Alexa and co.

[Grauntie Mag]

Have you got an Alexa or similar device? We haven’t but I can see how most homes will have one before long, especially the younger generation. I did hear these devices criticised because there is no need to say please and thank you and the worry is that children will not see the need to use these words generally.
I have a friend who barks commands at it like a sergeant major! I don’t think she realises she is doing it. It does sound odd.

[Gemini]

We were given an Amazon Firestick for Christmas,with Alexa voice control. We have hardly asked her anything however apart from finding some music and a couple of programmes. I think we are quite polite to her though

[Shemadee]

Several of DD1’s friends have them and it is chaotic when there are lots of people trying to ask questions the poor thing gets really confused.

[Nanto2girls]

We haven't got one, and i don't think we will bother with one.

[Daisy]

I was given one for my birthday last year. It's quite handy - and we are polite to her! - but our internet connection is so bad she keeps losing contact with the computer and goes all red in the face. It's such a chore to keep reconnecting her I tend not to bother. My DS1 uses theirs for things like setting timers when he's cooking, which is really useful as you don't have to touch anything with sticky fingers.

My DS2 has also got one and he showed the GDs how to use it. They thought it was great. GD1 asked how many days to Christmas and Alexa told her. Delighted, GD2 then asked 'how many days to my birthday' (27th December). Alexa paused, and then said she didn't know the answer to that!!! GD2 was quite indignant - after all if Alexa can't add 2 to a given number she's clearly lacking in some way!

When she is connected it can be a bit disconcerting when she suddenly butts in. One day I was telling OH the latest news on a young friend called Alex who had been ill. Alexa sprang into action! We told her to go back to sleep, we weren't talking to her.

[Gemini]

DD3's best friend is named Alexa (although we more often call her Ali) It would be odd if the Alexa thing was connected and started to act if we were talking about her

[Daisy]

Gem - it was odd when we were talking about Alex! You can give them different names, though. DS2 called his something else (can't remember) because he thought Alexa was quite hard to GD2 to say.

[Clover]

DD has one. I find it rather spooky.

[Qwerty]

We have a google one and yes it’s seems rude not to say please when asking for something, DD bought us it for Christmas , it makes you lazy as we just sit and ask it to play music, the news, weather etc without getting off out backsides to switch the radio on, but good when you can’t remember a certain thing like who sang this song, I also have my shopping list on to keep adding to through the week , still have to write it down when we do go shopping. Sometimes when I am up first I will say Good morning google and she always answers good morning J makes me chuckle if I lived on my own it would be company

[Daisy]

Qwerty - I think I would be using mine all the time if it would stay connected.

[Enfys]

We have just welcomed Alexa here......she’s great for playing music, I’ve really enjoyed listening to all my old favourites. She also tells jokes, plays the radio, gives you recipes...the list is endless. We thought that whilst P is recovering from his chemo she would keep him company 😀 and keep him entertained, he loves his gadgets.

[Daisy]

Enfys, what a good idea. Along with his new iPad he'll have a world of entertainment at his finger tips (or voice tips!)

There was in item on Radio 4 about them this week (can't remember when, I just caught it when I was in the car). Apparently there are one or two glitches with both Alexa and the Google one. One of them has trouble finding Radio 4, unless you ask her for "BBC Radio 4", and one of them needs you to say please to access a particular service.

[Enfys]

Getting on well with our new friend. She’s great for playing music and DH likes to ask obscure questions. Yesterday he was upstairs and called down to me, did we want to keep the box that Alexa came in? She chimes in that she didn’t know the answer to that question and told us a joke instead 😃. Why are football pitches always wet.....because the players dribble 🤣

[Daisy]

Enfys - that's brilliant. I wonder if that's where my GS2 gets some of his jokes! He's got his Grandad's gift for knowing a joke for every occasion, and he has us in fits.

I do wish ours worked properly!

[Glammanana]

We don't have one as yet but I am very sure we will soon,DS2 has one and I need to go and see how it works is it easy to set up ladies ?