Alexa...we need to talk

HowardEllison, voice actor, howardellison.net on 12 Dec 2017
“Yes, that's funny and true. Dimwitted Alexa woke us in the early hours with nonsense. I threw it in the drawer, only to hear the separate jawbone speaker continuing to babble about something else. Both now binned.”
PeteHowe, Head of Development, Mediatel Ltd on 15 Sep 2017
“I share your frustrations. I have two Echo Dots - one which doesn't get used and one which times my pasta to perfection but does little else. I'd love it if you can get someone to loan you a Google Home unit and you could assess that - I'm sure the "OK Google" prefix would annoy you at least as much as "Alexa..." but perhaps it would support a radio-alarm combo at least!
I actually bought them on the promise that Sonos would be integrating their music control with Alexa - for delivery in Q1 2017. Oh. That hasn't happened. And worse, it now seems likely that Sonos are going to add a new speaker to their range with Alexa (the microphone etc.) built in, rather than allowing existing Sonos speakers to be controlled. Disappointing if so given the investment many have already made in Sonos (and now Echo Dots!)”
I actually bought them on the promise that Sonos would be integrating their music control with Alexa - for delivery in Q1 2017. Oh. That hasn't happened. And worse, it now seems likely that Sonos are going to add a new speaker to their range with Alexa (the microphone etc.) built in, rather than allowing existing Sonos speakers to be controlled. Disappointing if so given the investment many have already made in Sonos (and now Echo Dots!)”
ChristopherO'Hearn, Project Director, 3M3A on 14 Sep 2017
“Fish Toast... that's what Alexa told me I needed at the supermarket.
To this day I have no idea what it was or what empty fish-toast shaped hole is in my pantry.
Good article Richard. Yes all the voice command stuff is a nice idea but is it actually going to change what we do and how we behave? I think not. No more than a remote control determines whether I watch more or less television.”
To this day I have no idea what it was or what empty fish-toast shaped hole is in my pantry.
Good article Richard. Yes all the voice command stuff is a nice idea but is it actually going to change what we do and how we behave? I think not. No more than a remote control determines whether I watch more or less television.”
NigelJacklin, MD, Think Media Consultancy on 13 Sep 2017
“If you've written a speech (or tried to transcribe a conversation or interview) then you'll realise that talking is different to writing. If you written a computer programme then you'll know that's more like writing than talking. This may be part of the (un) personal relationship issue you're having (person to person..."drink?" [nod] works quite well). As with google glass, there are (and were) already other products that can do the same things better (e.g. reading to you) but they may not be so 'universal.' But it feels that Alexa is not so universal. When a man from IBM showed me one at the Big Data event last November it was a bit of a 'so what' moment to me...although we did explore a 'menu driven news radio' concept in our future of media project back in 2006. [Still waiting for a decent storage device to make it worth transferring my vinyl.]”
BobWootton, Principal, Deconstruction on 13 Sep 2017
“Loved this piece, Richard. I love kit but haven't succumbed, I don't believe I'd have the time or will to set it up to do what I'd expect. I'd (unreasonably) given up on Apple's early Siri too until my Sky Q voice search button showed me how things have moved on. Now I use Siri quite a bit (though I still feel silly speaking out loud - or picking my nose - anywhere but the car).”
LouiseAsh, Commercial Services Manager, Bay Radio on 13 Sep 2017
“I love Alexa! She knows what's in my diary and tells me what appointments I have today, she has my shopping list logged ready to access in the supermarket, she tells me jokes, she plays any music I can think of and helps me find my phone when it's slipped out of sight. I have plans to add smart lighting and plugs to the mix and fully considering how to use her with my heating when I get my new boiler in a few months time. She's not so good at radio though...!”
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