myNEB®: Digital Lab Assistant
myNEB is an Alexa cloud-based voice service designed to help researchers and technicians with basic NEB scientific calculations and information while engaged with lab work.
myNEB Features:
NEBiocalculator® Tools – Determine calculations such as molarity, ligation, dilution, etc. |
Lab Timer – Set a timer and receive notifications on your mobile phone or Alexa device |
Quick access to Restriction Enzyme information:
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Hear NEB Podcasts |
Flash Briefings – add myNEB to your Flash Briefings to hear Cloning Tech Tips of the Day |
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Hear Cloning Tech Tips of the Day |
Share Your Feedback
myNEB is constantly learning. The more you use it, the better it will become at understanding you, and the easier it will be to use.However, sometimes myNEB just doesn’t understand what you are asking. Submit it here and we will add it to myNEB’s lexicon/database. |
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Have a question you’d like us to answer with our tips and tricks? Submit it here! |
Questions?
Please visit myNEB FAQ page. Additional detailed information is available on the amazon.com website. For myNEB specific questions, please contact myNEB@neb.com.
Information on Using myNEB:
- Instructions for Set-Up
- Instructions for using myNEB on Alexa
- myNEB Functions
- Tips for Success
- Are you from the UK, Canada, India or Australia?
Instructions for Set-Up:
To set up your device to access myNEB, follow these instructions:
- Set-up your Echo device (follow directions that accompany the device)
- Download the myNEB Skill Companion App (preferably on your mobile device)
- Enable the myNEB skill
You are ready to start using myNEB! Visit the myNEB FAQ page for additional help.
Instructions for using myNEB on Alexa:
- Launch the myNEB skill by saying “Alexa, open my N-E-B”.
- Once you open myNEB, you can ask it a question immediately (without saying “Alexa”) as long as the blue light is on.
- For Echo or Echo Dot: when the light begins to flash, you will need to prompt any question with “Alexa”.
- For Echo Show: if the blue light disappears but the myNEB screen and logo are still displayed, you will also need to prompt any question with “Alexa”.
- myNEB will stay on for approximately 2 minutes (unless you have played an NEB podcast); after that time, myNEB will be deactivated and you must open the skill again before continuing.
- This is a privacy feature enacted by Amazon to let the user control when Alexa can “listen”. The system will stop listening after the inactive period and won’t listen again until the prompt is spoken.
- To limit unintended inactive periods, try to merge steps into one prompt: for example, “Alexa, ask myNEB for the recommended buffer for AgeI."
- Playing an NEB podcast requires you to re-open myNEB (by saying "Alexa, open myNEB") before moving onto the next command.
- If you need to return to the previous suggested command, say “go back”.
myNEB Functions:
IMPORTANT: At this time, myNEB will only be able to provide answers and information on the content below (i.e. You will not be able to ask all types of scientific questions and expect answers).
A suggested command is included with each function:
- Flash Briefing
Add myNEB to your daily Flash Briefing to hear cloning tips and tricks
- Cloning Tips and Tricks (outside of Flash Briefing).
Suggested command: “Tell me a Tip." Only one tip will be played, but you can say “next” to hear the next tip.
For more tips, please visit the following links:
- Listen to an episode of NEB’s podcast, “Lessons from the Lab”
Suggested command: “Play a podcast”
Please note podcasts have associated keywords that you can ask for, as example: ”Play me a podcast on PCR”. Say “next” to hear the next podcast. If you play a podcast within myNEB, you will need to re-open myNEB (by saying “Alexa, open myNEB") before asking the next scientific question or function.
- Identify a cut site
Suggested command: "What is the cut site of <enzyme>?"
- Identify a heat inactivation temperature
Suggested command: "What is the heat inactivation temperature for <enzyme>?"
- Identify incubation temperature
Suggested command: "What is the incubation temperature for <enzyme>?"
- Identify recommended single digestion buffer
Suggested command: "What is the recommended buffer for <enzyme>?"
- Identify recommended double digestion buffer
Suggested command: “What is the recommended buffer for AgeI and EcoRI?”
- Identify percent activity in a buffer
Suggested command: "What is the percent activity in CutSmart Buffer for <enzyme>?”
- Determine if an enzyme has an HF counterpart
Suggested command: “Does <enzyme> have an HF version?”
- Determine whether an enzyme is Time-Saver qualified
Suggested command: "Is <enzyme> Time-Saver qualified?"
- Determine whether an enzyme requires SAM
Suggested command: “Does <enzyme> require SAM?”
- Ask for enzyme concentration
Suggested command: "What is the concentration of <enzyme>?”
- Assess methylation sensitivity
Suggested command: "What is the methylation sensitivity of <enzyme>?"
- Identify the NEB catalog number
Suggested command: "What is the catalog number for <enzyme>?"
- Retrieve protocol for performing a single digest
Suggested command: “Protocol for <enzyme>?"
- Retrieve protocol for performing a double digest
Suggested command: “Double digest protocol for <enzyme> and <enzyme>?"
- Hear a summary about the enzyme including any special things to watch out for (e.g. requires multi-sites for efficient cleavage, requires supplement, etc.)
Suggested command: "Tell me about <enzyme>"
- Timer Function
Suggested command: "Set a timer"
myNEB will notify you when the timer expires. Additionally, you can have a notification sent to your mobile phone alerting you when the timer expires.
Note: If you did not enable the mobile number permission when setting up myNEB through the Alexa app, you will be prompted to do so. If you choose not to provide your mobile number, a notification will only be sent to your Alexa device. You do need to “allow notifications” (accessible via “settings” in the Alexa app)
- NEBiocalculator™ Tools
After starting a calculation, you will be prompted for necessary information needed to make the calculation (ie. DNA Length, DNA Mass, etc).
When prompted you can answer by responding with a number AND a unit (e.g. 40 base pairs). Use the following example phrases to start making a calculation/conversion:
- Ligation Calculation
Suggested command: “Make a ligation calculation"
- Dilutions, Molarity
Suggested command: “I need to calculate a dilution"
- dsDNA Mass to Moles (and reverse)
Suggested command: “I need to make a double-stranded DNA Mass to Moles conversion”
“I need to make a double-stranded DNA Moles to Mass conversion"
- ssDNA Mass to Moles (and reverse)
Suggested command: “Make a single-stranded DNA Moles to Mass calculation”
"Make a single-stranded DNA Mass to Moles calculation"
- dsDNA Mass to Moles ends
Suggested command: “I need to make a double-stranded DNA Mass to Moles of Ends conversion”
- ssRNA Mass to Moles (and reverse)
Suggested command: “Help me with a single-stranded RNA Mass to Moles calculation”
“Help me with a single-stranded RNA Moles to Mass calculation"
Tips for Success
- myNEB and numbers:
- myNEB will not always understand the word “and” when used in saying a number. Instead of saying “One hundred AND fifty”, simply say “One hundred fifty”, for example.
- Although not always, myNEB sometimes has difficulty understanding the number “five”. To ensure success, say “five point zero”
- myNEB and units:
- Although not always an issue, try to say “base pairs” or “kilobases” instead of “base pair” or “kilobase” when indicating these units.
- Although not always an issue, try to say “base pairs” or “kilobases” instead of “base pair” or “kilobase” when indicating these units.
- Exit/Stop/Cancel Commands:
- Saying “Alexa, Exit (or Stop or Cancel)” will exit you out of the myNEB skill. If you need to ask another question, you will need to re-open myNEB (“Alexa, open myNEB”).
- Saying “Alexa, Exit (or Stop or Cancel)” will exit you out of the myNEB skill. If you need to ask another question, you will need to re-open myNEB (“Alexa, open myNEB”).
- Podcasts:
- Due to the length of the podcasts, you will ALWAYS need to say “Alexa, open myNEB” before asking a question after playing a podcast, even if you only listen to a small portion of the podcast.
Are you from the UK, Canada, India or Australia?
- If you are from one of the above countries and speak with an accent, you can change the country setting within Amazon for improved speech recognition to work best with myNEB.
- To change the language support for myNeb on the Echo and Echo Dot (not available on Echo Show), users will need to change the language setting under Device Settings for the device. This is done through the Alexa app from the Devices tab on the main menu.
- Note: You can only indicate one country per device. This is something to keep in mind if you are sharing with someone else in the lab who doesn’t have the same accent. In this case, we suggest not changing the country setting.