It's movie night and you have one hand in a bucket of popcorn and other on your chilled beverage. If you have an Amazon Echo or another Alexa-enabled device, it will now be even easier to start a binge watch.
That's because Amazon today announced a new tool in its Alexa Skills Kit that will let cable companies, streaming services, and other content providers teach the voice-powered virtual assistant how to interface with their services. The new Video Skill API will help developers build more user-friendly Alexa voice-enabled experiences, meaning Alexa users can more easily find and consume video content without having to invoke a specific skill, Amazon said.
"For example, a customer could say, 'Alexa, play Manchester by the Sea' without specifying a provider or device," Amazon's David Isbitski wrote in a post on the Amazon Developer blog. Alexa will know which video devices and services to which you're subscribed, and instantly fulfill your request.
Customers will also be able to open a video streaming app then "use their Amazon Echo or other Alexa device to issue commands like 'Alexa, find comedies,' 'Alexa, tune to HBO,' or 'Alexa, play episodes of Modern Family,'" Isbitski added.
Services that opt to use the new tool can let their customers navigate channels, search and play content, and control playback (rewind, pause, fast forward, etc.). Amazon said it plans to add more capabilities over time.
Several companies are already using the Alexa Video Skill API, including Dish and two UK-based providers: YouView and Netgem, but more are sure to follow. Dish customers with internet-connected Hopper or Wally devices, for instance, can navigate, play, pause, fast-forward, rewind, and search content based on channel, title, actor, or genre — all by simply asking Alexa.