Google Home received an update that increases automated routines to power the smart home. The company announced new triggers and actions for house routines that will allow you to control the thermostat, turn off the speakers or control the lighting, among others. In addition to this, advanced users will be able to add more options through the script editor.
The update includes nine triggers and nine actions available from the Automation tabs. Examples of routines you can create with triggers include turning off the thermostat when the windows are open, playing music while the electric car is charging, turning on the humidifier when the humidity is below 40%, or turn off the lights after pausing your favorite TV show.
In the case of actions, Google suggested some automations that take advantage of the new additions. Among them are routines that activate the lights when someone knocks on the door, or turn them on gradually after turning off the alarm. You can also program one that docks the vacuum at a specific timeor add custom timers for various tasks (dinner, cleaning, to-dos, etc.).
Below is the full list of new features in this update.
Triggers | Actions |
The device is open or closed | Open/close (single direction) |
Device is plugged in or charging | pause/resume |
Changes in the temperature sensor | Start/pause/resume/cancel timer |
Volume is muted or on | Mute/unmute volume |
Device is docked/undocked | Attach device (such as a robot vacuum) |
active light effect | Light effects (pulse/sleep/wake up/color loop) |
The lock is stuck | Reset Device |
Humidity Sensor Changes | Set Moisture Percentage |
occupancy sensor | Run software update |
Advanced Routines with the Script Editor for Google Home
If the new additions didn’t convince you, Google Home added new capabilities in the script editor. Advanced users will be able to generate scripts for use camera as triggermanage the times when automations are started or access history to identify problems.
In the case of the camera, you can start certain routines when Google Nest detects the arrival of a person or your pet. For example, activate an alert on the speakers when the delivery person delivers a package or turn on the lights when a family member arrives. In case your dog is left alone, you can set an automation that plays music to help him relax.
The script editor also includes a feature that prevents a routine from firing again for a period of time. For example, if you activate the lights at night or open the blinds in the morning, you can use this function to set the amount of time that must elapse before it runs again.
Finally, Google Home allows you to create custom notifications through scripts. These are based on predefined rules and include custom text to alert you of important events. For example, you can generate a security notification that alerts you to devices that are turned on once you leave home, or one that tells you that your children have arrived from school.
The new features have already been activated in the script editor, which can be accessed from the Google Home website. For its part, the activators and actions are available in the latest update of the app for iOS and Android.