Alexa and Google Home

My children wanted to give me Alexa as a gift but
Oh NO! Even a cell phone makes me feel like a horse
being staked out!
Something intrusive like that would be thrown across the room!
Told them: If you ever want to give me a gift, remember, nothing high-tech and nothing with a plug!
 
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Alexa on our echos for us works good. One echo dot in the kitchen for listening to music while prepping meals. One echo dot in the bedroom for alarm, & weather conditions. One echo show in the living room to have video conference calls with our sons.
Like technology that gives instant response & works the way it's supposed to.
 
I have Both, and I wouldn't be without them...

Alexa in the livingroom.. and Google Home Hub in the office...

what are these so called evil little machines going to do to me?..It always makes me laugh when people start acting like they're some kind of demon machine.. folks sound like they live in the dark ages, and want to burn these machines at the stake. It's 2022 FGS...it's the technological age... use it to your advantage
 
I don't use one, but I'm interested in the technology and how it might evolve into a system that could help me maintain my independence.

I've read about some experimental systems that can track your movements and provide reminders about eating, showering, medication, etc...

At some point, I'll be ready to accept all of the help I can get.

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Aunt Bea said:
I don't use one, but I'm interested in the technology and how it might evolve into a system that could help me maintain my independence.

I've read about some experimental systems that can track your movements and provide reminders about eating, showering, medication, etc...

At some point, I'll be ready to accept all of the help I can get.

ErolDElXcAAjq-S.jpg
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Alexa and google home hub can do all of those things... now, no need to wait for the future
 
It's not Alexa and Google Home I don't like. It's all the data they collect, which should be 100% private IMO. Same with cell phones. TV is probably sending data, too. That invasion of privacy infuriates me.

Right now, something new has been happening with my Kindles and Fire tablet. They are updating themselves even though wifi and the other stuff on them that allows them to be connected to Amazon, has been turned off. I watched it happen IRL yesterday. My husband's Fire tablet HD8 would not update the other day because (according to Amazon) it was too old, so I made sure everything wifi-connected was turned off. Yesterday it updated several times while I was working with it - making it easier for my husband to use. This happened with 2 of my 3 Kindles lately, too. I deregistered one of them. I don't like the updates, and I don't like how Amazon uploads all my books to the cloud when they mess around with my stuff without my permission.
 
Also, I've experienced (with witnesses) Alexa interjecting her opinion about which movie we should watch. Alexa was not in use, and no one said anything that sounded like her name.

I have Alexa for music, but I disconnect it completely between uses.

At this point, I'm also considering getting a burner cell phone for everyone who is not a close personal friend. My personal cell phone will have a new sim card and phone number, with a new name attached to it, and my VPN downloaded to it.

I am practically rabid on privacy issues. Even though I am just like most people - not a criminal. I just don't think the government and a whole bunch of companies should be privy to what I am doing, saying, reading, watching, etc., without my permission.
 
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Aunt Bea said:
I don't use one, but I'm interested in the technology and how it might evolve into a system that could help me maintain my independence.

I've read about some experimental systems that can track your movements and provide reminders about eating, showering, medication, etc...

ErolDElXcAAjq-S.jpg
Click to expand...
I can do that on my cell phone. I have two alarms set for taking my meds twice a day. I don't need it to remind me when to eat or shower (and I realize you don't either), but I also have a reminder app that can do that. Also have an app that sorts grocery lists into categories, so that's convenient.
 
WheatenLover said:
Also, I've experienced (with witnesses) Alexa interjecting her opinion about which movie we should watch. Alexa was not in use, and no one said anything that sounded like her name.

I have Alexa for music, but I disconnect it completely between uses.

At this point, I'm also considering getting a burner cell phone for everyone who is not a close personal friend. My cell phone will have a new sim card and phone number, with a new name attached to it, and my VPN downloaded to it.

I am practically rabid on privacy issues. Even though I am just like most people - not a criminal. I just don't think the government and a whole bunch of companies should be privy to what I am doing, saying, reading, watching, etc., without my permission.
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that's never happened in this house.. only time will be if her name is called... or mentioned in conversation..
 
We have an echo dot connected through our stereo. It's great for pulling up and changing whatever music you'd like to listen to. When the stereo is off, the echo dot is unplugged.
 
I have Google Home and use it al the time. I understand peoples concerns and respect their concerns but for me it is not too much of an issue. I have several speakers throughout my house so I use Home to listen to music throughout my home, have it set up with my Nest thermostat and I have set up a daily routine to tell me a quick summary of news and weather when I wake up.

One side note, I do tend to "thank" Google Home when I ask it something like what the weather forecast is for the day. I read in a poll that almost half the users do "thank" their virtual assistant. I am often reminded of the movie Her when I do thank my Google Home.
 
I use SIRI on my phone all the time. For example I t’s really convenient to be able to say, through Apple’s Car Play while I’m driving, “hey Siri text Ron I’m heading home” without having to pick up my phone.

I’ve wanted to start using Google Home assistant for some time just haven’t gotten around to purchasing one yet
 
I have both, a Google home and Alexa. I find that I use Alexa much more. Google home will be gifted to my granddaughters next time I see them.
 
I don't use any of above. ...prefer to be in control as long as I can.

I do have arguments with Siri on my Mac quite often. We get quite mad with each other
She says she doesn't understand what I want especially if I have a runny nose at the time and perhaps traces of my Scottish accent so I repeat and get all sorts of funny answers:ROFLMAO:
Right now I asked her to play my music so now I am listening to Daniel Powter singing Bad Day.....
Think I will leave her in charge for a little while...oh now she has picked Billy Paul..and his fling with Mrs Jones but don't misunderstand me I like her choices.:giggle::love:
Have a nice day y'all.
 
Kika said:
I have both, a Google home and Alexa. I find that I use Alexa much more. Google home will be gifted to my granddaughters next time I see them.
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I do the opposite.. I find Alexa has a lot less knowledgeable info ( that I need).. than Google Home Hub ...so I use the Home hub much more, which is why i prefer that in my office.:D
 
think i will stick to talking to people,,my friend has Alexa,,and i crack up when he talks to a metal object on the shelf,he looks so stupid lmao
 
Mizmo said:
I don't use any of above. ...prefer to be in control as long as I can.

I do have arguments with Siri on my Mac quite often. We get quite mad with each other
She says she doesn't understand what I want especially if I have a runny nose at the time and perhaps traces of my Scottish accent so I repeat and get all sorts of funny answers:ROFLMAO:
Right now I asked her to play my music so now I am listening to Daniel Powter singing Bad Day.....
Think I will leave her in charge for a little while...oh now she has picked Billy Paul..and his fling with Mrs Jones but don't misunderstand me I like her choices.:giggle::love:
Have a nice day y'all.
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Well I have a Scottish accent. probably that's why I have to repeat things often to both Google and Alexa.. :ROFLMAO:
 
jet said:
think i will stick to talking to people,,my friend has Alexa,,and i crack up when he talks to a metal object on the shelf,he looks so stupid lmao
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does he just stand there talking to it then ?... :oops:... I just ask for instruction.. or ask her to carry out a request as I'm walking through the house, no need to stand there and talk to a 'plastic' object
 

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