TwistedHelixis Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 The head at one of my primary schools has asked if we can get 3 or 4 Alexa dot devices to use as an intercom between a couple of our out buildings and the offices. I have never used any kind of home assistant before so would like some advice. We are also a G Suite school, hence adding Google home in my title as I assume we would already have an account for this, which is one less password to remember. Has anyone used both devices and which would you recommend getting, or is this a bad idea for a school? Do they both work with a proxy? Our LA require us to install a Smoothwall cert on our devices for them to connect to the internet, although I know that some phone apps (not all) still work without the certificate installed, would this be an issue?
localzuk Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 As far as I know, neither device supports proxies. Also, you'll want to check the data protection issues of having an "always listening" device in school - potentially recording confidential information and shipping it out of the EU. You'd also not be able to install any form of SSL certificate on them. Amazon do have an "Alexa for Business" thing, but I don't know much about it! 2
strawberry Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 Fancy Schmnacy. Better off with Radios, use a ring doorbell if they insist on using fancy tech in place of a proper solution. 1
TechMonkey Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 Your PBX probably has an intercom feature, so if you are VOIP then it will be easy to create or if the locations have a phone in them then it will just need buttons programmed on your handsets. Alternatively, strawberry's idea of radios will be better. We have key people with mobile phones and have just rolled out radios to a wider range of people and it is much easier to grab someone on a radio then calling them, even if it is just to find out where they are to meet them to chat.
TwistedHelixis Posted January 11, 2019 Author Posted January 11, 2019 Fancy Schmnacy. Better off with Radios, use a ring doorbell if they insist on using fancy tech in place of a proper solution. The out buildings are for children that may need to be protected from injuring themselves (padded walls etc) and as such the adults may need to call for assistance, having some kind of hands free device would be beneficial for them in this case.
hardtailstar Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 The out buildings are for children that may need to be protected from injuring themselves (padded walls etc) and as such the adults may need to call for assistance, having some kind of hands free device would be beneficial for them in this case. I'd suggested radios too. We have them here and works really well.
Jawloms Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 The out buildings are for children that may need to be protected from injuring themselves (padded walls etc) and as such the adults may need to call for assistance, having some kind of hands free device would be beneficial for them in this case. In that case you want something you can rely on to work. Alexa and Google go down at times. Radios don't.
Arthur Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 use a ring doorbell if they insist on using fancy tech in place of a proper solution. Maybe not such a good idea? www.edugeek.net/forums/security/202858-amazons-ring-reportedly-gave-employees-full-access-customers-live-camera-feeds.html
DrBeaker Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 ...... Also, you'll want to check the data protection issues of having an "always listening" device in school - potentially recording confidential information and shipping it out of the EU.... Yep. Especially with the latest news of https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/20/18150531/amazon-alexa-voice-recordings-wrong-user-gdpr-privacy-ai
DrBeaker Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 Fancy Schmnacy. Better off with Radios, use a ring doorbell if they insist on using fancy tech in place of a proper solution. Exactly - it's this "Lets get an IT solution to a non-IT problem" philosophy e.g. https://angrytechnician.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/lets-solve-everything-with-technology-1/
jthompson Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 I'd expect you'd need to separate such things off on their own little subnet, away from everything else. Don't have such things at home, but I should think they'd advertise themselves to other clients as Google Cast devices, etc. SNAFU waiting to happen, IMHO. If I were asked about doing it, I'd be sure to use the word 'bargepole' somewhere in my response.
strawberry Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 The out buildings are for children that may need to be protected from injuring themselves (padded walls etc) and as such the adults may need to call for assistance, having some kind of hands free device would be beneficial for them in this case. Deffo go for something that works first time everytime then, the amount of arguments I have with my Google home about turning lights off is mind bending. Would some sort of AV feed and a panic button work?
Jawloms Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 They also may not 'hear' the command to start the conversation properly if there is a lot of background noise. My lounge Alexa won't hear me saying "Drop in on the bedroom" if the telly is on loudly.
ordeology Posted January 11, 2019 Posted January 11, 2019 Sounds a bit like my issue where facilities are trying to turn air conditioning in to an IT problem by buying Sensibo a smart home device to control air con units...
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