MVV-Skill

The MVV skill currently supports journeys to and from stops, departures from stops, and notifications of timetable changes on individual routes.

The process is always the same: a question is asked via the skill, and Alexa provides the appropriate answer. It is important to use the trigger word “MVV” so that Alexa knows you want information from the MVV skill. The skill already understands many different questions, and this range is constantly being expanded. Clear and concise phrasing improves the results.
The trigger word is only needed if the skill is not already active. If it is already open, there is no need to say “Alexa” and “MVV” again.

If you find it difficult to ask a complete question at first, you can use a guided dialogue. After saying “Alexa, open MVV”, you can name a category such as “Connections”, “Departures” or “Updates”. Alexa will then automatically retrieve all the necessary information. This also works by saying “Alexa, ask MVV for connections/departures/updates”.

Stops and routes should be specified as precisely as possible. If Alexa does not clearly understand a phrase, it will ask for clarification. If necessary, the place name can also be added.

Tip: If you want the next journey or departure, simply omit the date and time. A short question without any additional details will suffice.

Connections between stops
You can ask the MVV Skill for the next or specific connections.
Possible details:

• Start and destination stops
• Date and time (e.g. today, tomorrow)
• If no time is specified, Alexa automatically asks for the desired time

By default, the skill always searches for the quickest connection.

Personal settings
Personal preferences such as short walking distances, no stairs or other search criteria can be adjusted directly within the skill using the trigger word “Settings”. Alexa will then guide you through a dialogue.
You can reset all settings at any time using the command “Default”.

Example: “Alexa, ask MVV, how do I get from the main station to Herrsching at 12 noon today?”

Departures at stops
The skill can search for:

• the next departure,
• departures at a specific time,
• or departures on a specific line

for any stop within the MVV area.

Notes:

• If stop names are similar, the place name should be spoken outside Munich.
• Recognition is continuously being improved.

Example: “Alexa, ask MVV when the next U1 departs from Sendlinger Tor?”

Timetable deviations for individual lines
The skill provides:

• planned changes (roadworks, events)
• current disruptions on the Munich S-Bahn, where available

Notifications are displayed by line.
If a line is not recognised, specifying the mode of transport often helps.

For each update, you can choose whether to have just the headline or the full text read out.
For longer content or linked information, we also recommend checking the MVV website, the MVV Information service or the MVV app.

Example: “Alexa, ask MVV, are there any updates for the S8?”

If Alexa doesn’t understand
something, she will repeat her response to simple commands such as “repeat” or “say that again”
. If certain stops or terms are pronounced unclearly, providing feedback can help – pronunciation is continuously improved.

Cancelling or resuming
dialogues If a dialogue in the MVV skill isn’t going as expected or needs to be interrupted, it’s often enough to say:

• “Cancel” – ends the current dialogue and allows a new input
• “Continue” – jumps to the next message

“Alexa, stop!” is not always necessary.

Viewing
further departures or connections The MVV skill deliberately returns only one connection or departure per query to keep the dialogue brief.
Further results can be obtained with:

• “earlier”
• “later”

.

Receive
connections by email After requesting connection information, the details can also be sent by email.
The skill uses the email address stored in the Alexa app (provided it has been authorised).
Trigger phrases include:

• “Send me that”
• “Send me the connection”

Use
location If a home address in the MVV area is saved, the MVV skill can automatically use this location as the start or destination. Alternatively, a stop can also be saved as a home.

Examples:

• “How do I get to Ostbahnhof?”
• “How do I get home from Ostbahnhof?”

The saved location can be accessed at any time via:

• “My Location”
• “Location”

.

The MVV Skill is currently in an early stage of development and is being continuously expanded. It has been released early on purpose so that user feedback can be actively incorporated into its further development. Feedback regarding missing features, issues or desired enhancements is therefore particularly helpful.

In a beta version, individual bugs and limitations may occur. Feedback on these issues helps to improve the skill.

Currently known issue:
Speech recognition for underground lines is not always reliable. The leading ‘U’ in a line number is sometimes misinterpreted.
Observations regarding this:

• The severity of the problem varies depending on the situation.
• Feedback has already been passed on to Amazon.
• The technical service provider is working on improvements and workarounds.
• It often helps to say “line” first or to be in a quiet environment.

Improvements already implemented (based on user feedback):

• Inclusion of real-time information such as punctuality forecasts, delays and cancellations
• Addition of time queries for departures
• Improved recognition of stops (e.g. Mondstraße, Olympia Shopping Centre)
• Expanded phrasing for route searches –
  e.g. “I want to travel from Hirschgarten to Ostbahnhof”
• Introduction of a settings function (“Settings”) for familiar options such as short routes or no stairs
• Option to receive connections via email
• Expansion to include regional expressions (Bavarian variants)

Tip:
You can check for new features and improvements directly in the MVV skill: “Alexa, what’s new?”

The MVV Skill features a Bavarian language interface that provides responses in a humorous Bavarian dialect.
This mode is easily activated by saying the command “Bavarian” within the MVV Skill.

The dialect has been deliberately rendered in a slightly coarse and humorous style. Due to regional differences and technical limitations, the pronunciation may vary in some cases. Alexa’s own voice output can also lead to unintentionally comical effects.

If you don’t like the Bavarian mode or find it difficult to understand, you can switch back to the normal language mode at any time by saying “Standard German”.