I’m not sure what exactly sparked my interest in Echo. I was listening to a podcast where the host was bragging about the thing. And then my Jawbone speaker started acting up. I’m already an Amazon Prime customer, so I went for it (without any deep research into the product).
What is an Echo? It is not as helpful as Rosie Jetson, but it can tell a joke when you ask. Echo is a gadget similar to a smart watch but for your house. She responds to the name Alexa, and responds to your verbal questions (I say she – because it is a women’s voice and a female name). It looks like a small speaker. A little bit Siri, Google, and a Radio. It is hands free, you can shout out commands (or just ask politely) as you move from room to room in your house (Alexa order soap; Alexa set timer for 5 minutes). It is an Amazon product and has a lot of features that you find on Amazon. You can order, buy and have delivered any product from Amazon. (Alexa, ‘order my dishsoap’. A couple of ‘yes’ confirmations and your Amazon box will arrive on your porch.)
I do have a couple of disappointments regarding the Echo. First the marketing material was too grand and general (connects to any smart home devices – ‘any’ has been misused.) Second all the help and how-tos are tucked in the Echo product page on Amazon shopping site, most of the information is a sales pitch and not detailed owner instructions. and there is not a lot of information available. Ironically some of the information is found in the Alexa app – but you have to have a Echo otherwise why would you need the app.
Here are some of my thoughts on Echo:
- The number of devices compatible with Echo are still limited. Most of the equipment I already own are non-compatible. I currently use a Comcast security system, which includes the thermostat and lights. It would nice to be able to use the Echo voice control for these setting or even play the security notifications through the Echo speaker.
- Past tech conferences and journalist have discussed the end-less possibilities of integration. But a lot of the cool features are still in the works. I guess I still have to use my mobile app to start my car in the morning. Maybe when Echo is a little older she will be able to start the car.
- I currently use Apple products at home. Echo connects your Google accounts for calendars and reminders. And that is the only calendar Echo connects to. So I now have to either start using Google calendar on my Apple devices. Or to use the Echo for my personal scheduling and reminders.
- Echo is a household item, it does not recognize different voices or preferences. Everyone is equal, including company.
- You can not talk on the phone using Echo as your Bluetooth receiver.
- Echo will not read your incoming text to you.
- Echo cannot read horoscopes. Not everything you ask on Google is available on Echo. Similar to mobile apps someone has to develop the app for Echo to so something (like search and read horoscopes) and then you have to download (install) that to your Echo. There will be lots of young developers (and maybe older) playing in this space. Providing joke apps, affirmation apps, recaps.
- Although we have this information available via an internet browser, Echo has to convert it from Text to Speech. The search results on a web page might be too ‘tangled’ for a machine to find the right content and ‘read’.
- You can not ask Echo about Echo. It does not support questions regarding its own tech help. For example if you ask: ‘how do you connect a new device?’ Answer: I do not know who to answer that question.
- It does record every question and answer you ask it. And on your Echo app (or Alexa App) you can rate the response. I’m confident this data is being captured and mined for machine learning.
- Echo is learning and adding all the time. Last week they announced the integration of Domino’s and Uber. Unfortunately, I only order pizza about twice a year and not from Domino’s. And well in the D, we tend to be attached to our vehicles, so it will be a long while before I become a regular home pickup Uber user. I’m sure there will be a new feature for me to use soon.
There are a lot of possibilities and apps for Echo, they are just not yet integrated into the software yet. Echo should be able to control my garage door (Craftsman), adjust my thermostat (Comcast) or even remote start my car (OnStar) via my Echo.
Echo is part of the whole environment of Internet of Things (IoT), as well as Craftsman, Comcast and OnStar. They all produce products that are controlled digital as long as you have an internet connection. And basically anything that can be connected or powered by a (mobile) app – should be able to receive commands from Echo.
You send a voice command to Echo. Echo connects to the IoT and access the digital app that controls the garage opener. This sends a command to open/close the door. To remotely access the garage opener, it will require you to set up your accounts and logins for the applications. And along with this convenience we open digital data to be vulnerability.
As for the developers on this product, they have a so many products to connect to Echo. The list may have them working for decades. And I don’t think this technology will go out of style soon. Yes, robotics are on the rise and there will be moving smart things in our homes (beyond Roomba). But right now I’m happy with Echo has my home command center and I’m happy to get easy access to updated news stories, weather reports and scores without having to sit at the computer (or tablet) and open an app or browser.