Amazon has released a guide online that reveals how users can set up the Raspberry Pi to function as an Echo, complete with the Alexa digital assistant.
The method presents an alternative that is cheaper compared to purchasing the Echo, which is being sold for $179.99 and is not yet available for interested customers outside the United States.
The guide, uploaded to GitHub, states that the hardware needed for the project are Raspberry Pi 1 Model B, a micro-USB power cable, a microSD card with an operating system installed, an ethernet cable, a USB 2.0 mini microphone, a USB keyboard and mouse, an external HDMI monitor, and optionally, a Wi-Fi wireless adapter. For most Raspberry Pi owners, they would already own most of the accessories that the project would need.
The skills that users would need for the project are basic programming skills and familiarity with shell.
The guide includes instructions on how users can access the app data and certificates needed to connect the Raspberry Pi to Amazon's servers and to tap into Alexa. This set of steps involves the users signing up for an account in the Amazon Developer Portal. Registration on the portal is free.
The end product of the project is a fully functioning do-it-yourself Echo with Alexa, but with a major catch. Users will not be able to wake up the device and talk to it using a keyword such as "Alexa," a feature that is prominent in the Echo. Instead, users will have to press a button before they can start issuing voice commands to their device.
Nevertheless, with the Raspberry Pi costing only about $40, and the rest of the components also cheap, makes the project worthwhile to be able to access Alexa and the conveniences it offers. In addition, the project is a good practice to further hone the user's coding skills.
The Amazon Echo has skyrocketed in popularity since it was released in November of last year, with the always-on and always-listening Internet-connected speaker slowly allowing the smart home dream to become real.
On Amazon's website, the company lists all the smart home devices that are compatible with Echo.
