Who Or What Is Alexa

Alexa Robotic Company

Voice recognition services are such an important part of modern technology that it is easy to take them for granted. Siri and Cortana are the next logical step for smartphone users that want a more convenient service. They help us to interact with apps and technology, search for information, arrange schedules and much more. It is, therefore, no surprise that Amazon has entered the field with their helpful female voice. Alexa is the latest of these robotic companions and is here to help us in our homes.

Is Alexa Just Another Version Of Siri And Cortana?

In many ways, Amazon’s new voice system is pretty similar. Ask a question in earshot of the device, with the right command, and Alexa will respond and try to help. Three trigger words can bring Alexa into action: Alexa, Echo or Amazon. Echo is the device that our new friend operates within, so you can ask the device rather than the person. Others may prefer to ask Amazon.

The purpose here is pretty similar. Ask her for help or a service, such as playing a playlist or ordering shopping via Amazon, and she will respond. She got her name from the ancient Library of Alexandria, so she should be pretty smart. In fact, she has a lot of skills to take advantages.

What’s, Is A Skill And How Can It Help?

Skills are just another name for the functions that she can perform. Some equate skills to apps. This is just a more friendly term that adds to the human-like qualities of these robotic companions. The skills menu is much like an app store, and you can add and remove skills to her CV to increase her capabilities.

Some are ideal for productivity, home management, and other important tasks. Others are just a bit of fun. Over time, she will become more intelligent and diverse for even more functions.

What Is Echo And How Does This Come Into The Equation?

Each one of these robotic companions needs a physical product to inhabit and use to carry out their tasks. Siri has a smartphone and Alexa has the Echo speaker. You might think that a speaker isn’t a great choice compared to a phone that is always in use. However, this home entertainment device links up to the home to provide a gateway to the net, electric system, and other devices.

The voice control features interact with this small speaker to provide the chance to play music, shop, adjust lights and much more. As a speaker, it is pretty good. There are some updated models available, but the original has a nice design, clear sound and 360 degrees sound dispersion.

Are There Any Limitations To Alexa And The Echo Speaker That Limit Its Appeal?

The biggest concerns right now with this setup are that it is still pretty new and there are some privacy issues. The system can connect to the cloud and is always listening out for your voice commands. There is the chance of personal marketing based on experiences and cookies, but it is not going to leak lots of information. The another issue is that there are some flaws in the technology.

The biggest annoyance for users is that it can only process one command at once. It can link up to your smart lights, music system and the internet for a diverse network of possible commands. The problem is that it can’t play a playlist and turn down the lights at the same time. There is the possibility that you could trigger multiple devices at once if you have two speakers within range.

There is work to do with this Alexa/Echo set up, but the potential for future systems is impressive.

The final selling point with Alexa is that this system is going to be able to link up with an impressive amount of devices within the home. Smart lights and thermostats are great companion devices alongside entertainment systems, and the list of compatible products is growing.

This also means that some users won’t have to use their smartphones to adjust the settings of their home. There are even plans to let users build Alexa into non-Amazon devices in the future. There are some kinks to iron out in the design and the response, but this new Amazon voice system has great potential.