How Alexa Map View is going to solve your smart home woes

If you are the person responsible for setting up smart devices in your home, recalling their individual names might be manageable. However, with the increasing number of homes equipped with over 20 devices, controlling them through Alexa becomes quite challenging. And if you were not the one who set them up, the odds are stacked against you.


In an effort to address this issue, Amazon has been diligently working on potential solutions over the past year. One solution involves utilizing their new "large language model," enabling Alexa to comprehend your intended meaning even when you say something like "turn on the new light," which may not correspond to the lamp's designated name in the Alexa app.


Another solution comes in the form of a new feature called Map View, found within the Alexa app. Map View presents a visual representation of all your devices arranged on a floorplan, allowing you to easily identify their locations - whether they are indoors or outdoors.


While opening the app may not be as convenient as using voice commands, Map View proves to be invaluable when you are unsure of the specific name of a device or if you wish to control multiple devices simultaneously.


To utilize this feature, you will need to own an iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max or a later model, or an iPad Pro. These devices have the capability to generate a map of your home by simply scanning each room with the camera.


Once you have one of these compatible devices at your disposal (assuming you are in the United States, where the feature will first roll out), you can view all your connected devices accurately represented on the map. Tapping on each device allows you to conveniently control its functions. Icons will also provide additional information, such as whether a smart lock is locked, and you can even tap on a camera to access its live feed.


Additionally, you have the option to choose which devices appear or do not appear on your map. Amazon assures users that privacy is a top priority, and deleting the map is possible whenever desired.


For homes with multiple floors, a dedicated button enables quick selection of a specific floor, granting you the ability to turn off all devices on that floor with just a tap.


If you rearrange your devices and relocate them to different rooms, editing the map view accordingly is a simple task.


While Map View may not be immediately available upon release, it will eventually be included on Amazon's new Echo Hub wall controller. This accessibility feature ensures that accessing Map View is far more convenient than unlocking your phone, launching the Alexa app, and navigating your way to the feature.


And that wraps up everything that Amazon unveiled at its September 2023 event.