Monday, 11 March 2019

Smart Speakers


Do you have one of those Smart Speakers that are all the rage now, like Amazon Echo (Alexa), Google Home or Apple HomePod? You know, those "voice-controlled, intelligent personal assistant services" as Wikipedia describes them?

My Rare One just got a Google Mini and she LOVES it! My Rare One tends to be an early adopter of new technology. I am not. I'm a late, drag-me-kicking-and-screaming-into-the-modern-world adopter of new technology. So I do NOT have a Smart Speaker and do not foresee getting one in the near (or indeed, any) future.

But people SWEAR by their Smart Speakers! Is there NOTHING those devices can't do?


What about the danger of getting too DEPENDENT on them?


I suppose they MIGHT be useful in SOME circumstances . . . 


. . . but NOT in OTHERS.


Their ultimate uses we can only DREAM about.


43 comments:

  1. nope, don't have one, don't need one, don't want one.

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  2. I could never have one. It would tell me I swear to much, talk dirty and I doubt it will bring me my gin.

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  3. Nope. Don't have one. Will not have one. Having Siri on the phone is creepy enough.

    XOXO

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  4. Like you, I am more of a luddite, though if it could impeach _____ I'd buy 'em by the crate!

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  5. I'm more like you but I wish I was like your Rare One!

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  6. Not for me Debra - I can't see the point of them.

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  7. Happy without it, friend D. Love, cat.

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  8. I've only had a smartphone for a little over a year, so this seems like it would be well down the road for me yet.

    Someday, when everybody else has grown bored of them, I'll get one, I'm sure.

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  9. We have Alexa and Google though not of my doing, believe me.

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  10. Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope! Even the commercials for these things give me the willies! I don't need willies, thank you very much! I'm not quite sure what a Siri is, but my sister has one and she still calls me for answers to her trivial entertainment questions. She says I'm faster.

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  11. Hi Debra, I guess your readers are all of one demographic. I would never want one either--the things they do seem easy to do anyway, and our privacy has been compromised enough already.
    --Jim

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  12. Alexa right now is just a digital rumor as far as I'm concerned. Of course, if the entire society decides to organize itself around it (as happened with the Internet) I'll have to adapt (as happened with the Internet.)

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  13. I'm too paranoid to use one.

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  14. My paranoia is extremely suspicious of this technology. So, like you, I would only get it if I'm dragged while kicking and screaming. Unless Alexa impeaches the Orange Infection. If it does that, then I will start worshiping it.

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  15. OMG! I'm the type that would tell Alexa at someones home to play haunted house sounds at 2:20 in the morning. I'm that type of an evil person.

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  16. These are cute! We just have a simple speaker to listen to Pandora with. Alexa seems wacky. I have heard stories about Amazon orders arriving to peoples homes after mentioning in conversation (within her earshot) that the owner wants something. She hears the phrase and puts an order through!

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  17. My daughter turned hers off after ads started showing up on her computer for something that she and her husband had been talking about. Not asking the damned device about, mind you, just talking about it within 'earshot' of the accursed thing. They are definitely spying, recording, and monetizing everything one says. No thanks!

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  18. I constantly get offers from someone called Siri on my iPad and iPhone - at first I thought it was one of those Russian ladies that find me so attractive but turns out it's one of those voice activated thingies. I tried it several times but after ten attempts to get "Vision Care Charlottetown telephone number" I gave up and told it to "F... off". I won't even tell you what the reply was it was so shocking and rude.

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  19. If I thought Alexa could do the last one, I'd get it in a heartbeat!

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  20. I just see smart speakers as one more useless piece of landfill fodder to be used for six months and forgotten about - along the same line as my blue tooth, fit bit etc.

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  21. Don't have one yet. Not sure if we need one, given that we already rely a bit too much on technology.

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  22. Haven't used mine; can't figure it out.

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  23. High tech everywhere for me - except inside my home. Also staying off F#book, it is spawn of Satan.

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  24. I don't have one. I don't think it's something I need. If I need something or have a question, I talk to the dogs. To reach me at work, people first have to get through an automated system (not my fault). Sometimes when I answer the phone, people ask if I'm real or am I a robot. I assure them that I'm real. My colleagues say that I'm mistaken for a voice system because I pronounce words so exactly. One person said I should replace Siri. I'm willing to give it a try.

    Love,
    Janie

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  25. We have both Google and Amazon they are ok seems the kids like them more.

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  26. We have the home mini, it's alright. I don't use it much.

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  27. This isn't something I need or want. I'm so out of touch with all this stuff. I'm surprised I even have a smartphone, although it is very outdated!

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  28. i found them little irritating and not worth it

    this is something not necessary for daily routine
    i would love to get up and peek to look for rain instead of asking Alex to tell me
    how extra dependence

    this is fun post dear Debra!

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  29. We have one for our house that our family absolutely loves. As for me, I don't use it, since the living room in our house is one place that I don't spend more than twenty seconds at a clip in.

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  30. Nope, don't like those listening devices! My husbands boss gave us one as a gift several years ago. We promptly put it in the charity box.

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  31. We don't have one. I would be willing it try one but my husband thinks its Big Brother. LOL
    I would say Alexa pour my wine please!!

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  32. Nope, nope, hell nope.

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  33. I have an alexa. I can't ask her to do anything without saying please. And if i ask her to change volume or channel I feel that I'm being a nuisance.

    However she can fart on command and tell bad jokes.

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  34. Love it. There was an extremely funny skit on SNL about Alexa Silver edition.... you can find it on YouTube if you did not see it!!!!

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  35. I have the mini Alexa and love it to pieces..She plays any song I ask...keeps a running groc list for me...checks the weather ea morning while I make the coffee..gives me a rundown of news overnight...my girl gave her to me and I just love it.

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  36. Olivia keeps telling me I need one...gg...you just really need one..this coming from the kid that thinks she has to hold my hand when we cross street,cause I am special.

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  37. Personally I think you are a very smart speaker, and a good writer too.

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  38. Haha, Debra ~ the yellow one says it all! That would be my husband. We have one on our kitchen counter. At some point every morning, I tell her to set a timer for 42 minutes. I have to say 42 rather than 40, otherwise she always thinks I say 14. That's so I remember to put my fitbit on after it charges. Terry uses her for many more things. I worry about what she's heard me yell at the tv, especially about someone with orange hair and raccoon eyes. Have a good one!

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  39. Our friends and family all order Alexa and Google around. I order Jerry. And he makes things up if he doesn’t know the answer. Much more fun.

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  40. We have a Google Mini in the kitchen. ItsI there basically to play music and time cooking.

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  41. I don't own a cell phone. Does that tell you something? LOL!
    Good for your Rare One, but for me, nope!
    These are hilarious Deb! Thank you! LOL!

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