Gadget makers offer voice controls through Amazon's Alexa

Amazon doesn't have an official presence at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas but its Alexa voice control software seems to be everywhere. Whirlpool is adding Alexa voice control to its suite of smart-home appliances, including a stove and refrigerator. With that capability, someone can instruct the oven to pre-heat to 400 degrees by speaking a command to an Alexa-enabled device, such as Amazon's Echo speaker. Jason Mathew, senior director of global connected strategy for Whirlpool, says voice is "the most natural way to interact with a product." Other gadgets that include Alexa: Sensory and OnVocal are both launching headphones that incorporate Alexa.