5 ms·

The same criticism can be levied against keyboard-driven tools aimed at power users. That doesn't make the tool less useful, it just shifts its target audience.

• vthallam 10y ago
  Exactly. The use cases and target audience are different. I use my echo dot for playing songs, switch off lights and add random alarm/timer etc. The future not might be voice only, but it will definitely voice intensive.
  • Retric 10y ago
    "Big" only works if someone can make big money. It can't have advertising without becoming useless. So, Voice activated lights are "The Clapper 2.0" which was not a big deal last time around. Sure, there is a niche for reordering products easily, but commodity voice tech is going to rapidly hit zero margins. Like those 10$ TV dongles that used to take a full PC.
    • Spooky23 10y ago
      The clapper was a huge product. Millions of units shipped, mostly for $30 1980s dollars at a high margin.
      • Retric 10y ago
        "Millions" is not such a big deal. 10 Million of units shipped * 30$ ~= 300 million retail. Google makes 330 million in profit every week.
        • Spooky23 10y ago
          Sure... but how much does Google Home make?
        • untog 10y ago
          Why does every business have to reach Google profit levels, though? A business that turns a healthy profit with low margins is a successful business.
• untog 10y ago
  Sure, but it does contradict any assertion calling it the "next big platform".