Smart assistants are awkward conversationalists. Thankfully, things have improved significantly with Google's Continued Conversation feature, which helps everything flow a little more naturally. Smart home automation systems can integrate with Google Assistant seamlessly.

The feature, which is available on all Google Assistant and Nest Home smart speakers allows you to follow-up questions without repeating a "Hey Google". Smart home automation services have come a long way.

For example, you could say, "Hey Google, add eggs to my shopping list," followed up with a "And milk too." Or you could ask, "Hey Google turn the upstairs lights on," followed by "Turn the heating on upstairs too."

It just makes these interactions feel a little more... human. Here's how to get it working.

 

 

 

How to enable Google Assistant Continued Conversation

Continued Conversation is an opt-in feature, so it won't magically start working on your Google Home the way some other features do. To switch it on, fire up the Google Home app and do the following...

1) Click your account profile in the top right

2) Tap Assistant settings

3) Tap Continued Conversation

4) Toggle Continued Conversation to on

It's as simple as that.

How to use Continued Conversation

Once you've switched it on, it's time to start playing. Test it's working by asking, "Ok Google, what's the weather like today?" then ask, "What'll it be like tomorrow?". Google should retain the context of the conversation and answer the second part no problem.

A touch sensor switch also can be integrated with voice assistants to help you control your appliances intuitively, Home light switches have come a long way since then and can now be integrated with a smart door lock to help you create smart scenes that can basically automate your entire house. Touch switches for home are also one of the best ways to dip your toes in the home automation world.

The digital door lock is a must have for every single home as it greatly increases the security factor. A smart plug can basically turn any appliance into a smart device.

 

 

 

You can even mix it up a bit. After asking for the weather, try saying, "Remind me to take an umbrella with me tomorrow." In fact, the different queries don't have to be related at all.

But be aware that there's a timeout period: you have eight seconds after making one request to give Assistant a follow-up question.

You'll also see the LEDs stay lit up to signify it's still listening. After that time you'll have to start with an "Ok Google" again.

We still can't change Google Assistant's name (at least, not officially*) - but we can at least choose how it sounds.

 

Back in 2018 Google updated the Assistant with a range of different voices on Google Home and other Assistant devices.

 

The voices are also a proof of concept for WaveNet, an AI voice tool built by Google subsidiary DeepMind to easily take human voices and synthesize them into your Assistant.

 

If you want to change the Assistant voice, it’s relatively easy to do so, but the process is a little different depending on whether you want to do so on a Google Home smart speaker device or an Android phone.

 

Below, we walk you through how to do it for your smart home devices and speakers.

 

How to change Google Assistant's voice

How to change Google Assistant voice on Home speakers and Android

 

  1. Open up the Google Home app and tap Settings.
  1. Tap Google Assistant (under Features).
  1. Tap the blue text at the bottom that says Manage all Assistant settings.
  1. Then hit Assistant Voice.
  1. You should now see a row of voices to choose from. Each voice is associated with a color.

 

The order of the voices is randomised for each user, so don't worry about Google subtly pushing its preference on you. Just make your choice and live your best life.

 

*If you do want to change the Google wake word / name then there are (somewhat clunky) third-party workarounds. We suggest you look into the likes of the Open Mic+ app if you fancy mixing it up.

 

 

 

Set up Sleep Sensing

The good news is that there's no devices to wear or turn on; Sleep Sensing is a completely contactless experience and is an amazing home automation feature.

Wireless home automation devices can be used with Google Assistant. The built-in microphones, ambient light sensor, and temperature sensor will keep an eye and ear out for disturbances like coughing and snoring, and light and temperature changes.

You can also integrate it with devices like the bluetooth light bulb. Which inturn integrates with other smart home devices like the smart touch switch. This can go on for as many smart devices you want. A wifi touch switch is one of the best ways to get started on your home automation journey. You can create smart scenes with a fingerprint door lock and other devices like a universal remote control.

Kamonk’s devices can also talk with other smart devices like the fingerprint door lock.

 

Before all that though you need to turn Sleep Sensing on:

  • Open the Google Home app.
  • Tap your Nest Hub and then choose
  • Tap Sleep Sensing.
  • Choose Set up Sleep Sensing.
  • Follow the steps in the app to enable Sleep Sensing on your Google Home display.
  • Tap Set a bedtime schedule.
  • Select the appropriate times for you.
  • Choose if you want sound event tracking or personalized sleep suggestion

That's everything on the Google Home app-side, you'll now need to calibrate your Nest Hub so as it can watch you sleep (in a totally not creepy at all way).

  • Swipe up on your Nest Hub's display.
  • Tap Settings.
  • Turn Motion Sense
  • Tap Sleep Sensing and then select Calibrate.
  • Follow the instructions on the display.

If you've set it up correctly you'll see a little bed icon on your display indicating that Sleep Sensing is switched on.

 

 

 

Your Google Home sleep summary

 

When you wake up your Nest Hub will show you an overview of your sleep quality and once you've been tracking sleep with Google for a while you'll see things like weekly sleep trends and sleep tips: "You're not waking up on time", "make some small changes to our daily routines" and so on.

As well as on your Nest Hub, you can get this info on your Android smartphone in the Google Fit app, or you can simply ask the Google Assistant: "Hey Google, how did I sleep last night?"

Combining its metrics - duration of sleep and quality of sleep - with tracking your schedule, its smart alarm clock features and smart home integrations, the Nest Hub provides a pretty unique all-in-one sleep aid.

Additionally, they can integrate with devices like an RGB light bulb. These are especially fun during movie nights and gaming. A touch switch can also be used for the same purpose. Plus, an electric smart switch is also one of the best ways to get started on your home automation journey. Kamonk offers you the best smart lock in the business. We strongly recommend gettings a google smart lock as it increases the security of your house tenfold.

 

 

 

Security concerns for Google sleep tracking

Thanks to the on-device ML chip, all audio and raw data from the sleep tracking is processed locally on the Nest Hub, only the relevant sleep data is sent to the cloud.

However, be aware that anyone with access to your Nest Hub can review and delete your most recent Sleep Sensing summary and wellness details.

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