Google Assistant can now be used to schedule smart home actions, such as adjusting lights, turning on the coffee maker, and running sprinklers. Of course, smart accessories are required to be able to perform and schedule these tasks, but the expanded support will help to make it easier for smart home owners to do more and in line with their preferred routines.
The most basic of smart home accessories is a smart plug that allows powering on and off devices that aren’t otherwise smart. These are among the most affordable ways to build out a smart home without investing in dedicated smart home products. Smart bulbs are also quite popular, often allowing dimming and/or the option to change the color. Security cameras and smart locks have also been on the increase lately, thanks to their greater and smarter home security benefits.
Google Assistant now allows scheduling of actions, making it even more convenient to set up automation with smart home accessories. Assistant previously allowed voice command of Google Home/Nest devices using either a smartphone, smart speaker or hub. Now consumers also have the option to plan actions to take place in advance. For example, smart lights can be set to turn on at a certain time simply by invoking the Assistant with "Hey Google, turn on the lights tomorrow at 7 AM." Particular devices can be targeted by name and by location. For example, "Hey Google, start the front sprinklers on Monday at 9 AM." Scheduled actions can also be canceled in much the same way through a command like "Hey Google, remove my front sprinklers schedule." However, it should be noted that scheduled actions require a specific time as well as the day. In other words, commands like "Hey Google, turn on lights tomorrow" are unlikely to work.
Other Smart Scheduling Uses
Google Assistant’s new scheduling feature can also be used to control smart lights that have color and dimming capabilities. For example, color cycling, called ‘ColorLoop’ can be scheduled to start at a particular time and day to signal a birthday or other celebration. Using the dimming feature, a light can be set to ‘sleep for 60 minutes,’ which would slowly lower brightness and possibly adjust the color temperature to simulate the sun setting. The ‘wake’ command provides the opposite, making the bulb brighter over a given period of time.
This new ability of Google Assistant to schedule smart home actions is still rolling out so some features may not work correctly. Being able to set actions in advance makes using smart home accessories much more convenient and brings owners of these devices a bit closer to that futuristic idea of a true automated home that anticipates the needs of the occupants. Scheduling more complicated actions may be possible in the future, but for now, being able to ask Google to schedule coffee brewing, raising the lights, or watering the lawn should make mornings a bit easier.
Source: Google