Google Assistant has a new routine mode allowing you to perform several actions (change the temperature, turn on the light, etc.) with a single voice command. The American giant has thus decided to follow the movement initiated by Amazon with these intelligent routines. Find out how to program multiple actions from your smartphone..
What is the routine functionality of Google Assistant
Google is constantly improving its virtual assistant. After all it's normal. Owners of Google Home and Home mini buy its connected speakers to make their daily lives less complicated. The new routine function of Google Assistant is part of this will.
But what is the practical use of this new system? Well Google Routines will allow you to do several things at once depending on the time of day or from a simple voice command. IFTT users are already aware of the extraordinary potential of this kind of service..
For example a simple hello will open the shutters, increase the temperature of your accommodation, start your favorite radio and give you information on the weather in your town. And conversely it will be enough a little goodnight before going to bed to turn off the lights in your home, activate your alarm system or play a relaxing music conducive to falling asleep.
What we can't do
Attention, even if the routines of the Google assistant offer a great flexibility of use especially since the addition of an artificial intelligence (AI) module, there are many limitations and restrictions. Google Home can't do everything or be good everywhere..
In the current state, the routine function takes into account only six predefined voice commands. Obviously things can evolve. Among them we find.
- Hello
- I'm at home
- Go to work (from smartphone only)
- Leave the house
- Bedtime
- Going home (from smartphone only)
For each of these six routines, you will be able to define several actions in order to perform tasks. Unfortunately, all Google Assistant compatible connected objects will not be able to use this task automation system. This is the case, for example, with certain electric programmers, light bulbs or intelligent remote controls.
Hopefully, these limitations will gradually disappear as new updates arrive. But in the meantime, you will have to settle for the routines proposed by default by Google.
How to set up and use Google Routine
In this section, we will see how to access the routines and how to set them up. Note that this system for automating everyday tasks works as well with the Google Home application on your smartphone as with the connected speakers offered by the American research giant.
In the example shown below, we will use the Bonjour voice command. But be aware that it is possible to add tasks to other actions. The process of customizing routines is the same regardless of the command used.
Before you start, make sure that your smartphone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your connected speaker and that Google Home is correctly configured. Note also that the procedure varies depending on whether you are the only one to use Google Home or more than one to share the connected speaker.
- Launch Google Home
- Click the Menu button
- Choose the option more parameters
- Scroll down the window
- Click the Routines button
- Choose one of the predefined routines
- In this example we will select Hello
- Activate or deactivate the various actions proposed
- To add tasks click on the cog button
- Once the commands have been selected, you will need to personalize them by pressing the gear icon.
- For example for the Music action you can choose the type of song or the artist to listen to
- Repeat this for all the different selected tasks
The routines work as well on a smartphone via the Assistant application as on the Google Home connected speakers. For those who find the tool too limited, know that it will soon benefit from a series of improvements, including the support for new actions and new connected objects. Also according to Google, the routine system will also support new languages and new presets.
