How to use presence detection on Amazon Echo to activate functions

Amazon is one of the companies that is betting the most on home automation at home , with its line of Amazon Echo smart speakers. They come at all prices, and sometimes you can find irresistible offers that allow you to have up to three devices for less than 50 euros . But few people get the most out of them.

An unknown feature that some smart speakers have is presence detection . This allows the speaker to know if there is someone in the room or not, by launching certain routines and commands that have been configured. This allows, for example, turning on a light when entering a room, playing music, or turning off certain plugs.

The Amazon Echo Show 15, 10 third generation, Echo Show 8 second generation or later and the Echo Show 5 second generation or later are capable of knowing if someone is there or not using artificial vision. That is, they use their camera, which is also used for video calls. In the case of the fourth generation Echo and Echo Dot or later, they detect presence using ultrasound.

How to use presence detection

In order to take advantage of this function, it must be configured in the Alexa application , which is the one that connects the mobile phone to the speaker. When it opens, you have to scroll to the more tab and select the Routines option. There you can change the name of the routine and select When it occurs and what the system will do.

In the When section you must select Digital Home , and there click on the device you want to choose. On the next screen you must select Presence, so that this is the activator of the action. It will ask you to specify if you want something to happen when a person is detected or when it is no longer detected.

Normally, the first option is chosen, and then the option to be executed must be selected. In the case of the example in the image above, it has been established that three lights in the same room turn red . That way the lights will turn on when people are detected. If you want them to turn off when they are not detected, you would have to create a different routine.

The same can be done with a brazier that is connected to a smart plug, although you must understand that if you are sitting without moving, or lying on the sofa, it is very possible that the system will not detect anyone and turn off the device. Finally, it is possible to limit the activation time of these routines , so that the lights do not turn on during the day, and only after 8 at night, for example. This is common to the rest of the routines, but it is especially useful in this case.