“Alexa, Are You Listening?”- The Latest on Alexa Home Automation

Alexa has become a household name since early 2017 when Amazon released they affordable home automation system. Alexa made everyone’s life easier by having learning capabilities and other tricks that made life a little more comfortable and more entertaining. But, in the latest reports, Alexa might be learning a little too much about us when she is in our homes. Park Place Installations has the latest news on some of the more controversial articles relating to Alexa and other home automation systems.

The Patent

According to The Independent, Amazon filed for a new patent in April 2018. This would allow for Amazon and all echo products to “voice sniff” conversations happening around the device. This information would be collected and analyzed, to be used for advertisements. Now, Alexa and other Amazon echo products are hardwired to only record conversations when the wake word “Alexa” has been said. The voice capabilities for Alexa are used for playing music, controlling other smart home devices, and ordering products off of Amazon when instructed. AS of right now, Amazon saves those voice files on a server, but the user can listen to and delete those recordings if they so choose.

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The Fear

Most people against this patent are afraid that this new patent is an invasion of privacy. The patent suggests that Alexa would be able to recognize the words “love” and “hate” to recommend products from Amazon presumably on users need. But, is having every conversation in a household recorded seems to be going too far?

Amazon argues that this technology is light years away. Amazon made clear that it does and is not able to collect such data at the moment. The company also said that they might not even use the technology described in the patent.“We take privacy seriously and have built multiple layers of privacy into our Echo devices,” said an Amazon spokesperson.

As a leader in home automation, Park Place Installations wants to keep you informed and updated on all the latest news when it comes to smart homes! When looking at home automation devices, Alexa and the Amazon echo are the popular choices.

Park Place Installations has all the information you need on home automation systems in Western New York. We work with the best brands to get you the products you need to create a smart home! We service all of Western New York with home automation devices and technology that will bring you into the 21st Century. Call us today so we can start working together toward your future smart home!

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Home Automation | The Crestron Whole-House Automation System

 

Park Place Installations has been your WNY home automation installation team since the technology’s inception. With systems developed by Crestron, the industry leader in home automation remote control systems, you are able to control just about anything in your home from one single device. Well, everything other than the wife and kids. We’d like to talk briefly about how Crestron Home Automation remote systems can make your life easier, and much cooler!

Audio/Video/Music

At the most basic level, you can control any of your AV devices with one central remote. The touchscreen interface allows you to control your television, cable box, DVD player, Surround Sound Systems, BluRay player, just about everything other than your record player. With apps like Pandora, Spotify and others, you can control your music from anywhere. It also allows you to connect through your mobile device too!

Lights/Shades/Climate

Here’s where it starts getting interesting. You’re going to feel like Batman the first time you use your Crestron remote control system to lower your automated shades. Did you forget to turn off the light right after you just got your favorite show queued up on Netflix? That’s ok, you can control any of the lights in your home using your touchscreen device. Is your boo getting a little chilly? Don’t even worry about getting up to change that thermostat. Turn up the heat from the comfort of your sofa!

Home Security Systems

Your safety, more importantly your family’s safety, is also featured with the Crestron home automation system. You don’t need to worry about anything happening when you have mobile access to any of your home security cameras. Crestron has their own mobile apps that allow you to access and control any of your security features while outside of your home. The seamless design of the apps and interfaces allow for peace of mind for you to know your family is safe.

This is just a few examples of how Crestron Home Automation systems can make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and safe. Stay tuned to the Park Place blog to learn more about Crestron Home Automation, as well as what Crestron has to offer for Corporate offices, and other things like digital signage and smart TV intergration. As always, if you have any questions about Crestron, or you just need to mount a television to your wall, Park Place Installations is your answer!