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Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex

Loony Corn

Alexa, Siri, Cortana and Google Now - voice-activated personal assistants are one of the hottest trends in technology these days. They are a great way to convey complex information to your customers in a free-flowing, conversational way. Alexa is a great way to build them - an AWS service for building conversational interfaces for Echo, FireTV and a host of Alexa-aware devices.

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Alexa, Siri, Cortana and Google Now - voice-activated personal assistants are one of the hottest trends in technology these days. They are a great way to convey complex information to your customers in a free-flowing, conversational way. Alexa is a great way to build them - an AWS service for building conversational interfaces for Echo, FireTV and a host of Alexa-aware devices.

  • Alexa and Lex are state-of-the-art, with support for new devices being added all the time
  • Powered by a deep learning based engine that parses user voice and resolves the contents of user utterances to API calls and parameter values
  • No deep learning or natural language processing expertise is needed to build even complex voice and chat apps
  • Provides an intuitive way of specifying the conversational interface
  • Automatically and dynamically adjusts conversational responses
  • Easy to build, test and publish app

In the sections on Alexa we will cover:

  • The big picture - voice and text interfaces and current trends in human-computer interaction
  • How Alexa, Lex, Echo and the other bits of the Amazon ecosystem come together
  • Interaction models: Utterances, intents, slots, prompts and their resolution into API calls
  • Fulfilment models: Using AWS Lambdas to fulfil user intents, and how AWS lambdas provide smooth, no-ops, auto-scaling code endpoints

In the sections on Lex we will cover:

  • Interaction models: Utterances, intents, slots, prompts and their resolution into API calls
  • Fulfilment models: Using AWS Lambdas to fulfil user intents, and how AWS lambdas provide smooth, no-ops, auto-scaling code endpoints
  • Third-party integration: How a chatbot can be added to your Slack workspace
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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Build smooth voice-activated apps for echo and other alexa-aware devices
  • Design and build sound interaction models for your alexa skills
  • Implement robust fulfilment models using aws lambdas

Syllabus

Introduction
You, This Course and Us
Source Code and PDFs
Alexa Basics: Eco-system and Skill Concepts
Read more
Introducing Alexa
Evolution Of Human Computer Interaction And Voice Interfaces
Prereqs And Course Overview
Alexa, Echo And AWS
Skill Concepts: Invocations, Utterances and Intents
Tools and Platforms: AWS, Amazon Developer Console and Echosim.io
Types Of Skills
Build a Basic Alexa Skill
Overview Of The Stock Market Tracker
Utterance-Intent Mapping
Financial Data From AlphaVantage
Setup And Configure An Alexa Skill
AWS Lambdas
Link the Alexa Skill with the Lambda Function
Set up and Test Lambda Code
Code And Test the Launch Request
Code And Test the Intent Request
Handle Help And Stop Intents
Test Using Echosim.io
Multi-turn Dialogs for Rich Conversation
Slots As Request Configuration Parameters
Slots, Prompts And Utterances
Financial Data From Intrinio
What Exactly are Slots?
Configure the Dialog Model
Handle Start, End and Launch Requests
Handle the GetStockInfo Intent
Handle Help, Stop and Cancel Intents
Testing With Echosim.io
Persist State Across Sessions
Remember Data Across Sessions
Create A Dynamo DB Table
Configure Full Access To Dynamo DB from Lambda
Handle Add, Remove And List Stock Intents
Build a Flash Briefing Skill
Understanding Flash Briefing Skills
Set Up A Twitter RSS Feed
Set Up A Flash Briefing Skill
Introducing Lex
Course Outline
Signing in to AWS
Sample Bots
Custom Bots and IAM
Complete Creating Your First Bot
Interaction Models in Amazon Lex
Module Outline
Creating Intents
Slot Types
Slots
Slot Properties
Sample Utterances
Confirmations
Configuring the Bot
Test: Ordering Coke
Test: Ordering Pizza (Fail)
Test: Ordering Pizza (Success)
Cleaning up Resources
Fulfilment Models in Amazon Lex
Weather Bot
Built In Slot Types
Setting Up a Weather Bot
Lambda Intro
Lambda Blueprint
The Big Picture: Code
Lambda Handler
Constructing a Response
Configuring an AWS Lambda
Lex Lambda Configuration
Open Weather API
Invoking the Open Weather API
Importing External Libraries to an AWS Lambda
Versions, Aliases And Publishing
Third-party Apps: Chatbots in Slack
Creating A Slack Application
Activating Lex Integration
Configuring A Stack App
Testing the Slack Bot

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Delves into deep learning based engine that parses user voice and resolves the contents of user utterances to API calls and parameter values
Emphasizes building robust fulfilment models using AWS Lambdas, catering to real-world application scenarios
Focuses on practical implementation, guiding learners through the creation of a Flash Briefing skill, demonstrating the application of concepts
Harnessing voice-activated personal assistants, a rapidly growing trend in technology, enables learners to build relevant skills
Utilizes real-world examples to illustrate concepts, such as the Stock Market Tracker and Weather Bot
Requires prior knowledge of AWS, as the course assumes familiarity with related concepts

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Reviews summary

Engaging alexa and lex course

According to students, the Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex course is a well-received course that features engaging assignments and is moderately easy to follow.
Engaging Assignments
"Good course. Moderately easy to follow."
Moderately Easy Difficulty
"Good course. Moderately easy to follow."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex with these activities:
Complete a voice-activated app for Echo
This will help you review core concepts such as invocations, utterances, and intents before the course begins.
Show steps
  • Use the Alexa Skills Kit to create an Echo app
  • Implement an interaction model
  • Create a fulfilment model
  • Test your app
Learn or review previous Alexa and Lex experience
Prepare your prior knowledge of Alexa and Lex to help you build a strong foundation for this course.
Show steps
  • Review the basics of Alexa and Lex, including their features and capabilities.
  • Complete a tutorial or two on building simple Alexa or Lex skills.
Practice writing interaction models for different types of voice-activated apps
This will help you develop the skills you need to design effective voice-activated apps.
Show steps
  • Choose a few different types of voice-activated apps
  • Write an interaction model for each app
Eight other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 11 activities
Participate in a study group or discussion forum
Engage with other learners to share knowledge and insights about Alexa and Lex.
Show steps
  • Join a study group or discussion forum dedicated to Alexa or Lex.
  • Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your own knowledge and experiences.
Create an infographic summarizing the key concepts of Alexa and Lex
This will help you understand the relationship between Alexa, Lex, Echo, and the rest of the Amazon ecosystem.
Show steps
  • Gather information about Alexa and Lex
  • Identify the key concepts
  • Design and create the infographic
Practice writing interaction models for Alexa skills
Strengthen your ability to design effective interaction models for Alexa skills.
Show steps
  • Create a list of common user utterances for a specific type of Alexa skill.
  • Identify the intents and slots that are needed to handle each utterance.
  • Write the corresponding interaction model JSON.
Follow tutorials to build Alexa skills
Reinforce your understanding of Alexa skill development by following guided tutorials.
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on building a specific type of Alexa skill, such as a weather app or a game.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step to build the skill.
  • Test the skill on an Alexa-enabled device.
Build a simple Alexa skill
Apply your knowledge and skills to create a functional Alexa skill.
Show steps
  • Choose a simple skill idea, such as a weather app or a trivia game.
  • Design the interaction model for your skill.
  • Write the code for your skill using the Alexa Skills Kit.
  • Test and publish your skill.
Follow a tutorial on building a voice-activated financial advisor skill
This will help you apply the concepts you learn in the course to a practical project.
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on building a voice-activated financial advisor skill
  • Follow the tutorial to build the skill
  • Test your skill
Create a prototype for a voice-activated app that helps users manage their finances
This will help you apply the skills you learn in the course to a meaningful project.
Browse courses on Financial Management
Show steps
  • Define the scope of your app
  • Design the user interface
  • Develop the app
  • Test the app
Create a presentation on Alexa or Lex
Demonstrate your understanding of Alexa or Lex by creating a presentation.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic related to Alexa or Lex, such as the history of voice-activated personal assistants or the use of Alexa or Lex in specific industries.
  • Research your topic and gather information from a variety of sources.
  • Create a presentation that is visually appealing and easy to understand.
  • Practice your presentation and deliver it to an audience.

Career center

Learners who complete Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Lex Developer
As a Lex Developer, you build conversational interfaces that allow users to interact with applications using natural language. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can help you gain the skills and knowledge to excel in this role. You will learn how to create and configure Lex bots, design and implement conversation flows, and integrate Lex with other AWS services.
Alexa Developer
The course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, is an ideal stepping stone to become an Alexa Developer. As an Alexa Developer, you research, design, build, test, and deploy voice applications on Alexa-enabled devices, such as Amazon Echo and Fire TV. This course may also help you implement and manage the conversational interface of your Alexa applications with Alexa Presentation Language (APL) and gain insights from user interactions through Alexa Skills Analytics.
Voice User Interface (VUI) Designer
A Voice User Interface (VUI) Designer creates and designs voice-based user interfaces for devices like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring VUI Designers as it covers the fundamentals of designing and developing voice-based applications. You will learn about interaction models, conversation flows, and best practices for creating user-friendly voice experiences.
Speech Recognition Engineer
A Speech Recognition Engineer develops and maintains speech recognition systems that allow computers to convert spoken words into text. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, may be helpful for aspiring Speech Recognition Engineers as it covers the basics of speech recognition technology and how to build voice-based applications using Alexa and Lex. You will learn about different speech recognition algorithms, language models, and techniques for improving speech recognition accuracy.
User Experience (UX) Designer, Voice Technology
A User Experience (UX) Designer, Voice Technology, focuses on designing and evaluating voice-based user interfaces to ensure they are user-friendly and intuitive. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, may be useful for aspiring UX Designers as it covers the principles of voice interaction design, best practices for creating voice-based user interfaces, and techniques for user testing and evaluation.
Product Manager, Voice Technology
As a Product Manager, Voice Technology, you are responsible for managing the development and launch of voice-based products and services. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, may be useful for aspiring Product Managers as it provides an overview of the voice technology landscape, best practices for product development, and strategies for launching and marketing voice-based products.
Software Engineer, Natural Language Processing (NLP)
As a Software Engineer, Natural Language Processing (NLP), you design and develop software that enables computers to understand and process human language. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for those interested in this field as it provides an introduction to NLP concepts and techniques used in building voice-based applications. You will learn about natural language understanding, machine learning algorithms, and best practices for NLP development.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists analyze data to extract meaningful insights and trends. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, may be useful for aspiring Data Scientists as it provides an introduction to data analysis techniques and tools used in developing voice-based applications. You will learn about data collection, data preprocessing, and machine learning algorithms for data analysis.
Technical Writer, Voice Technology
A Technical Writer, Voice Technology, creates and maintains documentation for voice-based products and services. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring Technical Writers as it provides an understanding of the voice technology landscape, best practices for writing documentation for voice-based products, and techniques for creating user guides, tutorials, and other technical documentation.
Customer Support Engineer, Voice Technology
Customer Support Engineers provide technical support to users of voice-based products and services. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring Customer Support Engineers as it provides an overview of the voice technology landscape, best practices for providing technical support for voice-based products, and techniques for troubleshooting common issues.
Business Analyst, Voice Technology
Business Analysts, Voice Technology, analyze and evaluate the business impact of voice technology. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring Business Analysts as it provides an understanding of the voice technology landscape, best practices for conducting business analysis for voice-based products, and techniques for evaluating the return on investment of voice technology initiatives.
Project Manager, Voice Technology
Project Managers, Voice Technology, oversee the development and launch of voice-based products and services. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring Project Managers as it provides an overview of the voice technology landscape, best practices for managing voice technology projects, and techniques for coordinating with stakeholders and tracking project progress.
Software Tester, Voice Technology
Software Testers, Voice Technology, test and evaluate voice-based products and services to ensure they meet quality standards. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring Software Testers as it provides an understanding of the voice technology landscape, best practices for testing voice-based products, and techniques for automated testing and manual testing.
Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer, Voice Technology
Quality Assurance (QA) Engineers, Voice Technology, ensure the quality of voice-based products and services. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring QA Engineers as it provides an understanding of the voice technology landscape, best practices for quality assurance in voice-based products, and techniques for testing and evaluating voice-based products.
Technical Support Engineer, Voice Technology
Technical Support Engineers, Voice Technology, troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to voice-based products and services. This course, Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex, can be useful for aspiring Technical Support Engineers as it provides an understanding of the voice technology landscape, best practices for troubleshooting voice-based products, and techniques for resolving common issues.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Building Apps Using Amazon's Alexa and Lex.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of conversational interface design. It covers topics such as user experience, interaction design, and conversation flow.
Provides a comprehensive overview of conversational interfaces, covering topics such as design principles, user experience, and evaluation.
Provides a comprehensive overview of speech and language processing, covering topics such as acoustic analysis, natural language understanding, and machine translation.
Provides a comprehensive overview of natural language understanding, covering topics such as syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of artificial intelligence for natural language processing, covering topics such as natural language understanding, natural language generation, and machine translation.

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