Amazon smart speaker pilot instructions and tasks

How to test the Amazon smart speaker application

We have prepared a list of tasks and functions that we invite you to explore while testing the Smart Speaker app. Please try all or as many as possible.

If a command opens another set of sub options, you can click its name in this document to explore the list of new sub tasks that become available.  

This document will cover the following tasks that you can complete:

  1. Launching the app
  2. Link your CELA Account
  3. Explore start menu options
  4. Select a book from a list
  5. Playback of a book
  6. Select collection
  7. The Help functions

Enable the skill and link your CELA account

You will need to first enable the account using the link CELA will provide by email.  Then you will be able to launch the skill and link your Amazon account with your CELA account. To do this, you will need your account number and the password you use to log in to the CELA website. If you’re unsure of these, please call the Contact Centre at 1-888-655-2273 and stay on the line for assistance. Once you have this information, you can follow the steps required to link your account. You can also consult our detailed instructions on enabling the skill and linking your account with Amazon.

Launching the app

When you are ready to begin using the CELA smart speaker skill, you can start by asking your smart speaker to launch the app. Simply say: Alexa, launch Accessible Reading Canada.

Once you have linked the app to your CELA library account, you will be given a menu with different options listed below. Clicking on each of these functions in this document will bring you to their detailed description as well as to any available submenus.

Note that availability of options as well as the order they are presented in might vary

You can issue your next voice command by waiting for the prompt to do so. However, you can also interrupt the spoken prompts by saying: "Alexa" followed by your next command.

At any point feel free to invoke the Help command by saying "help"to get context specific instructions for what you can say.

Note that currently help is not available during playback.

  1. Resume last book
  2. Explore Recent books
  3. Check CELA Bookshelf
  4. Browse collections
  5. Search for a specific book.

Resume reading last book

Say: "Resume". This will start the book you were last reading with this application, picking up where you left off.

See “Playback options” for next step.

Recent books

Say: "Recent". This presents you with a list of recently read books using this application.

See “Selecting a book from a list” for next step.

Bookshelf

Say: "Bookshelf" to hear a list of books currently in your CELA Direct to Player bookshelf. You can add books to your bookshelf on the CELA website or by setting up an automatic selection profile.

See “Selecting a book from a list” for next step.

Browse collections

Say: "Browse Collections" to browse lists of books. You will be offered two types of collection groupings: theme and genre. "Theme" offers lists of popular books by age selected by CELA staff. "Genre" offers lists of recently added books in popular categories.

In each case, a list of subcategories will be presented.

See “Select collection” for next step.

Say: "Search" plus the title or author of the book you are looking for.

You will hear a list of books matching your search terms.

See “Selecting a book from a list” for next step.

Select a book from a list

Whenever you are presented with a list of books you have the following options:

  • Choose one by saying its letter or by saying 'letter A' or 'letter B', for example.
  • Ask for “summary of [book letter] to hear more details about the book. 
  • Say "Next" for the next set of books. This option will be offered if you have more than 3 items in the list.

After selecting a book, request to read the selected book and try out the playback options.

Playback of a book

Once you have selected a book, it will begin to play. During playback, you can not currently return to the skill directly. You will have to invoke it again.

Note that any commands issued during playback will have to be preceded by the "Alexa" wake word.

The following commands are available for playback:

  • Pause: Pauses playback.
  • Resume: Picks up book where you left off.
  • Next: Skips to next section in book.
  • Previous: Skips back to previous section in book.
  • Stop: Interrupts playback and exits the skill/app. You will have to invoke it again to resume interacting with it.
  • Adjust volume by saying: "Volume up", "volume down" or "volume [number between 1 and 10]".

Browse collections

In Collections, you will be able to browse by theme or by genre by saying: "Theme" or "Genre". In each case, a list of subcategories will be presented.

Theme

Say: "Theme" to hear a selection of popular titles among CELA readers by age category; lists are updated monthly. Select among the following choices by asking for their corresponding letter:

  1. Top books for adults
  2. Top books for kids
  3. Top books for teens

Select one of the lists by saying the corresponding letter. After making your choice, go to Select book from a list for next steps.

Genre

Say: “Genre” to explore the following choices by selecting their corresponding letter.

  1. Mysteries and crime stories
  2. General fiction
  3. Biography
  4. History
  5. Romance

Select a genre among these choices

After making your choice, go to Select book from a list for next steps.

The help function

At any point feel free to invoke the Help command by saying "help"to get context specific instructions for what you can say.

Note that currently help is not available during playback.