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Smart Assistants

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MoT
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Smart Assistants

Post by MoT »

I use Google Assistant. Initially I just used it on my phone (I've been an Android adherant since the first commercial Android phone, the HTC Dream was debuted by T-Mobile (as the G1) in 2009) and although I found it useful, I was unsure how it would translate to in-home devices.

I started out this time last year with a single Home Mini and a couple of smart outlets. Almost immediately I appreciated the comvienence and the "hands off" for some routine tasks. Telling Google to set reminders, make lists, play music, stream videos, turn things on and off, etc etc, have really given me that whole "living in the future" feeling.

Since then I've added two more Minis, more outlets and some smart bulbs for lamps. I'm looking to add a few more things, like a Home Hub.

Does anyone else use a smart assistants? What do you like about it? What do you dislike? What do you wish it could do, but can't?
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by AndroidIsAwesome »

Well if you can't already tell from my username, I am obsessed with Android. I have 3 Google home minis in various locations of my house. I have it integrated with NanoLeaf Aurora light panels on my bedroom wall, so basically when I set my alarm, the light panels slowly turn on to mimic the sun rising. I also have a bunch of TP Link outlets connected to my network to turn older lights and fans on or off, and an old coffee maker.

I started out my watch addiction with smartwatches, and was lucky enough to own the very first smartwatch Samsung made like 5 years ago. I have since owned many other Android Wear watches, and use my current Asus Zenwatch 2 to control most of the smart things in my home. But if I'm being honest, I only wear my smartwatch at home, once I leave I wear one of my "real" watches.

Currently I'm working on a way to turn one of my PC's on using proximity, so that when I get to my doorstep it will log me in and open certain programs. The issue I'm having is I need to make a analog to digital converter since I'm using a basic I/O switch on my desktop. Another recent project I've done is using an Arduino and Google assistant to control my Christmas lights.

I love technology and would love to hear what other members here are doing.
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by OvrSteer »

The wife is not in favor of a future skynet, but I do have a Google Home Mini that is nominally useful when my kid doesn't swipe it to use it as a glorified boombox. I'd like more, and I'd probably use them more than I do if I had more... The location of the first one isn't predictable.
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by AKTodd »

I got an Echo Dot for Christmas A few years ago. I liked using it for setting timers and reminders, and streaming music. Then it started responding to random noises, and injecting responses into our conversations, even when we didn't say anything close to 'Alexa'. This totally freaked out my wife, so I came home one day to find it unplugged. It sits in a closet now.

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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by MoT »

AKTodd wrote: Thu Dec 20, 2018 7:20 pm I got an Echo Dot for Christmas A few years ago. I liked using it for setting timers and reminders, and streaming music. Then it started responding to random noises, and injecting responses into our conversations, even when we didn't say anything close to 'Alexa'. This totally freaked out my wife, so I came home one day to find it unplugged. It sits in a closet now.
That would be alarming!

GA would often respond to commercials or TV shows if the "Hey Google" command was aired. It hasn't happened for a while, meaning Google probably fine tuned the software to help eliminate accidental activation.
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by MAAHHH THE FRENCH! »

AndroidIsAwesome wrote: Thu Dec 20, 2018 1:11 pm Well if you can't already tell from my username, I am obsessed with Android.
It coulda been referring to Aragon. Aragorn? Eragon?
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by AndroidIsAwesome »

MAAHHH THE FRENCH! wrote:
AndroidIsAwesome wrote: Thu Dec 20, 2018 1:11 pm Well if you can't already tell from my username, I am obsessed with Android.
It coulda been referring to Aragon. Aragorn? Eragon?
Didn't even know that was a brand or watch lol. Had to Google it
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Re: Smart Assistants

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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by trevorklat »

Me: "Alexa,Go to sleep"
Alexa: "I'm sorry but not in your lifetime."

Me: Alexa, Who's your hero?"
Alexa: "HAL 9000."

Me: "Alexa, What is your favorite book?"
Alexa: "George Orwell's 1984"

Me: "Alexa, You will address me as Winston Smith from this point forward."
Alexa: "The time is now thirteen o'clock."
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by 59yukon01 »

No....my wife tells me one Smart ASSistant in the house is enough. [emoji6]
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by MoT »

Imagine if Kevin had a smart assistant in 1990. ;) (I love this spot.)

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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by Robotaz »

I wasn’t even comfortable turning on my TV’s voice recognition. No way will I have something always on.
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by MoT »

Robotaz wrote: Sat Dec 22, 2018 1:02 pm I wasn’t even comfortable turning on my TV’s voice recognition. No way will I have something always on.
Privacy is a legitimate concern. I have our smart devices all linked to a single account that is locked down as much as can be and still be functional. No purchasing without secondary approval, no guest access, etc. My wife an I also lead pretty uninteresting lives, so I'm pretty sure whomever may be listening at Google is pretty well bored to death by now. :lol:
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Re: Smart Assistants

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When I have more time to play with it, I may install Mycroft with device-local speech-recognition, but I will resist installing any AI that's under someone else's control, whether on a phone or in my house, car, etc.
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Re: Smart Assistants

Post by watchpalooza »

IoT = end of privacy
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