Amazon today introduced Skill Blueprints, a new “fill in the blank” way to create personalized skills and responses for an Alexa device. Using a set of easy-to-use templates, anyone can create customized interactions with Alexa, “within minutes,” claims Amazon. The skills and responses you create with Skill Blueprints will be available instantly on all Alexa-enabled devices associated with your account.


How might a small business use it?

The creators of 25,000+ skills have shown there is no limit to fun or productive voice-activated skills. As the skills are linked to one device only, an Echo Dot could serve as a Q & A device for shoppers who want a quick answer to question like, “How much does this blue widget cost?” or “Where can I find the paint department?”


Note | Unlike the publicly-available Alexa Skills developed using the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK), the new Alexa Skill Blueprints are for personal use only and are not published to the Alexa Skills Store. Developers who want to create Skills available to any Alexa user, can register here to start the process to begin using ASK development tools.



 

Quote via Blueprints.Amazon.com:

“Whether it’s your own answer to the question “Alexa, what is the best city?” or a skill that offers helpful information for the pet sitter,  allow you to build personalized voice experiences with Alexa, helping you make Alexa even more useful around your home.

“Using Skill Blueprints is as easy as filling in the blanks. You can have fun customizing Alexa’s responses to questions like “Alexa, who is the best mom in the world?” or “Alexa, am I your favorite painter?” You can also use Skill Blueprints to create an interactive adventure story with your child as the lead character with the “Adventure” Blueprint, or create a skill to poke fun at Dad’s corny one liners with the “Family Jokes” Blueprint.


Video provided by Amazon.com

 

Photos: Amazon

 

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