些，并为不支持 Echo 的设备提供了很多实用(t work)程序(Echo)。
然而，Alexa Routines对于初学者来说是一个很好的选择，可以让他们的智能设备协同工作，打造一个更方便、更智能的家庭。享受！
How to Create a Routine With Amazon Alexa
Smart tech is more advanced than ever before, and the voice assistants leading the charge are utilitiеs like Amazon Alexа and Google Assistants.
Many people are aware of the basic functions that smart home hubs have to offer, but oftentimes their knowledge doesn’t extend far beyond simple commands.
The truth is, Amazon Alexa is a surprisingly advanced smart home controller that can really take your tech to the next level. One of the best ways to take advantage of this technology is with a feature called Routines.
Smart devices are certainly useful on their own, but for a truly intelligent home, you really need the technology to work together.
Amazon Alexa Routines are a great way to accomplish this, allowing you to control multiple devices through your Amazon Echo device with a single command.
Create a Routine in Alexa
There are a few steps to follow to get a Routine up and running, but it’s not as complicated as you’d think. We’ve outlined the steps below to help you get your smart tech up and running.
Step 1. If you haven’t yet, navigate to the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android). This guide will follow the steps on an iPhone, but the process should be the same on any Android device.
Step 2. If this is your first time using the Alexa app, create and/or sign into your Amazon account. There is a short setup process where you’ll link the app to your Echo device, but the process is pretty simple and self-explanatory.
Step 3. In the Alexa app, tap the sidebar at the top left of the screen to expand the app options.
Step 4. Tap on Routines.
Step 5. Tap on Create Routine.
Step 6. Alexa routines are conditional triggers. This means that the system is broken down into two separate parts: The event that will start the routine, and Alexa’s response. Let’s start by clicking When This Happens. This is very similar to how IFTTT works, which I wrote about earlier.
Step 7. The next screen gives you several options for events. For smart home devices, you’d obviously choose Device. However, there are tons of different smart devices that integrate with Amazon Alexa.
In the interest of providing a guide that everyone can follow, we’ll tap on Schedule for now. As long as your device works with Amazon Alexa and you’ve connected it to your Echo, the process for creating a routine should function similarly.
Step 8. There are two options on the next screen, Set Time and Repeat. Choose the time you’d like the trigger to fire, as well as the frequency that you’d like it to repeat. We’ll set ours up to repeat every Wednesday at 12:05 pm.
Step 9. Here’s where you’ll choose what happens. Tap on Add Action.
Step 10. The next screen gives you a bunch of options to choose from. Let’s have Alexa say something at the day and time that we’ve selected by tapping on Alexa says.
Step 11. Alexa isn’t exactly the most skilled comedian, but let’s have her tell us a joke anyway.
Step 12. Tap Add to create the first part of your Alexa Routine.
Step 13. The next screen will show you the options that you’ve selected. Part of the appeal of Alexa routines is their ability to combine more than one action. Let’s add another aspect to our routine by tapping Add Action.
At this point, you’ll also want to choose the device that you’d like the joke to play from, which is important to keep in mind if you have multiple Echo devices.
Step 14. Let’s select the Notification option so we can get a reminder on our phone as well.
Step 15. Choose the text you’d like in the notification, and tap Next.
Step 16. If the confirmation on the next screen looks correct, tap Add to wrap up the last part of your routine.
Step 17. This should bring you back to a screen that shows the summary of how you’ve structured your conditional triggers. If everything looks correct, tap Create to wrap up your first Routine!
Step 18. On the main Alexa page, you should now see your Routine. The blue arrow to the right of your routine will allow you to edit your task, with options such as changing the frequency or even deleting it outright.
The button at the top right corner functions as a shortcut to start creating your next routine.
Feel free to experiment with the various options that Alexa Routines have to offer. The Routine that we created isn’t exactly super useful and is really just to give you a sense of how the creation process works. Where the Routine feature really shines is in its ability to connect your various devices.
With Amazon Alexa compatible devices, you can do things like turn on your lights and adjust the temperature when you say “Alexa Good Morning,” or dim the lights and turn on some relaxing music at a certain time so you can relax as you come home from work.
There are other smart home automation services like IFTTT and Stringify that are a little more complex and offer a lot of utility for devices that don’t work with the Echo.
However, Alexa Routines are a great option for beginners to make their smart devices work together for a more convenient and intelligent home. Enjoy!
