Unoffical empeg BBS

Quick Links: Empeg FAQ | RioCar.Org | Hijack | BigDisk Builder | jEmplode | emphatic
Repairs: Repairs

Topic Options
#372480 - 06/12/2019 16:08 Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email?
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
So my google fu is weak today. Here's my situation:

My son is completely disabled and rides a special school bus. We are required to meet the bus outside when it arrives and assist the driver (who is solo) with operating the lift so he can disembark. However, sometimes, time gets away from me or I'm busy in the back of the house when the bus arrives and I don't hear the driver. The driver then gets pretty frustrated with me. There's enough variance in the arrival time that I also don't want to set an alarm and stand by the door for 15 minutes every day either.

The school system offers access to an app called "Here comes the bus" that sends me an email and/or a push notification when the bus is arriving. I would like to redirect that email to Alexa and get her to announce throughout the house that Malachi's bus is arriving. Seems like a simple thing, but I'm not finding anything at first glance on how to do this. Any ideas?
_________________________
~ John

Top
#372481 - 06/12/2019 16:45 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: JBjorgen]
K447
old hand

Registered: 29/05/2002
Posts: 798
Loc: near Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Would IFTTT be of any use?

ifttt.com

Top
#372482 - 06/12/2019 17:57 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: JBjorgen]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
https://serverfault.com/questions/204361...ail-is-received

The replies to that thread claim that you can run an android app called Wake Me Up Smart Alarm which triggers an alarm when a specific email is received.

This isn't the same thing as the Alexa thing you're looking for, but it's getting into that neighborhood. For the Alexa doohickey, you're likely going to need to interface with the Alexa API, or convince the makers of the "Here Comes The Bus" app to do it.
_________________________
Tony Fabris

Top
#372483 - 06/12/2019 18:03 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: tfabris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
There's also this, which is not exactly what you're looking for, but it gets into that neighborhood (seems like it would be too much hassle):

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-get-alexa-to-read-your-emails-and-tell-you-if-t-1830993561
_________________________
Tony Fabris

Top
#372484 - 06/12/2019 18:08 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: tfabris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
(I also agree with K447 to look and see if https://ifttt.com/ will do what you want.)
_________________________
Tony Fabris

Top
#372485 - 06/12/2019 18:17 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: JBjorgen]
larry818
old hand

Registered: 01/10/2002
Posts: 1038
Loc: Fullerton, Calif.
If you keep your cell near you, you can just have the email sent to your text address.

Top
#372486 - 09/12/2019 21:42 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: JBjorgen]
Shonky
pooh-bah

Registered: 12/01/2002
Posts: 2009
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
How about this? Not sure if it does "push" emails though which is kind of what you need.

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/12/ho...ge-has-arrived/
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-check-email-alexa,news-28816.html

Mentions only a "one time" notification. Perhaps setup a special email, forward to it and have it read out all new emails.



Edited by Shonky (09/12/2019 21:45)
_________________________
Christian
#40104192 120Gb (no longer in my E36 M3, won't fit the E46 M3)

Top
#372487 - 10/12/2019 01:35 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: JBjorgen]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm not finding an applet on ifttt that does what I need, but perhaps I'll look into creating one.

As far as tying into my gmail, it almost fits, but without ongoing notifications, it's not a good match.
_________________________
~ John

Top
#372488 - 16/12/2019 13:31 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: JBjorgen]
Tim
veteran

Registered: 25/04/2000
Posts: 1525
Loc: Arizona
For what it is worth, my brother said creating a skill for that would be fairly simple. It could be a cool project to learn with.

Top
#372539 - 11/01/2020 22:12 Re: Automation: can Alexa issue a voice reminder in reponse to an email? [Re: JBjorgen]
ShadowMan
addict

Registered: 09/06/1999
Posts: 559
Loc: Newfoundland, Canada
Does the push notification not work sufficiently?

Maybe if you had the app installed on an Echo show? (I don't know if that's even possible, just thinking out loud.)
_________________________
12 gig empeg Mark II, SN: 080000101
30 gig RioCar SN: 30103114
My blog

Top