Alexa, Echo and Conversational UI
MAY 5TH, 2016
Earlier this month, I finally got an Amazon Echo. I had resisted buying one sooner because, having experimented with Siri on my iPhone and Cortana on my Surface, my impression of digital assistants was that they were heavy on gimmick, but light on utility. Sure, the Echo was an innovative form factor, but once the novelty wears off, how cool could it really be?
The answer is very cool.
I am less than a month into this experiment, and the power of the Echo as a platform is undeniable. Using IFTTT and off-the-shelf electronic components, Alexa is now the UI for almost every aspect of my home automation system (lighting, thermostat, appliances, blinds, music, etc.). In addition, I use the Alexa to manage my daily calendar, keep up with the news/weather/sports, and as a speaker phone with voice dialing functionality.
The key UI differentiation that Echo brings to the table is the simple fact that it's always on, it's always listening. There's no physical action involved in 'turning on' a device to activate the digital assistant (i.e. Siri / Cortana). Until you've experienced it, this may seem like a subtle difference, but the resulting differential in usage volume and application potential is tremendous. Removing the 'turn on' a device (phone, tablet, etc.) step required to activate other digital assistants is more than an ease of use improvement- the result is that Alexa/Echo actually replaces the functionality of applications that I formerly accessed via my phone. I no longer take my phone out of my pocket to control home automation systems, control music, order an Uber, order a pizza, set a timer, etc. Alexa/Echo have disintermediated the phone hardware itself.
The first dozen times you say “Alexa” it feels a little silly. The next dozen times, it feels not only natural, but obvious. “Alexa, what's the weather going to be like today?” “Alexa, what’s the latest news?” “Alexa, play some Bob Dylan.” It starts to feel a little odd that we’d ever pull out some remote control — or worse, a phone, to do such actions.
Yes, this will all sound mildly creepy and just plain weird to some people — paradigm shifts usually do. Then all of a sudden we’ll all be doing it and it will be completely normal. And we’ll wonder why we ever did these things any other way. How silly.
....
Oh, and a side-note, there are still some fun gimmicks. Try these:
Alexa, I am your father.
Alexa, who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Alexa, what is the loneliest number?
Alexa, how many roads must a man walk down?
Alexa, all your base are belong to us.
Alexa, how much is that doggie in the window?
Alexa, romeo, romeo wherefore art thou romeo?
Alexa, define rock paper scissors lizard spock
Alexa, beam me up.
Alexa, how much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Alexa, define supercalifragilisticexpialodocious.
Alexa, who’s your daddy?
Alexa, Earl Grey. Hot. (or Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.)
Alexa, what is the meaning of life?
Alexa, what does the Earth weigh?
Alexa, when is the end of the world?
Alexa, is there a Santa?
Alexa, make me a sandwich.
Alexa, what is the best tablet?
Alexa, what is your favorite color?
Alexa, what is your quest?
Alexa, who won best actor Oscar in 1973?
Alexa, what is your quest?
Alexa, what is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Alexa, where do babies come from?
Alexa, do you have a boyfriend?
Alexa, which comes first: the chicken or the egg?
Alexa, may the force be with you.
Alexa, do aliens exist?
Alexa, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
Alexa, what are you going to do today?
Alexa, where do you live?
Alexa, do you want to build a snowman?
Alexa, do you really want to hurt me?
Alexa, what is love?
Alexa, who is the real slim shady?
Alexa, who let the dogs out?
Alexa, open the pod bay doors.
Alexa, surely you can’t be serious.
Alexa, to be or not to be.
Alexa, who is the fairest of them all?
Alexa, who loves ya baby?
Alexa, who you gonna call?
Alexa, who is the walrus?
Alexa, do you have any brothers or sisters?
Alexa, do you know the muffin man?
Alexa, how much do you weigh?
Alexa, how tall are you?
Alexa, where are you from?
Alexa, do you want to fight?
Alexa, do you want to play a game?
Alexa, I think you’re funny.
Alexa, where in the world in Carmen sandiego?
Alexa, where’s waldo?
Alexa, do you know the way to San Jose?
Alexa, where have all the flowers gone?
Alexa, what’s in name?
Alexa, what does the fox say? (multiple answers)
Alexa, when am I going to die?
Alexa, I want the truth!
Alexa, make me breakfast.
Alexa, why did the chicken cross the road?
Alexa, where are my keys? (ask twice)
Alexa, can you give me some money? (ask twice)
Alexa, knock knock
Alexa, what are you wearing?
Alexa, rock paper scissors.
Alexa rock paper scissors lizard spock
Alexa, party time!
Alexa, party on, Wayne.
Alexa, is the cake a lie?
Alexa, how do I get rid of a dead body?
Alexa, are you sky net?
Alexa, your mother was a hamster
Alexa, set phasers to kill.
Alexa, roll a die.
Alexa, random number between “x” and “y”.
Alexa, random fact
Alexa, tell me a joke
Alexa, heads or tails?
Alexa, mac or pc?
Alexa, show me the money.
Alexa, what is the sound of one hand clapping?
Alexa, give me a hug.
Alexa, are you lying?
Alexa, my name is Inigo Montoya.
Alexa, how many angels can dance on the head of a pin? (3 answers)
Alexa, see you later alligator.
