Alexa

If you want a good laugh, go on YouTube and put in 'Amazon echo silver spoof ad'. Wouldn't actually mind one of these.

I've only got it on a fire stick I was given as a present not greatly impressed

On Christmas Day my granddaughter aged 7 asked the new Alexa "What is the most famous book in the world?"
Alexa replied that" A lot of people might think that 50 Shades of Grey is probably the most famous book in the world but actually it is The Bible"!

I have just googled "should we be afraid of Alexa?"

We certainly will not be having one in our house.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Love my little audio slave, audio books are brilliant, shopping & to-do lists, the quiz questions and when I come down in the mornings 'Alexa good morning' gives me local weather and news briefing - what's not to like? There have always been doom merchants with every new bit of technology, embrace it while you can is my motto

At the moment, I am a very poor sleeper and can still be awake at 4am. churning over the 'worries of the world.' Sometimes, I put radio 3 on to clear my head but the music can be very dull through the night and I find myself going back to thinking time.
Would an Alexa be be answer? Would it send me off to sleep or would it just be another gadget to clutter up my bedside cabinet.

I love Alexa. Sometimes she pipes up when I call the dog's name because it is similar in sound. I have no worries about her being a spy at all. She is mainly a glorified timer in our house. The most brilliant thing is that my non-verbal autistic grandson is trying to tell her to play a song. He hasn't quite got it yet but at least he is being inspired to try!

There's a whole range of "sleep sounds" skills for the Echo. I have one called Beautiful Dream. It's a piece of calming music played on a loop. I match my breathing to the rhythm. It's very relaxing, and I can't put a sleep timer on so that it switched off when I want it to.

Can put a sleep timer on!

We have the google home instead and it’s pretty good with some crossword clues, but makes us jump when it talks back to the TV on odd occasions

I can't wait to get an Alexa for my birthday, we had so much fun on Xmas day with her. I couldn't care less who's listening to me I just wish I had a brain like the young ones to soak all this fantastic information that's around today. I love my iPad, for photos, keeping in touch with people. When I think of my Grandparents with this small snowy TV screen from years ago and the miserable life they lived what's not to love about today and the future!

All sorts of things, recipes, the time, shopping lists, quizzes, calculations. She is a bit annoying when I ask her whs t's on television at a certain time. She will insist on telling me what on at the moment. I know I'm watching it.! Recipes are great though.

My Sister was given an Alexa last Christmas and we were all encouraged to ask a question.
Trying to baffle it, I asked 2 questions.
How long is a piece of string?
How many beans make 5 ?
Alexa had an answer for both !!!!!!

If I have an Alexa I've never found her, nor have I looked for her, nor do I intend to look for her. I prefer to talk to real live people. Like a check-out with a person rather than self-service.

I am not a "doom merchant" - far from it - and I am not against progress.

Please read what I read and then come back on here and persuade me to have one in our house.

"What price this new toy?" and I don't mean monetary!

Try "Alexa, open Daily Stretch". It took me about 15 minutes to get this recognised. It was the word stretch which caused the problem.

I first had a computer in the early 80's and worked through the 'poor man's Internet' = Bulletin Boards in the days before any browser device and everything had to be programmed in. Wonderful! So IT fascinates me and I'd love to have Alexa.

My son has a computerised home so she's there and makes the shopping lists, turns heaters on and off (he can do this from anywhere) deals with security and cameras and all the other things which have been mentioned.

I'd probably just play Trivia!!

All I can say is 'Lazy blighters'.

barbiedoll
They had a private life...you know...where the world and it's wife didn't know every time you missed a period or you had the latest tatt on your booty.

Pinkshoes26
Alexa can't be any good.
You say that it's 'good for spelling'
How about unnsure and whare?
There are no words spelled in that manner.
I'd send it back. Probably made in China.
Aleza?
roast Lamb?

barbiedoll Tue 01-Jan-19 16:44:18
I can't wait to get an Alexa for my birthday, we had so much fun on Xmas day with her. I couldn't care less who's listening to me I just wish I had a brain like the young ones to soak all this fantastic information that's around today. I love my iPad, for photos, keeping in touch with people. When I think of my Grandparents with this small snowy TV screen from years ago and the miserable life they lived what's not to love about today and the future

We and our parents’ and grndparents’ generation also had a thirst for knowledge and for learning and we knew things without constant recourse to Google or Alexa or whatever.
I reckon I put up a pretty good showing against University Challenge and in pub quizzes.
A small snowy TV screen didn’t mean a “miserable life” there is a bigger world out there - and you can’t live your life through Alexa!

Pinkshoes26 Tue 01-Jan-19 15:28:14
Aleza is timing my roast Lamb oven time for me right now
This actually makes no sense.

And the “whare ” and “unnsure “ are shockers!

I don’t have one, but if I did I would ask her to bring me tea in bed every morning and nip out and tighten the mooring ropes when it’s blowing a hooley ?

Might I ask for some thought for disabled users?

My dearly loved husband of more than 50 years has little sight but tries his best to be independent.

Alexa arrives later this week. He will then be able to find out the latest footie result, the cricket score, the dollar/pound exchange rate, listen to this or that radio station, all without having to ask me or wait for me to come back home.

Yes the rest of us can do this ourselves, no I don’t yet have a clue what info it collects (but for sure I’ll be checking) but it will give my dearly loved husband back a little of his lost independence.

That sounds an excellent justification Jessity