Zappa based Alexa Skillset hosted on AWS Lambda

Using Alexa Skills Kit, we can create compelling, hands-free voice experiences by adding our skills to Alexa. Users can access these capabilities on any Alexa-enabled device by merely asking Alexa a question.

Architecture

Explanation

The user interacts with the Alexa device to trigger the skill set. This customized skill set, written using Flask-ask framework of Python resides in the AWS Lambda and is accessible via the API Gateway. The contents of the interaction model reside in the in-house DynamoDB, and the S3 storage is utilized to archive the documents. The user can initiate a mailing module, which delivers the mail using AWS Simple Notification Service.

Steps

Lambda code setup

1. Install required python package using, pip install awscli virtualenv flask-ask zappa
2. (Optional) aws configure can be used to provide access and secret key
3. Create a folder using mkdir flask-zappa-alexa
4. Move to the folder directly with cd flask-zappa-alexa
5. Start the virtual environment using source venv/bin/activate. This is for Mac
6. Create a file vi main.py
7. Upload the code into the file main.py
8. Initialize zappa with zappa init. Use default 'yes' for all entries
9. Deploy zappa using zappa deploy dev where dev stands for the stage/environment
10. Write down the endpoint obtained from this link

https://xxxxxxxxxx.execute-api.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/dev

11. (Optional) Inorder to redeploy the code after changes, update zappa using zappa update dev

Alexa skill set creation

1. Create an Alexa application using this tutorial
   • Follow the step 1 completely
   • Skip step 2
   • In step 3 use HTTPS. Enter the API Gateway endpoint obtained in step 10 in this phase.
   • Similarly, follow the step 4 completely
   • Skip the step 5 and step 6 completely

Testing

• Echosim.io - a browser-based Alexa skill testing tool that makes it easy to test your skills without carrying a physical device everywhere you go.
• Unit Testing with Alexa - a modern approach to unit testing your Alexa skills with Postman and Amazon API Gateway

Problems addressed

• As websites store more and more information, users often find it harder and harder to get to what they want.
• Some users (those with visual impairment / accessing from a mobile) see the great graphics layout of most websites off-putting.
• The cost of maintenance of web page along with customer service agent is much higher in the traditional model
• The adoption of naive and niche technology is required to keep pace with the growing technology

Services

Advantages

1. Increased customer satisfaction
2. Reduced Cost of ownership
3. Increased revenue
4. Win more customers

References

• Amazon Alexa
• Lambda
• DynamoDB
• API Gateway
• S3
• SNS

Authors

• SS Malvika
• David Jegan Abishek