Amazon’s Alexa calls 911 to save woman being abused...but there's a catch.
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If you break up the tech monopolies, that will help.
Break up AT&T and Comcast up into at least 3-4 separate companies each and each is not legally-owned by AT&T or Comcast or each other. Sames goes for some other big tech companies
You can now use your Google Home like a landline Phone
Add speakerphone to the list of features for Google Home. The range of smart speakers can place and receive calls, all hands-free.
The calling feature turns your Google Home into a landline of sorts, letting you ask Google to call anyone who is in your contacts, as well as local businesses. The only thing Home can't call -- at least not yet -- is an emergency service like 911.
Hands-free calling on Google Home is quite a bit different. Effectively, your Google Home becomes a VoIP (voice over internet protocol) speakerphone that can call your Google Contacts and businesses. It also doesn't require the people you are calling to have a Google Home speaker or even a Google account. You can call effectively anyone with a phone number, except emergency numbers. https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-m...h-google-home/
Last edited by Crazee Cat Lady; 07-14-2019 at 01:29 AM..
And if I were in an abusive relationship where I thought my husband/boyfriend/whatever was going to try to hurt me,
and yet I was unwilling to leave for whatever reason,
Yes, I would darn sure set up the device to call the Police. Better than dying or being battered.
Last edited by Crazee Cat Lady; 07-14-2019 at 01:30 AM..
We are being spied on all the time by our computers and phones. If I look up something on a website I will see ads for similar products on other websites and in some cases it has transferred over to my phone.
My wife and I were talking about buying something and 5 minutes later she picked up her phone and there was an advertisement for the product.
I would never buy one of those Alexa things. I still like to do things myself, the old fashioned way such as right now I am building a pod like in the movie "2001 a Space Odyssey" so my wife and I can get inside to have a private conversation. I just hope the toaster hasn't learned to read lips...
Oh, man, this is scary stuff!!!
At the risk of asking a very stupid question, haven't most people read Fahrenheit 451 or 1984, and/or Brave New World?! Much of what is contained in those books is coming true right now before our eyes.
Last edited by katharsis; 07-14-2019 at 08:36 AM..
I love my Echo devices and use them several times a day, including when I’m reading C-D threads e.g. “Alexa, what is the population of...” It’s great for reminders/timers, simple math questions (what is the square root of...), conversion questions (how many acres in 12 hectares), calories (how many calories in an apple), and other simple google type questions.
Don’t unplug the device from the wall. Just unplug the device end of the chord.
I use my smart phone much the same way either by voice or just typing in a request. I like the fact that it's portable and can come with me. The GPS has come in handy a few times. It would be nice to have music on demand vs going to YouTube. We've talked about getting Alexis or Echo. I hear ya about disconnecting it but is it still a vampire if you leave it plugged in? I unplug just about everything electrical when not in use.
I use my smart phone much the same way either by voice or just typing in a request. I like the fact that it's portable and can come with me. The GPS has come in handy a few times. It would be nice to have music on demand vs going to YouTube. We've talked about getting Alexis or Echo. I hear ya about disconnecting it but is it still a vampire if you leave it plugged in? I unplug just about everything electrical when not in use.
I have Echo devices in my living room, den, and bedroom (my next purchase will be for my kitchen). I’m not sure what you mean by vampire but I never unplug. There’s nothing I’m concerned about Amazon hearing (I live alone and it would never occur to me to recite my banking info or credit card numbers out loud).
I know everything I request is recorded. I can go to the Amazon app and see a list of my past voice commands and Alexa’s answers. I can also delete any of those recorded exchanges.
Sometimes when I am watching TV, Alexa is triggered by a word she heard and attempts to converse with the TV. It’s rather funny.
If you’re want to buy an Echo to try it out, tomorrow is Amazon Prime Day and the prices for Prime members are always the cheapest of the year. For example, Echo Dot in Canada will be Cdn $30, regularly Cdn $70.
I have never had a Google device so I can’t comment on them. It makes sense to stick to the same device everywhere in the home though once you've made a decision between Google and Amazon. For example, I can tell Alexa to play xxxx everywhere and the music will play on all my devices. I just have to remember to tell Alexa to stop everywhere when I want the music stopped.
It's great that this woman was saved from further harm but if we accept this sort of technology calling the cops in these circumstances we set a very bad precedent. And we cannot ignore the fact that Amazon lied to us about their device only listening when we say "Alexa". If they are lying about that, what else are they lying about?
Are you OK with our technology listening to us and reporting us when we commit a crime? What about countries with hate speech laws? Should this sort of technology report people committing hate speech infractions in their own homes?
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