<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Very interesting info. Guess you’d have to have a later version of Alexa, but its great to see what Amazon has done with this divisive. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBofSC <nfbofsc-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Steve & Shannon Cook via NFBofSC<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 11, 2020 7:15 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of South Carolina Mailing List' <nfbofsc@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Steve & Shannon Cook <cookcafe@sc.rr.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [NFBofSC] Keep tabs on your home when you're out<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Keep tabs on your home when you're out<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If Alexa hears suspicious activity, she'll alert you<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There are all kinds of new security gadgets popping up in the smart home space. But what's great about Alexa's Guard feature is that it provides an extra<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>layer of home security at no extra charge -- and without the hassle of setting up a whole new system. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alexa Guard lets you put your Echo speakers on alert when you're out so they can listen for breaking glass and ringing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If Alexa picks up these sounds, she'll send your phone a push notification with a 10-second audio clip so you'll immediately know what's happening at home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"Alexa, I'm leaving." Once you've enabled the Guard feature (easy step-by-step in section below), just say "Alexa, I'm leaving" to activate Away Mode.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I tested Guard by playing breaking glass and smoke alarm sounds, and it worked exactly as it's supposed to.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Investigate any trouble for yourself -- before you even get home. If you get a Guard alert while you're away, it'll include the option of dropping in on<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>your Echo so you can hear what's going on at home and decide whether to call in help. (If you have an Echo Show, you'll be able to see what's happening,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>too.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pro Tip #1: When you're dropping in, you can also talk -- so you could let intruders know you're onto them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pro Tip #2: You can also hook your Alexa into a Ring or ADT security system so when you say "Alexa, I'm leaving," she can automatically arm your security<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>system, too. And if she detects a problem, she can send alerts to your security provider in addition to giving you a heads up.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pro Tip #3: Make sure your speakers are set up near the parts of your home you most want to guard so she'll be more likely to hear any disturbances while<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>you're gone.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list of 8 items<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1. Open the Alexa app<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2. Tap the menu icon (3 horizontal lines) in the upper left corner<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3. Tap "Settings"<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4. Tap "Guard" > "Set Up Guard"<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>5. When prompted, allow Alexa to send Smart Alert push notifications to your phone <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>6. Follow the set-up flow to choose which things you'd like Alexa to listen for (Smoke & CO Alarms, Glass Break Sounds) and the devices on which you want<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to enable Guard.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>7. Next time you leave the house, say "Alexa, I'm leaving" to arm the system (or switch it to "Away" in the app)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8. When you get home, say "Alexa, I'm home" to disarm (or switch it to "Home" in the app)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pro Tip #4: If you have Alexa-compatible smart lights, enable Away Lighting, which uses data from your local area and algorithms to turn your smart lights<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>on and off so it looks like someone's home even when you're away.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pro Tip #5: If you don't live alone, make sure you let your family members or housemates know about Guard and how to arm and disarm it to prevent false<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>alarms. <o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>