Alexa devices will now know exactly where you are – in a good way

Amazon is rolling out a key bit of Echo software to all Alexa-enabled devices, which will enable any device equipped with the smart assistant to gauge the proximity of voice commands.

Anyone with more than one Alexa-enabled device in their home will know the tribulations of trying to speak to one device without activating another by accident.

Previously only a feature of Amazon’s Echo family of devices, Echo Spatial Recognition (ESP) limits confusion between multiple smart speakers or gadgets, ensuring that the one closest to you picks up on your commands.

With smart assistants like Alexa more ubiquitous than ever, and featured in thousands of smart home devices, it’s only natural that Amazon is working to ensure those devices work in harmony together – and so encouraging users to bring as many as possible into their home.

Gimme gimme more

The update expands an ever-growing library of additional skills and features for the popular smart assistant, which also recently gained a new EQ function – meaning users can now ask Alexa to crank the bass during a song, or adjust its frequency to best suit the style of music being played.

By continually improving software capabilities, Amazon is ensuring it future-proofs its products against the competition, and continues to add value for those who have bought into the Alexa ecosystem so far.

Henry St Leger

Henry is a freelance technology journalist, and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar, where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs, projectors, soundbars, and smart speakers. Other bylines include Edge, T3, iMore, GamesRadar, NBC News, Healthline, and The Times.