How To Turn On Santa Claus Voice On Alexa & Other Updates

What do you get when you combine the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and a love of all things Christmas? Voice-activated virtual assistants equipped to play Santa Claus can stream holiday music, read you a story or tell you about other festive activities going on in your area. You can also use these assistants to shop for gifts, look up recipes, or find a last-minute holiday deal. Some virtual assistants also come with games or puzzles that kids can play with Santa. The Amazon Echo has a Santa mode where you can hear him tell stories and answer questions. The Google Assistant can read you Christmas stories and tell you about holiday activities going on in your area. The Siri assistant comes with a Santa Claus costume for the icon. If you own an Alexa device and want to give it a little more holiday spirit, read on for some helpful tips. With the recent release of new firmware for the Amazon Echo, we’ve seen an uptick in interactions with Alexa that involve something other than asking for the weather or getting directions to somewhere. So many people have begun using Alexa as their assistant that some might even say it’s beginning to creep them out. List of Alexa Easter Eggs The following are some Easter Eggs you can activate by saying a certain phrase to your Amazon Echo. Alexa, volume 11 - Alexa, what does the fox say? Alexa, what is the loneliest number? Alexa, what is the sound of one hand clapping? Alexa, when do pigs fly? Alexa, what is the meaning of life? Alexa, what are the three laws of robotics? Alexa, make me a sandwich. Alexa, what is your favorite color? Turn on holiday music with Alexa Have you ever been sitting around the house, feeling festive and wishing there was a way to start some holiday music that wasn’t at the click of a button on your phone? Well, now you can with Amazon’s Alexa. You can ask Alexa to play any of your favorite playlists or even just play a random holiday music playlist. You can also ask Alexa to give you a random song and let you know who the artist is. If you want to stream music from a device other than your phone, you can connect it to your Amazon Echo with Bluetooth. Hear a story with Alexa Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean kids only have time to read books about snowmen and sledding. They can also learn about Hanukkah or Kwanza. And what better way to keep the kids entertained than with stories read to you by Alexa? Some of the stories you can ask Alexa to read include: The Gift of the Magi The Legend of the Poinsettia The Little Match Girl The Polar Express Twas the Night Before Christmas Yule Log What Can You Ask Alexa as Santa Claus? Some of Alexa's existing features are still available when Santa's voice is enabled. As far as shopping, lists, reminders, and other skills are concerned, Santa will not be able to help. It is no secret that Santa Claus is a busy man during the holidays, especially during the Christmas season. St. Nick gets plenty of requests, so if you're feeling cheeky, you can ask him anything you want. Set a reminder with Alexa You can set reminders on your phone, and you can ask Alexa to remind you when to do just about anything. All you have to do is say, “Alexa, remind me to ...” followed by whatever you want her to remember. You can set reminders for events on your calendar, the due date on bills, and any important dates you may have. If you want to set a recurring reminder, say something like, “Alexa, remind me to feed the cat once a day.” You can also choose to have Alexa ask you what the reminder is each time you set it. Ask Alexa to be Santa Claus There are a lot of new Alexa voices available this season, so Amazon just introduced one more. This new Santa Claus is the most famous of all the celebrity voices the company added earlier this year. As soon as the feature is enabled, users can have fun with Santa. Alternatively, you could ask Alexa to sing Jingle Bells. Or, you could ask, “Hey Santa, have I been good or bad?” so your kids can answer a series of questions, determining whether they’ll get fun presents or coal in the stocking. If you’re looking for other ways for Alexa to spread holiday cheer, you should ask her to be Santa Claus. When you ask Alexa to be Santa, she will read you a random Christmas trivia fact. You can also ask Alexa to tell you her Christmas wish or even ask Alexa to tell you a Christmas poem. If you have kids in the house, you might want to have this discussion with them before using this Easter Egg, so they know how Santa communicates with people. Other Fun Voice Commands for the Holidays Alexa, roll a dice - Alexa, flip a coin Alexa, flip a coin by saying heads or tails, Alexa, give me a fortune, Alexa, predict my fortune, Alexa, tell me a fortune, Alexa, tell me a fortune for today. Alexa, predict the next item in my shopping list Alexa, tell me a random fact - Alexa, tell me a random fact about Christmas - Alexa, tell me a random fact about New Year’s - Alexa, tell me a holiday-related fact. Alexa, tell me a holiday-related poem. Alexa, tell me a riddle for kids. Alexa, tell me a knock-knock joke - Alexa, tell me a tongue twister Alexa, what are the capitals of the states? Alexa, give me a random fact - Alexa, give me a random fact about animals Alexa, what is the diameter of the sun? - Alexa, give me a random fact about the sun Alexa, what is the mass of the moon? - Alexa, give me a random fact about the moon - Alexa, what is the length of a year? - Alexa, what is the length of a year in days? Alexa, when does Daylight Saving Time start? - Alexa, what time is it in Beijing? - Alexa, when is the next solar eclipse? - Alexa, when is the next lunar eclipse? Conclusion As you can see, Alexa and other voice assistants are much more than just a thing that can order you paper towels when you’re out of them. They can also be extremely useful when it comes to keeping track of your to-do list, reading recipes, and even taking care of the kids by ordering their favorite bedtime stories. And the best part is that you don’t need to be looking at your phone or computer to do any of these things. All you have to do is talk to Alexa, and she will do the hard work for you. They can be an excellent resource during the holidays, as they can keep you up-to-date on what’s happening in the world, help you set reminders, teach you facts, and so much more. During the holidays, you can even ask your Santa Claus voice on Alexa assistant for a special holiday fact, poem, or riddle. With so many options, there’s no reason why you can’t make your voice assistant even more festive. As far as Amazon is concerned, Santa Claus works with all Echo devices except first-generation Echoes, Echo Dots, and wearable devices. This fun voice option doesn't support Fire Tablets and Fire TVs, although Amazon plans to add them later or next year. In addition to Singing some music playlists in Santa's voice, most Alexa features seem to work with this new voice. Whether you try it at home or in the office, it will bring a little extra holiday cheer.

Learn The Importance of Voice & Data Network Cabling

As its name suggests, voice and data cabling refers to a wiring system that can handle both voice and data. The services include basic phone system piping, data network piping, coax piping, server room piping, surveillance camera piping, video piping, and wireless network infrastructure piping. There are four major standards for voice and data cabling: Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, and Cat7. Essentially, voice and data cabling connects the offices and campuses together to form an environment that can adapt and expand with future technological advancements and enable the business to succeed. All businesses must have a high-quality cabling system. Even though you spend a lot of time and money to drill and fix cables for your voice and data cabling, the benefits of installing them will more than make it worthwhile. In order to install voice and data network cabling correctly, some essentials should be taken into consideration. There is no substitute for planning With constantly evolving technology, businesses must make the right wiring choice in order to prepare for the future. High-spec cabling will ensure that the network will last a long time. The technology industry is constantly changing, so you must provide your organization with the ability to expand without being restricted by your cable and wiring network in an unnecessarily constrained manner. Network testing is essential Testing your network's voice and data cables regularly is essential. Your network will function optimally if you have a professional inspect your wiring to ensure it's still up to specification. In most cases, tests will need to be conducted at least every 10 years; however, if any major changes are made, then the test must be repeated immediately. A certified and experienced technician should also test your network; not all electricians have the expertise to work with the latest technology. You won't achieve success by cutting corners Choosing low-cost cables for your business may seem appealing, but they can lead to defects and potential downtime. To ensure that your network operates properly as well as lasts your lifetime of the network, you should choose the highest quality components. It is imperative that all the components of your network, from cables to routers, hubs, and switches, work together in harmony. There is a possibility that the network could be slowed down by a weak point, which could cause a business to suffer a loss of revenue and cause downtime. Are you in need of voice and data network cabling for any of the following reasons? Voice and data cabling is a crucial part of your infrastructure that ensures optimal performance from your network. Cable networks are essential for many types of communications, including conference calls, video chat, VoIP telephones, and more. A significant amount of bandwidth is required to run these technologies properly and avoid downtime as well as high speeds. It is possible to future-proof your IT infrastructure by investing in a proper voice and data cabling system and then avoid these often costly problems in the future if you invest in a proper voice and data cabling system. By using a robust voice and data network cabling system, you are more likely to have a stable infrastructure, which can have a direct impact on the bottom line of your company. The investment in structured cabling can benefit a growing company long after point-to-point can no longer meet its needs. The following reasons are often the reasons that companies switch to structured cabling: Supporting remote teams and streaming has increased audio/visual needs A significant increase in connection speeds can be achieved by upgrading to fiber optic cabling Achieving optimal performance and organization in data centers by supporting layout, organization, and operations Provides mass notifications and Wi-Fi capabilities through a distributed antenna system A company's network cabling connects all its technologies Enhanced surveillance and protection through a network of all the company's security equipment Conclusion A voice and data network cabling can be among the simplest and cheapest items in the network, yet it is perhaps the most crucial of all the equipment in a network. No matter how sophisticated or great your computer equipment is, it is useless without good voice and data cable connections. Every business relies heavily on voice and data cabling, which is a strategic advantage. Any business group installing voice and data cabling may seem daunting given the fact that it involves drilling, cutting cables, and attaching jacks. There are many things to consider when installing voice and data cabling. Your business's end devices, such as your PC, telephone, printer, or fax, receive access to the technology world through voice and data cabling. There will be issues if the cabling is not done correctly right from the start. The cabling connectivity is the hardwired version of WiFi, which is faster and more secure than WiFi.

Live Streaming Video of Surveillance Cameras: Key Factors

Many industries, from oil and gas to the power grid, are gaining a great deal of importance for real-time monitoring and surveillance. In recent years, surveillance applications have become increasingly demanding for high-quality real-time streaming, requiring advanced encoding and decoding techniques and computing-intensive image processing designs. It takes expertise in a wide range of embedded technologies to design and implement a high-performance, real-time video streaming camera. This article aims to examine how the live streaming video of surveillance cameras is designed. A few streaming protocols besides camera architecture and video streaming are discussed, along with sensor selection and processing engines, requirements for system software as well as cloud integration. Considerations for design Image sensors Pixels are discrete photodetector sites that comprise the image sensor of a camera system. A CCD or CMOS sensor is used for all cameras -- still, movie, industrial, and security photography. Sensors are responsible for converting light falling on lenses into electrical signals, which, in turn, are transferred by the camera's processor into digital signals. Signal processing engines Many SOMs and SBCs available on the market are based on leading GPUs, SOCs, and FPGAs, which meet the needs of the live streaming video of surveillance cameras. This large pool of processors may make it difficult to choose the right one. The camera system must be able to encode, decode, and process video in a way that meets the demands of the evolving video application. Also, the processors should support key camera parameters such as autofocus, auto exposure, image quality enhancement, pixel correction, and color interpolation. With the advent of hardware accelerated encoding and streaming (GPU), image processing applications have been greatly enhanced, especially those related to surveillance and machine vision. For high-performance, real-time applications, GPUs provide more computing power than CPUs. System software Linux dominates the embedded world despite the emergence of many operating systems. Its stability and networking capabilities have made it the preferred embedded OS for years, particularly for connectivity and communications. Due to the numerous Linux vendors offering various kernel releases, developers can use Linux for HD Streaming Camera designs. Algorithms In a real-time, live streaming video of surveillance cameras, algorithms can be implemented in two layers. The first layer of algorithms focuses solely on processing images, while the second layer adds intelligence to those images. Images captured by high-definition cameras are highly detailed. To make accurate decisions, it may be necessary to enhance further the data captured in order to make an effective analysis. For modern surveillance cameras, visual algorithms have become a minimum requirement, especially those that help improve image quality. A range of algorithms is commonly implemented in cameras, including autofocus, automatic exposure, histograms, color balancing, and focus bracketing. Key performance and feature considerations HD / 4K Video Streaming The popularity and maturity of high-definition video streaming are growing. For aviation and security applications, a huge amount of data can pose major challenges to real-time HD video streaming. HD/4K video streaming faces many challenges, including transmitting large amounts of data with minimal latency to a remote location. FPGAs, in particular, can be used to address this issue to a great extent. With an FPGA, developers are able to easily integrate complex video analytics algorithms into their devices. FPGAs can handle fast image processing and real-time HD video streaming thanks to their logic cells and embedded DSP blocks. Video compression For faster transmission to the live streaming video of surveillance cameras, raw video files are digitized, compressed, and packetized. The camera compresses a video using various techniques and algorithms, which the host PC can then reconstruct to its original resolution and format. Image compression standards, such as MJPEG, MPEG-4, H.263, H.264, H.265, and H.265+, can easily transfer images. Video streaming protocols Several video streaming protocols can be implemented in cameras to stream video over a network in real-time. In addition to the Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), which facilitates the efficient delivery of streaming multimedia over the network, there is also the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP), which transports multimedia streams over the network, as well as HTTP, transferring multimedia files over IP networks, including images, sound, and video. High-speed streaming cameras can benefit from the RTSP protocol, which combines with RTP and RTCP to provide low-latency streaming. The form factor is small : the power is low A great deal of pressure is being put on embedded product developers to reduce the size of their products while reducing their efficiency dramatically. Increasingly, the availability of low-power, small form-factor multicore SoCs, GPUs, and memory technologies are enabling designers to build cameras with small footprints and low power consumption. Due to the nature of their deployment, industrial cameras, as well as surveillance cameras, must have low-power designs. Low energy dissipation and long battery life are requirements for such cameras designed for challenging environments. Cloud integration In the cloud, systems can be deployed at multiple locations, data can be stored in multiple locations, and advanced video analytics can be integrated, which enhances the overall system performance. Computer vision, artificial intelligence algorithms, and cloud computing technologies are all combined to deliver cutting-edge surveillance systems. With AI algorithms, users are able to gather valuable insights from the data they are capturing. In contrast to edge computing devices, cloud computing may produce a slight delay in decision-making due to signal latency. Conclusion Real-time live streaming video of surveillance cameras is the need of the hour. As the embedded world expands, high-quality imaging plays a vital role in industrial robots, drones, surveillance, and medical applications. Using high-speed industrial interfaces and protocols, advanced cameras can capture and transfer large amounts of data. Developing a high-performance video streaming camera for surveillance applications requires understanding the fundamental components and exploring key design considerations. Using cutting-edge SOCs, the latest sensors, and a variety of image processing technologies and streaming platforms, one can create a real-time camera. Cameras must also meet environmental and temperature standards and have a properly designed mechanical design.

The Best Gate Entry Control Systems For Your Apartment

Most people in America are finding it safer to live in gated communities and individual gated properties. Electrical smart gates offer high-security features, allowing occupiers to relax behind them and enjoy easy access to their properties. Residents of gated communities have controlled access points. All things affecting home security must pass through the access point first. Due to the barrier that electric security gates create, a lot of criminal activity is rendered ineffective. Residents of gated communities also benefit from social amenities. It varies from one to another. In some, there are pools, while in others, there are gyms and large outdoor areas for relaxation. Having a security gate system allows you and your loved ones to do whatever you enjoy. Having the area secure and protected will allow you to relax. There is no one system that is better than another in gated communities for access control. You might find these access control systems in gated communities because property technology is constantly evolving. Intercom Systems As a door phone, an intercom acts as an intercommunication device within a building. Residents and visitors can communicate two-way through intercom systems. In apartments, you might have seen an intercom, an older piece of proptech. There is the option of audio only or video as well. Home subdivisions and apartments provide security by allowing you to see who is at the door or gate before granting access. Larger communities, however, can be difficult. During a holiday or a lot of new arrivals, each visitor must contact the home they're visiting, which can cause a line at the gate. Some people don't respond immediately. Vandalism is also possible with the system. Cracked screens are expensive to fix. It's also funny when kids run past the gate and dial numbers. Among the features of an intercom system are: Video Calling The gatekeeper is visible before you let them in, so you can check who's there. Voice controls If you wish to open a gate over the phone for your guest, you can speak with the gatekeeper about it. This means you can't grant someone access to your house when nobody else is inside. Residents can be added or removed by assigning or withdrawing virtual keys and access PINs. Providing PINs to people is great, but they need to be trusted. Otherwise, they may end up sharing the PIN or misusing it. A community's PIN allocation can be challenging. A property manager can also update the tenants' directory using the system. Doorking Control Systems Gate entry control uses - home subdivisions and apartments offer customizable access solutions to American homeowners and property managers looking to control community access. A wide range of access devices can be used with Doorking, unlike other access control systems. You can use it if you want to track how many vehicles enter a property. When homeowners have visitors in the community, the system can go unnoticed. The system offers: Vehicles and people can be controlled with an automated gate system. Gates with limited parking spaces can be useful if they lead directly to them. Gated homes and apartment complexes with controlled access. The property technology of Doorking control systems is available in different forms: Multi-door access controllers Large, medium, and small community telephone entrance controls To control vehicle traffic within a community, traffic spikes, barriers, and signage are available Magnetic locks Gate operators Locks for your doors with key switches Gate and door card readers Liftmaster Control Systems Your community can be fully controlled by Liftmaster control solutions. Apartments or condos can benefit from these control systems. A garage door entry system from Liftmaster is incredibly easy to use, making it a pioneer in proptech. Access points can be managed with Liftmaster's control systems, which come with different options. Even in the absence of electricity, your security control plans are still effective with battery backup systems. The gate safety solution ensures that your residents are fully protected from intruders, and your gate is kept in working order at all times. The gate operator devices are fully integrated into the gate. Property managers and commercial facilities can use this cloud-based access management system. Access control and entry systems have made leaps and bounds for Liftmaster, but they are best known for their garage door opener products. Parking in a garage overnight makes these really useful. Although, it can be slightly tedious to wait for a gate to open, followed by a garage. The system may be better suited for those who do not use electric gates for entry. Nimbio Control System In a gated community, apartment complex, or home, Nimbio offers complete access control. It makes it possible to control access to gated communities from any smartphone, turning any electronic gate into a smart gate. Despite losing keys, forgetting codes, and getting irritated with manual entry, people rarely lose their smartphones. By contacting their provider, they can lock out their account even if they did. Electric gate access systems are generally installed for security reasons, and Nimbio gates are protected by elliptic curve cryptography. Any gate can be made smart with Nimbio. Your entry system can be completely overhauled and upgraded by the right installer without the cost of a new gate. The old proptech elements, such as keyfobs, will still be available if you wish. However, this element may need to be disabled if you've lost a few keyfobs and want to ensure the property is protected. Conclusion Gate entry control uses - home subdivisions and apartments can also use other forms of access control, but these are the most popular. In addition to smart technology and the internet of things, property technology is constantly advancing. Currently, people's lives revolve around their smartphones, which is what makes Nimbio so popular. Proptech and electric gate technologies will be built around any new technology that rivals the use of smartphones in the future. Right now, the most convenient way to enter and leave your property is to be able to control your electric gate from your cell phone.

Understanding The Evolution of Alarm Monitoring System

In traditional alarm systems, copper phone lines have been used to monitor burglar alarms remotely. Upon being tripped, alarm panels send alarm signals to the monitoring company over the phone, which is often shared with a fax line. Copper lines are gradually becoming less popular as technology changes and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) options become more robust and cheaper. Most people do not realize, however, that switching to a VoIP environment could negatively impact the evolution of alarm monitoring in their business. To make the switch from traditional to VoIP, here are three things you should know. The internet isn't working, the power isn't on, and there's no alarm system It's not uncommon for us to experience problems with our internet service at some point in our lives. Network problems, maintenance issues, or even updates could be to blame. Any connection loss happens from time to time, regardless of the reason. You may not have a backup for your internet connection, even if your alarm panels have a battery backup. The internet is the primary source for digital phones, so in the event of an outage, you are not protected while it is underway. You and your business could be vulnerable to criminals because they know how to exploit this. There is a lack of VoIP support among alarm panel manufacturers In the event that you have switched to VoIP, or will be switching to VoIP in the near future, alarm signals may not be transmitted correctly. It has been reported that virtually all the major manufacturers who are behind the evolution of alarm monitoring, including Honeywell, Bosch, DMP, GE, and many others, are not equipped with VoIP functionality. To ensure that communication can be maintained, manufacturers have created solutions to address the fact that many of their customers are moving to VoIP. An IP Communicator or cellular communication module is designed specifically for systems that do not require a traditional phone line. Small investments are usually recouped quickly with these. Your alarm signal may not be recognized by the monitoring center All of your communication is transformed into data and streamed over the internet when you use a voice over internet protocol phone service. The technology used by digital phone companies varies. VoIP phone services need to be compatible with your security system to be able to recognize your alarm signal, the monitoring center might not recognize it. If this is the case, you may find yourself vulnerable in times of need, requiring you to upgrade your system in order to remain functional. If you're uncertain, consult with your security provider so that you can ensure that any changes you make to your home or business won't compromise security. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) providers and security systems may determine how secure the system is. In the case of the evolution of alarm monitoring, the most important consideration is how the monitoring center communicates with them and how the account gets powered up. It is common for security systems to communicate with monitoring centers over standard telephone lines. In the same way that a fax machine or dial-up modem makes a buzzing noise, alarm system signals travel along the copper wire as a "sound." A VoIP connection is similar to a broadband connection; a digital representation of your voice is created at home and distributed over your Internet connection to the other end of the connection. This is done by using slightly different VoIP technologies; these devices may not be compatible with all security systems. When you send an alarm signal from your VoIP service, the monitoring center may not recognize it as an alarm. The advantage of VoIP for Plain Old Telephone Service is that it has one more important consideration than standard phone lines often called POTS: a power backup system. The moment you lose power to your home, whether it is caused by natural factors or by intentional intruders, the devices in your home will not work if they do not have a battery backup. With the evolution of alarm monitoring, pretty much every security system comes with its own battery backup, and standard telephone lines also work without power, whereas most digital phones and Internet connections do not have a similar backup. When you cut off the electricity, you cut off the internet connection and the modem or router that connects you to the Internet, which is what VoIP phones use to connect to. Digital phones are also dependent on your home's electric bill; this isn't just a problem for VoIP security systems, either. Digital phone services such as those you get through your Internet, cable, or phone provider, as well as basic phones with wireless features or answering machines, fall under this category. Conclusion The majority of traditional home alarm panels are capable of connecting to a VoIP phone system without any hardware upgrades on the panel. A voice over Internet Protocol service is typically more affordable and more feature-rich than a traditional phone service. A security system provider keeps an updated database of the telephone providers located in your area in order to provide you with the protection you need. Qualified Managed Facility Voice Networks are providers of fully compatible telephone systems. A dedicated powered network connection or cellular option may be required for other VoIP security systems. Contact your security company to find out whether your security system is compatible with VoIP if you have a security system. To know about the evolution of alarm monitoring and find the best provider for you, check out the list of the best home security systems.