Wow, given how many times my Echo has asked me if I wanted to put something in my cart or order something and have it delivered, I'd be surprised to hear that there's someone who doesn’t know you could shop with your Echo! 😉
--
Christopher (AKA CJ) =>÷
Chaltain at Outlook, USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Steve Hoad
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 7:08 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Alexa?
Ben Dixon's prediction regarding voice assistants requiring a visual component is exactly why I'm interested in the progress (or lack
thereof) at Amazon. The company has tied their voice assistant to many products with interfaces for TV, wired and wireless doorbells and cameras. The doorbells and cameras especially require either a smart phone or an Amazon Show and the TVs obviously require a TV.
Blind and visually impaired users of Alexa might just have the edge using voice assistants; we have lived, in many cases, without a visual component. Thus, we can quickly understand the value and uses of such assistants and can teach, without even meaning to, our sighted peers how to make the best uses of them. For example, my wife loves music, but only when and where she wants it. When I got an Echo Dot for the kitchen she has found listening to music easy either on the internet radio or Amazon music. She still uses a windup timer though; I have never suggested using Alexa for that and so, she doesn't think of it and does not want to spend time reading about what uses there are that she may want or need to use. There is no real literature, either printed or electronic that is simple and direct regarding Alexa's uses.
I sometimes wonder how many individuals actually know the full value of Alexa; Amazon's instructions and help are lacking clarity and examples; there is a weekly email about using the Alexa service but it is often focused on silly things like jokes or gags. Not saying jokes aren't great but I am saying that some literature about the average person's possible useful interactions might be a valuable piece for Amazon. How many people who don't need a voice assistant even know they can shop using Alexa?
Just a batch of thoughts ...
Thanks for your responses, I'm happy to see any others.
On 11/29/22, David Goldfield <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I'm honestly not surprised to learn that these voice assistants aren't
> making money for their manufacturers. What does surprise me is that it
> took Amazon seven years to admit it. I would encourage you to read
> this article from
> TechTalks<Why%20Amazon%20Alexa%20(and%20other%20voice%20assistants)%20
> aren't%20making%20money> by Ben Dickson. It talks about why this has
> happened, what Amazon could do to fix it and the potential challenges
> associated with those potential solutions. I don't believe that the
> Alexa ecosystem is going to be demolished in the near future. Amazon
> still claims that they're committed to it but I predict that we will
> likely see less innovation in this space. As the article points out
> there may be a new type of voice assistant in our future which will
> not only be better than what we have but which will be robust enough
> to allow Amazon to make money from it.
>
>
>
> David Goldfield,
>
> Blindness Assistive Technology Specialist
>
>
>
> NVDA Certified Expert
>
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>
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> On
> Behalf Of Rachel
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 12:18 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Alexa?
>
>
>
> In addition to listening to music and asking for the weather on Alexa,
> I ask for definitions of words, ask general kinds of questions, and
> also ask for translation of words in different languages. I love Alexa
> and will miss it greatly if it goes away.
>
> Rachel
>
>
>
>
>
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Steve Hoad
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