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Getting Started with
Amazon Alexa
on the Raspberry Pi

HELLO!
I am Ayumi Kobukata
CYDAS, Inc.
Server Side Engineer
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Ayumi Kobukata
@_kobuuukata

WHAT IS ALEXA?
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❏ A virtual assistant developed by Amazon.
❏ It's currently deployed in 11 countries.
❏ AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder - Specialty
announced in January 2019.

DEGREE OF ATTENTION TO ALEXA IN JAPAN
❏ It started the Alexa in 2017.
❏ Amazon Alexa Japan User Group (AAJUG).
❏ Alexa Day, an event dedicated to Alexa.
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ALEXA BUILD-IN DEVICE
20,000+
Alexa build-in device in 2018.
100 million
Alexa build-in device have been sold.

ALEXA VOICE SERVICE (AVS)
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https://www.slideshare.net/AmazonWebServices/alx202integrate-alexa-voice-technology-into-your-product-with-the-alexa-voice-service

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ALEXA ARCHITECTURE
Alexa
Voice
Service
Alexa
Skills Kit
Voice
Input
Service /
Data Source
Weather service, Time
service, Music service etc.
REST
Service
Device
Req. Voice
Steam
Voice
Output
Resp. Voice
Steam
Lambda
• Identifies skill name
• Analyzes & understands the req.
• Sends the custom Alexa skill a
structured representation of
user’s req.
• Your custom Alexa skill
receives the req.
• Processes the req. and
returns text response
• Alexa converts the
returned text to speech
• Streams to device
https://www.slideshare.net/aniruddha.chakrabarti/amazon-alexa-building-custom-skills

ORIGINAL
ALEXA
BUILD-IN DEVICE
Raspberry
Pi

WHAT IS RASPBERRY PI?
❏ A low cost, credit-card sized computer.
❏ For promote teaching of basic computer science
in schools
❏ In March 2018, sales reached 19 million.
❏ Many WOMEN-ONLY study sessions in Japan.
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RUN THE SAMPLE APP
Let's run Alexa on Raspberry Pi
according to the tutorial.
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NECESSARY PARTS
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Raspberry Pi 3 USB microphone LAN cable
USB cable Speakermicro SD card

PROCESS IS EASY
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1 2 3

1) REGISTER A PRODUCT
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❏ Register prototype in Amazon Developer account.

2) BUILD THE AVS DEVICE SDK
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❏ Download the SDK and run the install script.
- Takes 1 hour to complete.
❏ Get a Refresh Token.

3) TALK WITH ALEXA!
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https://youtu.be/4NKNHPT7ndg

DIY ECHO BUTTONS
Let’s make a Buzzer Quiz!
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WHAT IS ECHO BUTTONS?
❏ Interaction with Alexa devices like the Echo
series.
❏ To play games and control smart home routines.
❏ Choose from a catalog of 100+ compatible Alexa
skills.
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Device AVS ASK
Say “Alexa"
Give a quiz.
Sends Alexa Skill
Identify the player.Push button.
Ask the answer.
To answer.
Say “Player 1.”
Decides whether or not
answer is correct.
BUZZER QUIZ ARCHITECTURE
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HOW TO MAKE A BUZZER QUIZ
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1 2 3

1) ASSEMBLE AN ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT
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GPIO

2) CREATE A PROGRAM THAT RECOGNIZES
THE PLAYER
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A Library for Controlling Raspberry Pi GPIO
GPIO18: Connect to Blue Button
GPIO24: Connect to Red Button
Initialization of WiringPi
GPIO Pin Mode Setting
Sets Pin Pull-up or Pull-down Resistance Mode
Returns the Value Read on the Given Pin.

3) CREATE AN ALEXA SKILL - Voiceflow
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https://www.voiceflow.com/
❏ Non coding Alexa skill development.

3) CREATE AN ALEXA SKILL - Voiceflow
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❏ Important Points
– The call name must be at least 2 words.
– Can’t use wake words.

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DEMONSTRATION

BUZZER QUIZ DEMONSTRATION
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https://youtu.be/sb_aMBrs77s

IN THE END..
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❏ Alexa is easy to get started!
❏ Ideas spread when combined with Raspberry Pi.
❏ Apply for “Alexa Skill Award 2019”!

THANKS!
You can find me at:
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Ayumi Kobukata
@_kobuuukata