Alexa with Nice Icebreaker skill

Introduction

This is an alexa skill which gives you a nice icebreaker when you ask for it. You can use it to initiate a conversation or a discussion with people around you. It was featured in hasura hub

How does it work?

Workflow

You can test out this skill using an Amazon Echo device or at Echosim. The workflow is as follows:

• You invoke the skill saying "Alexa, start Nice Icebreaker."
• Alexa will give you a nice icebreaker and ask if you want more.
• If you say yes, it would again give you a nice icebreaker and ask if you want more. If you say no, it will exit out of the skill.

Internal Implementation

This skill is written in Python using Flask and the python library Flask-Ask. The Implementation is as follows:

• When you invoke the skill, one of the four functions is called:

  • Latest Indian Entertainment News.
  • Latest Indian Sports News.
  • A "This Day in History" fact.
  • A number trivia.

• The output of the function is spoken out by Alexa along with a question if you want more nice icebreaker.

• If you say yes, first step repeats.

• If you say no, Alexa echoes "Bye" and exits out of the skill.

How to get it up and running?

Deployment

This skill gets deployed instantly. Also, Hasura automatically generates SSL certificates for you. Just run the following commands to deploy your skill.

(Make sure you have hasura-cli)

$ hasura quickstart mayankpadhi/alexa-icebreaker
$ cd alexa-icebreaker
$ git add . && git commit -m "Initial Commit"
$ git push hasura master

How to add the skill to your Amazon account?

To link it with your Amazon Echo Device, go to your Amazon developer console.

1. Create a new skill. Call it Nice Icebreaker. Give the invocation name as nice icebreaker. Click next.

2. Add this intent schema

{
  "intents": [
    {
      "intent": "YesIntent"
    },
    {
      "intent": "NoIntent"
    }
  ]
}

Leave custom slot types empty. Add the following sample utterances

YesIntent yes
YesIntent sure
YesIntent yeah
YesIntent ok

NoIntent no
NoIntent no thanks
NoIntent nope

Click next.

3. For the service endpoint, check the HTTPS radio button.

   Put the default URL as https://bot.<cluster-name>.hasura-app.io/yoda_quotes. (Run $ hasura cluster status from root directory to know your cluster name).

   Note: For quick testing, we have one skill service live at https://bot.brawl60.hasura-app.io/yoda_quotes. (This test service will work only if you have followed 1 and 2)

   Click next.

4. About SSL certificates, Hasura services have auto generated LetsEncrypt Grade A SSL certificates. This means, you have to check the radio button that says My development endpoint has a certificate from a trusted certificate authority

   Click next.

5. Your skill is live on the ECHO device associated with your account. Test it by saying Alexa, load nice icebreaker. And Alexa will give you nice Icebreaker :)