Google Nest won't help a disabled relative

[RDR]

Hi,

I've got a disabled relative and I'm using Google Nest speakers along with some smart plugs and a IR transmitter to make her life a bit easier. The idea being that I configure the Smart Plugs and the IR transmitter in the "TCP Smart" application and then use the Google Nest to allow her to operate devices around the house with voice controls.

The Smart Plugs were easy to sat up and we've not had any trouble with them. However, some of the things we need to do are a bit complex and require more than one thing to be done (for example turning on and off the subtitles on the TV), so I've used the "Tap-to-Run" option in TCP smart to simulate pressing a sequence of buttons on a remote control that the system then translates into actions on the IR Unit.

I tested it and I thought every thing was working, until I noticed she was not using it. It turns out that when I ask Google Nest to run these commands it does exactly what I expect, but when she tries, using exactly the same words, the speaker will either do a web search or tell her that it doesn't understand. In frustration we asked a (male) neighbour to come around and talk to it, and it worked exactly as expected.

What could be going on? I don't like to suggest that Nest is somehow sexist, but it is odd that the only person who can't activate the system is female!

[David_K]

Did you setup the speakers? Assuming so, try setting up voice match for your relative:
Voice Match and media on shared Google Nest or Home devices - Google Nest Help

[RDR]

Hi @David_K,

Thanks for replying.  She does an Android phone (as do I) and we've both downloaded the Google Home App and used it to set up the voice recognition.

One thing I should have said is that she is able to use the Google Nest speakers to get a weather report or listen to her radio programs, so it's not ignoring her completely. She has also been able to turn on and off the smart plugs. But the programmed "Tap-to-Run"  operations all fail for her, and, as far as we can tell, only her.

I'm know suggesting that suggesting that the Nest is sexist is a bit glib (nobody would deliberately do that), but could the higher pitch of a female voice be the problem?

[David_K]

If it's recognising other commands she gives, I can't see why unless it's an issue specific to routines. Let me see if other experts have any ideas what could be causing this.

[LovelyM]

Hello everyone, 

Thank you, @David_K for your help here.

@RDR, it looks like your concern was already addressed, but I want to ensure that everything is covered on your end. Feel free to reply to this thread if you still need help.

Best,
Lovely

[RDR]

Hi LovelyM,

Yes, @davidking was instrumental in getting my the issue fixed - I'd have been completely stuck with out him

[Princesss]

Hi RDR,

Awesome! Glad to know that it is already fixed.

Since this has been resolved, we'll consider this complete and will lock the thread in 24 hours. Feel free to start a new one if you need assistance with your Google Nest speakers and the Community would gladly lend a hand. 

We appreciate all your help, @David_K!

Cheers, 

Princess

[David_K]

Is the routine created as a personal routine or as a household routine?

Create and manage Routines in the Google Home app - Google Nest Help

If they're created as a personal routine, only you will be able to edit and start it.

[RDR]

In answer to your question - neither. The routines were created in the TCP Smart application and not Google Home. I've associated the TCP Smart account with the Google Home account so that commands and Smart Plugs are available as voice commands.

Over the last few days I've been digging and have a few more observations.

1.  There was a routine I set up ages ago to control a few lights. It turns out she was able to use this until fairly recently, but it's stopped working for her. That routine is still working for me.

2. I've invited a couple more neighbours to try to activate the routines I've programmed - both are women . It turns out that Google Nest will run the routines for them.  This rules out female voices being a problem

3. On my Android phone I can open Google Home > Routines > Create (the '+' button) > Household > Add Action > Adjust Home Devices  then I've got an option to "Add scenes". These scenes correspond to each of the TCP Routines.  If I do the same on her Android phone then there is no option to "Add scenes". I don't know if this is relevant

Putting this together it leaves us in the odd situation that only one person can not use voice controls to activate the routines -the only person who actually needs to! The speakers have been set to recognise her voice. Is there some odd setting in the "Recognition and sharing" section that could be blocking access to the routines in TCP Smart?

[David_K · Accepted solution]

It seems as though her account isn't aware of the TCP routines at all, otherwise it would show her the option to add scenes, the same as your account. 

Did you link the TCP Smart account using your Google account in the Home app? Maybe you can try unlinking it, and using her account to link to TCP Smart instead?

[RDR]

Hi @David_K ,

That was the problem; thanks for helping me work through it   🙂   She is now able to activate all the routines I've set up.

Just for my own curiosity:

1. Why did it work for the neighbours? They don't have Google Home accounts attached to the TCP Smart account that are registered with her speakers (I hope!)

2. Why would the routines that were working have stopped?

[David_K]

No problem! Honestly, I’m not too sure exactly what went wrong here. Unlinking and relinking services can often resolve things like this.

[RDR]

Fair enough - I'll keep that in mind for the future. Thanks again  🙂