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Echo and Insteon ISY Devices?

Vanhalo
in Amazon Echo

Featured Replies

Posted

I noticed that Amazon released support for the Insteon Hub today. Anyone know if they will support the ISY devices in the future?

I just ordered a Hub to experiment with alongside the ISY to have Echo access but then just found this thread stating ISY integration is pending Amazons approval. Is this something that might be live in days/weeks? If so I'll cancel the hub order for sure! Any insight on the timeframe and capabilities?

Thanks everyone!

The choice comes down to integration. For the hub, Integrating insteon devices to both the hub and the isy will be tricky to do and maintain. It will be difficult to impossible to integrate with other isy functions and programs.

 

Also I would expect the echo integration from udi to be richer and deeper. Fwiw, I'm waiting. Not sure how long.

I just ordered a Hub to experiment with alongside the ISY to have Echo access but then just found this thread stating ISY integration is pending Amazons approval. Is this something that might be live in days/weeks? If so I'll cancel the hub order for sure! Any insight on the timeframe and capabilities?
Thanks everyone!

The choice comes down to integration. For the hub, Integrating insteon devices to both the hub and the isy will be tricky to do and maintain. It will be difficult to impossible to integrate with other isy functions and programs.

 

Also I would expect the echo integration from udi to be richer and deeper. Fwiw, I'm waiting. Not sure how long.

Nothing more to add but +1 to what Paul said and I am too waiting.

I agree. If integration is a week or two out then for sure the hub goes back. Any longer and I'll likely use the hub for now and then as soon as ISY integration is released the hub would get disconnected and put in the closet. So timeframe is really what I was most curious about. No argument that ISY will be more robust.

Hello everyone,

 

Unfortunately I have no clue. The last correspondence we got from them was:

 

Hi and thank you for your question, and thank you for playing with the API.  
 
At this point we are developing a more programmatic method to launch new innovative services such as Universal Devices.  If you could please be patient as we work out this program we will get back to you as soon as this part of our development is completed.
 
 
Kind regards,
 
The Alexa Connected Home Submissions Team

 

With kind regards,

Michel

we are developing a more programmatic method to launch new innovative services such as Universal Devices

 

 

I wonder what that means?  Sounds promising though :)

 

 

Jon..

 

Unfortunately I have no clue. The last correspondence we got from them was:

Hi and thank you for your question, and thank you for playing with the API.  
 
At this point we are developing a more programmatic method to launch new innovative services such as Universal Devices.  If you could please be patient as we work out this program we will get back to you as soon as this part of our development is completed.
 
 
Kind regards,
 
The Alexa Connected Home Submissions Team

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Michel, anything we can do to lobby Amazon?

The choice comes down to integration. For the hub, Integrating insteon devices to both the hub and the isy will be tricky to do and maintain. It will be difficult to impossible to integrate with other isy functions and programs.

 

Also I would expect the echo integration from udi to be richer and deeper. Fwiw, I'm waiting. Not sure how long.

 

Hi Paul,

 

Integration with ISY is definitely richer & deeper.

 

For the purpose of clarification, there are 2 integrations points. First of all, under Settings/Connected home, you will see the ISY there. That will give you "standard" device control. Basically On, Off, On to x%, Brighten and Dim type of functions. That's all that can be done under connected home.

 

What is more interesting is the ISY skill; you will find this soon under "skills" in the echo app.

 

You will be able to do the same thing as with the connected home (On, off, brighten, dim), but also:

Thermostat control: Get the temp, adjust mode, adjust setpoints.

Doorlock control: Lock, unlock, lock all doors, unlock all doors

Program: Run (runIf), Stop, get status

 

The difference between connected-home & skills is that connected home provides shorter spoken sentences.

Example:

Connected home: Alexa, turn on deviceXYZ

Skill: Alexa, tell ISY to turn on deviceXYZ

 

It's useful to be able to speak shorter sentences, so that's why both were developed. But underneath, it's really 2 different things.

 

Both were submitted to certification, but Amazon seems to take their time.

 

Thanks,

 

Benoit

Hi Paul,

 

Integration with ISY is definitely richer & deeper.

 

For the purpose of clarification, there are 2 integrations points. First of all, under Settings/Connected home, you will see the ISY there. That will give you "standard" device control. Basically On, Off, On to x%, Brighten and Dim type of functions. That's all that can be done under connected home.

 

What is more interesting is the ISY skill; you will find this soon under "skills" in the echo app.

....

 

Thanks,

 

Benoit

 

Thank you Benoit! That is helpful. I think I know what I am saving up for next.....  8)

 

Paul

  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Paul,

 

Integration with ISY is definitely richer & deeper.

 

For the purpose of clarification, there are 2 integrations points. First of all, under Settings/Connected home, you will see the ISY there. That will give you "standard" device control. Basically On, Off, On to x%, Brighten and Dim type of functions. That's all that can be done under connected home.

 

What is more interesting is the ISY skill; you will find this soon under "skills" in the echo app.

 

You will be able to do the same thing as with the connected home (On, off, brighten, dim), but also:

Thermostat control: Get the temp, adjust mode, adjust setpoints.

Doorlock control: Lock, unlock, lock all doors, unlock all doors

Program: Run (runIf), Stop, get status

 

The difference between connected-home & skills is that connected home provides shorter spoken sentences.

Example:

Connected home: Alexa, turn on deviceXYZ

Skill: Alexa, tell ISY to turn on deviceXYZ

 

It's useful to be able to speak shorter sentences, so that's why both were developed. But underneath, it's really 2 different things.

 

Both were submitted to certification, but Amazon seems to take their time.

 

Thanks,

 

Benoit

 

"First of all, under Settings/Connected home, you will see the ISY there."

I'm curious, this is active now?  I don't see that as an option in the Alexa app.

I'm currently using Hub to control a small number og devices and having ISY query those devices every 10 minutes to update status when necessary.  Not pretty but usable for now.  Is there a direct Echo -> ISY option I'm not seeing?

Thanks for your help and info.

I was looking for a way for Echo to announce notifications from ISY but no luck.  however... anyone see this yet?  (skip 2 min. into it.)

 

 

Jon...

Hi hammr808,

 

Still waiting for certification. This said, we do know that they are testing it!

 

With kind regards,

Michel

Do you have a name who is testing it at Amazon? I have a friend who is a dev at Amazon who possibly could reach out for us.

Edited by huddadudda

 

 

The difference between connected-home & skills is that connected home provides shorter spoken sentences.

Example:

Connected home: Alexa, turn on deviceXYZ

Skill: Alexa, tell ISY to turn on deviceXYZ

 

 

 

This begs the question, what is the accepted pronunciation of "ISY"?  I have spent the last several years saying "Aye Ess Why", at least in my head, since I never actually have had to speak it aloud.  But now with the prospect of having to say it to my Echo, it seems like "Izzy" would make more sense.  Or does it even matter?  Could I pronounce it "Bob" or "The House?"

Hi Paul,

 

Integration with ISY is definitely richer & deeper.

 

For the purpose of clarification, there are 2 integrations points. First of all, under Settings/Connected home, you will see the ISY there. That will give you "standard" device control. Basically On, Off, On to x%, Brighten and Dim type of functions. That's all that can be done under connected home.

 

What is more interesting is the ISY skill; you will find this soon under "skills" in the echo app.

 

You will be able to do the same thing as with the connected home (On, off, brighten, dim), but also:

Thermostat control: Get the temp, adjust mode, adjust setpoints.

Doorlock control: Lock, unlock, lock all doors, unlock all doors

Program: Run (runIf), Stop, get status

 

The difference between connected-home & skills is that connected home provides shorter spoken sentences.

Example:

Connected home: Alexa, turn on deviceXYZ

Skill: Alexa, tell ISY to turn on deviceXYZ

 

It's useful to be able to speak shorter sentences, so that's why both were developed. But underneath, it's really 2 different things.

 

Both were submitted to certification, but Amazon seems to take their time.

 

Thanks,

 

Benoit

 

This is fantastic!  Hope they approve it very soon!!

This begs the question, what is the accepted pronunciation of "ISY"?  I have spent the last several years saying "Aye Ess Why", at least in my head, since I never actually have had to speak it aloud.  But now with the prospect of having to say it to my Echo, it seems like "Izzy" would make more sense.  Or does it even matter?  Could I pronounce it "Bob" or "The House?"

 

Hello Scott,

 

The correct pronunciation is "Aye Ess Why".  Unfortunately this is not customizable. An alexa skill can only have one spoken way to address it. Having different pronunciations or different word or sentence would require multiple skills.

 

Thanks,

 

Benoit.

In my opinion, "Izzy" would be much better in term if ease of use.

 

 

-Xathros

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

In my opinion, "Izzy" would be much better in term if ease of use.

 

-Xathros

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably also higher WAF for "Izzy"

It would be nice to have a few choices. Let's say the standard ISY is $30 a year. Make a Sarah, Hal or House etc and charge an extra $5. It should be a copy of the code and just change the name in it for that version.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited by Digger

Probably also higher WAF for "Izzy"

I agree - it's more memorable and personal (think "Siri" or "Alexa").

 

Could be worse though - eg "Aye-Ess-Why-9-9-4"!

My vote for Izzy!!  Just asked my wife, she says Izzy to.  

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