Voice-controlling tech? I’m sorry, I’m having trouble understanding you right now…
Alexa! Hey Siri! Okay Google. Bixby, I summon thee. A few years ago, if you said those things out loud to inanimate objects, people would have thought you were mad. Today, they will only think that if you say the last one. And yet, I’m not ‘down’ with it, as today’s modern young people say.
When Siri and Google Assistant launched, I tried them out. Once, for some reason, I asked an Android Wear watch, “Is Jim Bowen dead?” to ‘test’ it. Impressively, it duly provided evidence that he was not, at the time. Then, Echo and its robo-voice genie Alexa arrived.
Yes, my bisexual/swinging relationships with Ms/Mr Siri and Ms/Mr Google* had swiftly faltered – we don’t even exchange Christmas emails anymore – but Alexa seemed fresh and different.
*As a side note to this, you could write a book on the gender politics of choosing to make an AI assistant ‘female’ by default… but maybe it shouldn’t be by me, A Man.
Alexa. Alexa! ALEXA!
This story is from the August 2018 edition of T3 Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2018 edition of T3 Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CASE STUDY - Sennheiser Accentum Plus
The Accentum Plus rounds out Sennheiser's over-ear offering nicely by filling a gap in the audio-maker's line-up
FALSE HEIGHT - Samsung HW-Q600C
This bar-and-sub combo delivers big and bassy sound, but it's not the best when delivering height for Dolby Atmos
A BIG DELL - Dell XPS 16
Dell's latest 16-inch XPS is a sensational Windows laptop - if you're willing to sacrifice some portability for that extra size
NOTHING COMPARES - Nothing Phone (2a)
Nothing's mid-range handset, the Phone (2a), is here to bring Android fans a dose of affordable cheer
M3 CHEERS - MacBook Air M3 13-inch
With its added M3 power, the latest 13-inch MacBook Air is an ideal portable laptop
Smart rings
Smaller and subtler than smartwatches, these nifty innovations can offer fulsome health advice - here we slip on three leading models
FIVE THINGS THAT MADE MY BUSINESS SOAR
Bobby Thandi shares his tips for building a thriving tech business
THE FUTURE OF MOBILE TECH
The highlights of Mobile World Congress, the year's biggest mobile tech show
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TECH
From in-flight entertainment to sailboat speakers, these are the best travel gadgets for planes, trains, automobiles and more
THE NEW FRONTIER OF EARBUDS
Think wireless earbuds are all the same? Think again. Spatial sound, lossless audio and multiple connections can all be part of the deal now - sometimes you don't even have to put them in your ears to listen...