Amazon has announced Alexa Skill Blueprints, a simple way for users to create personalized skills and responses for Alexa.
Using a set of easy-to-use templates anyone can create customized experiences for Alexa within minutes just by filling in the blanks. Whether it’s your own answer to the question “Alexa, who is the best mom in the world?” or a skill that offers helpful information for the babysitter, “Alexa, open My Sitter,” Alexa Skill Blueprints allow you to build experiences into Alexa that are personalized to you and help make Alexa even more useful around your home. The skills you create are specially designed for you and your family, and will only appear on the devices registered to your Amazon account.
“Alexa Skill Blueprints is an entirely new way for you to teach Alexa personalized skills just for you and your family,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “You don’t need experience building skills or coding to get started—my family created our own jokes skill in a matter of minutes, and it’s been a blast to interact with Alexa in a totally new and personal way.”
Getting Started with Alexa Skill Blueprints:
1. Select your blueprint template by visiting the Alexa Skill Blueprints website: blueprints.amazon.com. There you can browse more than 20 Skill Blueprints across four categories including Fun & Games, At Home, Storyteller, and Learning & Knowledge.
2. Unleash your creativity. Each blueprint comes with pre-filled content that can be used as-is or customized as you like.
3. With just one click your skill will be available on all Alexa-enabled devices associated with your Amazon account.
Alexa Skill Blueprints available at launch include:
● At Home
○ Custom Q&A: Customize responses to your questions
○ Houseguest: Make your guests feel at home with quick access to important info
○ Babysitter: Help your sitter find things, remember steps and get important info
○ Pet Sitter: Help your pet sitter care for your favorite animal
● Fun & Games
○ Family Jokes: Create a list of your favorite jokes for when you need a laugh
○ Trivia: Create your own multiple choice trivia game on any topic
○ Inspirations: Curate a list of your favorite inspirational quotes
○ Family Trivia: Play together and brush up on family history
○ Bachelorette Party: Play to find out how well the bride’s friends know her
○ Birthday Trivia: Play to see who knows the birthday girl or boy best
○ Burns: Roast your friends and family with lighthearted burns
○ Compliments: Flatter your favorites with a list of custom compliments
○ Double Trouble: Find out which couple knows each other best with this customizable game
○ First Letter: Play a game of categories starting with a certain letter
● Storyteller
○ Adventure: Write an adventure story where your child is the hero
○ Fairy Tale: Customize an interactive prince and princess-themed tale
○ Sci-Fi: Create an interactive story with a far-out theme
○ Fable: Create a short narrative with a moral of the story
● Learning & Knowledge
○ Flash Cards: Study, test yourself, and master any subject by voice
○ Facts: Keep a list of facts on your favorite topic, all in one place
○ Quiz: Challenge yourself and others with a customizable quiz
Alexa Skill Blueprints is available now for customers in the US. To get started with Alexa Skill Blueprints visit: blueprints.amazon.com. If you don't already have an Amazon Alexa device, the company offers a range of smart speakers from the Echo Dot (currently on sale for $39.99) to the Echo Show ($229.99).
Using a set of easy-to-use templates anyone can create customized experiences for Alexa within minutes just by filling in the blanks. Whether it’s your own answer to the question “Alexa, who is the best mom in the world?” or a skill that offers helpful information for the babysitter, “Alexa, open My Sitter,” Alexa Skill Blueprints allow you to build experiences into Alexa that are personalized to you and help make Alexa even more useful around your home. The skills you create are specially designed for you and your family, and will only appear on the devices registered to your Amazon account.
“Alexa Skill Blueprints is an entirely new way for you to teach Alexa personalized skills just for you and your family,” said Steve Rabuchin, Vice President, Amazon Alexa. “You don’t need experience building skills or coding to get started—my family created our own jokes skill in a matter of minutes, and it’s been a blast to interact with Alexa in a totally new and personal way.”
Getting Started with Alexa Skill Blueprints:
1. Select your blueprint template by visiting the Alexa Skill Blueprints website: blueprints.amazon.com. There you can browse more than 20 Skill Blueprints across four categories including Fun & Games, At Home, Storyteller, and Learning & Knowledge.
2. Unleash your creativity. Each blueprint comes with pre-filled content that can be used as-is or customized as you like.
3. With just one click your skill will be available on all Alexa-enabled devices associated with your Amazon account.
Alexa Skill Blueprints available at launch include:
● At Home
○ Custom Q&A: Customize responses to your questions
○ Houseguest: Make your guests feel at home with quick access to important info
○ Babysitter: Help your sitter find things, remember steps and get important info
○ Pet Sitter: Help your pet sitter care for your favorite animal
● Fun & Games
○ Family Jokes: Create a list of your favorite jokes for when you need a laugh
○ Trivia: Create your own multiple choice trivia game on any topic
○ Inspirations: Curate a list of your favorite inspirational quotes
○ Family Trivia: Play together and brush up on family history
○ Bachelorette Party: Play to find out how well the bride’s friends know her
○ Birthday Trivia: Play to see who knows the birthday girl or boy best
○ Burns: Roast your friends and family with lighthearted burns
○ Compliments: Flatter your favorites with a list of custom compliments
○ Double Trouble: Find out which couple knows each other best with this customizable game
○ First Letter: Play a game of categories starting with a certain letter
● Storyteller
○ Adventure: Write an adventure story where your child is the hero
○ Fairy Tale: Customize an interactive prince and princess-themed tale
○ Sci-Fi: Create an interactive story with a far-out theme
○ Fable: Create a short narrative with a moral of the story
● Learning & Knowledge
○ Flash Cards: Study, test yourself, and master any subject by voice
○ Facts: Keep a list of facts on your favorite topic, all in one place
○ Quiz: Challenge yourself and others with a customizable quiz
Alexa Skill Blueprints is available now for customers in the US. To get started with Alexa Skill Blueprints visit: blueprints.amazon.com. If you don't already have an Amazon Alexa device, the company offers a range of smart speakers from the Echo Dot (currently on sale for $39.99) to the Echo Show ($229.99).