The company also revealed the first group of smart home cameras designed to be compatible with the Echo Show (pictured above), including the Nest, August, Amcrest, EZViz, IC Realtime, Vivint, Ring, and Arlo. The API will give users the ability to issue verbal commands to the Echo Show, telling them which camera they want to see.
"Because the Smart Home Skill API taps into Amazon?EU?s standardized Alexa language model, you won't need to build the voice interaction model for your camera skill," Amazon wrote on its developer blog today. Alexa will convert the input from a customer's voice into a command that Amazon calls a "directive." The directive can then be sent directly to the developer's skill adapter, which then returns the video feed URI from the requested camera.
The new API makes it possible for developers to add voice-recognition functionality to their devices without having to redesign it themselves. That means third-party cameras will be able to respond to verbal requests from users such as "Alexa, show me the front door camera," or "Alexa, listen to the baby's room."
The Show was first unveiled last month, and is currently available for pre-order ahead of a June 28 shipping date. The new model will retail for $229.99. It's the first model in the Echo line of voice-activated smart speakers that will come with a 7-inch touchscreen display. Users will also be able to initiate hands-free video calls using the Show?EU?s voice-command capabilities.
The company seems to anticipate...