Google Home
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Google Home
Google Home was released in the UK on Friday 7th of April. This is a device that allows home automation to be controlled by voice commands. The Google Home device is a rival to the Amazon Alexa/Dot device released a year ago.
The main differences between the two devices are that Google Home is capable of accepting more conversational commands. You are allowed to be a bit vague and the system will still react appropriately, most if the time. The Amazon device is capable of interacting with more external kit around the house, simply because it has been out for longer. Google Home will probably catch up very rapidly.
There will probably be a bit of the old VHS Betamax video cassette standards war going on between these two rivals, with certain devices only working well with one or the other system. However, with the majority of the work being done by computer software, workarounds and matching stuff to either system will probably be possible, given time.
Google Home is supplied without any instruction manual. You have to download a software app onto your phone, tablet, or home computer. All the real setting up is done within this app, such as customisation and linking devices such as lights, thermostats and TV streaming devices.
Google Home does not work with Roku devices at the moment, but will work with Chromecast dongles. There is a workaround that involves downloading a third party app that interprets commands between Google Home and the Roku dongle, but no way of directly linking the two devices.
Google Home (and Amazon Alexa) basically sit listening for a wake up command all the time. "Okay Google" or "Hey Google" set the device to interpret the following command such as "Turn on the side lamp in the living room". You can give follow up commands such as "Set light to 50%", but multiple commands in one sentence will probably generate a response such as, "I'm sorry, I don't know how to do that yet."
When connecting external devices, there is normally yet another app to download specific to that device. First you set up the device and make sure it is working correctly from within that app. Then you use the Google Home app to tell your Google Home device what it is you have connected. That bit caught me out at first. I imagined that compatible devices would automatically be recognised when they were powered up by Google Home, similar to what happens when you plug a USB stick into a computer. Doesn't work that way!
You will find that as part of the setup for various lights and switches, you will be asked to specify locations and membership of groups around the house. This seems a bit over the top when you only have a couple of lights or a thermostat being voice controlled. But thinking on into the future, as more remote controlled devices are installed around the home, it makes sense to group items together. So you could command all the lights in a certain room to come on, or all the lights upstairs or downstairs to switch off. Although all the settings can be changed later, it is a good idea to at least have some plan in mind as to how you might want to control groups of things in the future.
There is also the possibility to use an IFTTT (if this then that) software app. This makes these voice control systems very powerful. Scripts can be downloaded to perform common tasks, or you can write your own. Applications could include switching stuff on in advance when you are about to arrive home, or ensuring the heating system kicks in if the house is unoccupied during an unexpected spell of frosty weather.
The biggest issue I suspect most people will have initially is the lack of an instruction manual. Fortunately there a quite a few how to articles on YouTube and the Internet generally.
The biggest advantage of Google Home is the ability to turn off the microphones with a physical switch at the back of the unit. A steady press on the touch sensitive top of the unit will switch it on to listen to commands, even with the microphone switch off. Useful if you are paranoid about people listening in, or you are watching videos on how to set up the device. It doesn't care who is speaking, once it hears "Okay Google", it will attempt to carry out the following command or answer a question.
Basically it looks like one if those automatic air fresheners that squirt as you walk past, so fairly unobtrusive. The audio output is more than adequate for most people, although not exactly hifi quality, but then you can interface to quality speakers for music playback if that is your thing.
An interesting device that will probably be used as a rather expensive voice controlled light and music centre by most people, although home heating control will probably become popular quite quickly.
If you remove power, it will reboot and carry in working when power is restored. Similarly any remote devices should just reboot and reconnect and carry on working if they are powered down.
Great fun, but be prepared to do a bit of Internet research to get the right kind of devices or lamps to connect. I can recommend the LIFX ones although they are very pricey. Some lights require an extra bridging device to allow them to interface with Google Home. Not a problem, but just another box that needs to be powered from the mains.
I am still getting used to talking to an air freshner!
The main differences between the two devices are that Google Home is capable of accepting more conversational commands. You are allowed to be a bit vague and the system will still react appropriately, most if the time. The Amazon device is capable of interacting with more external kit around the house, simply because it has been out for longer. Google Home will probably catch up very rapidly.
There will probably be a bit of the old VHS Betamax video cassette standards war going on between these two rivals, with certain devices only working well with one or the other system. However, with the majority of the work being done by computer software, workarounds and matching stuff to either system will probably be possible, given time.
Google Home is supplied without any instruction manual. You have to download a software app onto your phone, tablet, or home computer. All the real setting up is done within this app, such as customisation and linking devices such as lights, thermostats and TV streaming devices.
Google Home does not work with Roku devices at the moment, but will work with Chromecast dongles. There is a workaround that involves downloading a third party app that interprets commands between Google Home and the Roku dongle, but no way of directly linking the two devices.
Google Home (and Amazon Alexa) basically sit listening for a wake up command all the time. "Okay Google" or "Hey Google" set the device to interpret the following command such as "Turn on the side lamp in the living room". You can give follow up commands such as "Set light to 50%", but multiple commands in one sentence will probably generate a response such as, "I'm sorry, I don't know how to do that yet."
When connecting external devices, there is normally yet another app to download specific to that device. First you set up the device and make sure it is working correctly from within that app. Then you use the Google Home app to tell your Google Home device what it is you have connected. That bit caught me out at first. I imagined that compatible devices would automatically be recognised when they were powered up by Google Home, similar to what happens when you plug a USB stick into a computer. Doesn't work that way!
You will find that as part of the setup for various lights and switches, you will be asked to specify locations and membership of groups around the house. This seems a bit over the top when you only have a couple of lights or a thermostat being voice controlled. But thinking on into the future, as more remote controlled devices are installed around the home, it makes sense to group items together. So you could command all the lights in a certain room to come on, or all the lights upstairs or downstairs to switch off. Although all the settings can be changed later, it is a good idea to at least have some plan in mind as to how you might want to control groups of things in the future.
There is also the possibility to use an IFTTT (if this then that) software app. This makes these voice control systems very powerful. Scripts can be downloaded to perform common tasks, or you can write your own. Applications could include switching stuff on in advance when you are about to arrive home, or ensuring the heating system kicks in if the house is unoccupied during an unexpected spell of frosty weather.
The biggest issue I suspect most people will have initially is the lack of an instruction manual. Fortunately there a quite a few how to articles on YouTube and the Internet generally.
The biggest advantage of Google Home is the ability to turn off the microphones with a physical switch at the back of the unit. A steady press on the touch sensitive top of the unit will switch it on to listen to commands, even with the microphone switch off. Useful if you are paranoid about people listening in, or you are watching videos on how to set up the device. It doesn't care who is speaking, once it hears "Okay Google", it will attempt to carry out the following command or answer a question.
Basically it looks like one if those automatic air fresheners that squirt as you walk past, so fairly unobtrusive. The audio output is more than adequate for most people, although not exactly hifi quality, but then you can interface to quality speakers for music playback if that is your thing.
An interesting device that will probably be used as a rather expensive voice controlled light and music centre by most people, although home heating control will probably become popular quite quickly.
If you remove power, it will reboot and carry in working when power is restored. Similarly any remote devices should just reboot and reconnect and carry on working if they are powered down.
Great fun, but be prepared to do a bit of Internet research to get the right kind of devices or lamps to connect. I can recommend the LIFX ones although they are very pricey. Some lights require an extra bridging device to allow them to interface with Google Home. Not a problem, but just another box that needs to be powered from the mains.
I am still getting used to talking to an air freshner!
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I don't like the idea it is listening 24/7. Just because I am paranoid it doesn't mean they are not out to get me.
They need to enhance their privacy before you will see it in our household.
They need to enhance their privacy before you will see it in our household.
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Because of software and Internet bandwidth limitations, these devices only monitor constantly for the wake up command. While it is technically possible to monitor all conversations from an individual Google Home device, the same can be said of mobile phones, tablets and computers, together with virtually any internet connected device.
Your personal security is no more compromised than if you had servants or a housekeeper. Conversations are constantly overheard in restaurants, on public transport, or elsewhere. As these devices are progressively adopted, it will be the people who don't have one that draw attention to themselves.
They certainly have a place assisting the elderly or infirm allowing devices such as the lights to be controlled without needing to get up from a chair or bed. Also useful as you enter a dark house with your arms full of shopping. They can also allow help to be summoned in event of a fall or perhaps a long period of inactivity in the house.
All technology can be subverted to bad purposes, but I rather suspect that in a few years they will just be accepted as part of the background technology that already surrounds us.
Your personal security is no more compromised than if you had servants or a housekeeper. Conversations are constantly overheard in restaurants, on public transport, or elsewhere. As these devices are progressively adopted, it will be the people who don't have one that draw attention to themselves.
They certainly have a place assisting the elderly or infirm allowing devices such as the lights to be controlled without needing to get up from a chair or bed. Also useful as you enter a dark house with your arms full of shopping. They can also allow help to be summoned in event of a fall or perhaps a long period of inactivity in the house.
All technology can be subverted to bad purposes, but I rather suspect that in a few years they will just be accepted as part of the background technology that already surrounds us.
Because of software and Internet bandwidth limitations, these devices only monitor constantly for the wake up command. While it is technically possible to monitor all conversations from an individual Google Home device, the same can be said of mobile phones, tablets and computers, together with virtually any internet connected device.
