It has been over a year since Amazon released the Dash Button, a single button device that allows customers to order their favorite, most-used products with the simple press of the button. When it went on sale for Prime members in July, there were just 18 Dash Buttons, that number has now grown to over 100 brands.    

Amazon has now launched a limited release programmable Dash Button called the AWS (Amazon Web Services) IoT Button, specifically designed for developers. The AWS IoT Button will allow developers to customize it to work with more brands and products in addition to associating it with different services and tasks.

We look at the uses of the AWS IoT Button, including controlling Netflix, ordering a cab or your favorite pizza. We also take a look at the initial process to configure your AWS IoT Button and how developers can get their own button.

The uses of the AWS IoT Button

The fully programmable AWS IoT Button is able to trigger a variety of tasks using a single press of the button or a combination of presses.

You can configure the button to count or track items, call or alert someone, start or stop something, provide feedback or order services. Some of the examples listed by Amazon include the ability to unlock or start a car with a simple press of the button. It can also be configured to call a cab or your spouse, open your garage door, track household chores or medication, or control your home appliances remotely.

Use the AWS IoT Button to control your Philips Hue light bulb, as a remote control for Netflix or simply order a delivery of your favorite pizza. It can also be integrated with third-party API’s like Facebook, Twitter, Slack, and more.  

The AWS IoT Button can connect to a variety of services without the user having any coding knowledge. However, developers will be able to take full advantage of the device.

Getting started with your AWS IoT Button

First up, you will need to sign up for a free AWS account. An AWS account differs from an Amazon.com account. While you will need an Amazon.com account to buy the device, you will need an AWS account to set it up.  

Completing an AWS Lambda blueprint wizard is the quickest way to get started with your AWS IoT Button. The wizard adds an event source that will invoke a new Lambda function, it also creates the required AWS IoT resources for you. When you press the button, the Lambda function will use Amazon Simple Notification System (SNS) to send you an email.

Follow these steps to configure your AWS IoT Button and complete an AWS Lambda blueprint wizard.

• Log into the Console.
• From the IoT Type drop-down menu, select IoT Button.
• Enter your device serial number (DSN), found on the back of your AWS IoT Button.
• Follow the steps in the wizard to configure your button to connect to both Wi-Fi and AWS IoT.
• Complete the steps in the wizard and update the sample Lambda function. Include either your email or phone number in the code editor.

How to get an AWS IoT button?

The AWS iOT button retails for $19.95, but within a few hours of releasing it on May, 13 the device was sold out, according to Werner Vogels, CTO at Amazon. You can sign up to be alerted via email when stock becomes available. Go to the AWS IoT Button product page > click the Email Me button on the right of the screen to sign up for an email alert.

Such amazing enthusiasm for the #AWS IoT Button! Sold out in a few hours. We are humbled! Sign up to get notified when the new ones arrive.

— Werner Vogels (@Werner) May 13, 2016

Like the Dash Button, the AWS IoT Button’s battery only lasts for 1,000 presses. As there is no way to recharge or replace the battery, customers and developers will need to reorder a replacement when the device’s battery runs out of charge.

Source: Amazon

Image credit: Amazon