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Alexa is just an input/output device. It is limited, which is OK but that means there will not be a 'runaway hit'. There's just not enough of a surface area f

Alexa is just an input/output device. It is limited, which is OK but that means there will not be a 'runaway hit'. There's just not enough of a surface area for something so comprehensive. It's like saying 'There are 80k mouse enabled apps and no runaway hit'. What it can do is have an app for nearly anything, though, that makes sense for the form factor. It's on its way. The next step of its evolution is to look at what apps work and what conventions can be pulled from those as a general standard. Users will be much happier when they can nearly instantly download an Alexa enabled interface for an app and have it work intuitively. And this is doubly important for Alexa because there isn't deep feedback like you have with a mouse where you can see the things you aren't doing to gather hints at what's possible -- you just have to know or, at least know how to find the answer, like a command line. Which gives me an idea 'man for Alexa'. At least we can standardize a help menu.

pintxo 8y ago
But that is not the original (or publicly perceived) USP. If I need to learn or memorize the interface it's not what has been promised.
- clavalle 8y ago
  That's the thing about USPs...most are idealized possibilities not yet realized. I mean, look at VR and AR and, hell, even AI. But AI is not useless even though it hasn't reached it generalized intelligence promise. It is adding tremendous value even though it has landed in the limited middle. I don't mind learning Alexa's syntax and what it expects of me. I get value from what it can do well. As long as that's true, I think it can miss its more grandiose promises and still be a huge success.
PopeDotNinja 8y ago
> Alexa is just an input/output device. It is limited, which is OK but that means there will not be a 'runaway hit'. I like the way you say that. My Google Home is a remote control for my mouth. It's like licking a keyboard one key at a time in the dark. Simple queries are easy, but any non-trivial query just aint't gonna happen at the moment.
- jedberg 8y ago
  > It's like licking a keyboard one key at a time in the dark. Ewww. Good analogy, but eww.
Taylor_OD 8y ago
I don't believe your comparison really works. A mouse is useless on its own. An Alexa device can operate on its own. I do agree with your latter sentiment. It does feel like a command line at times. More so like trying to figure out a text adventure game. Zork would be very difficult if you didn't know the basic functions/words. That's what Alexa feels like most of the time for me. I'd love a help menu.
- clavalle 8y ago
  >An Alexa device can operate on its own. Can it? I don't know how much I'd use Alexa if it weren't for Spotify. There are some native apps but its real value is in the 3rd party apps it connects to.
  - Taylor_OD 8y ago
    It's more useful with third-party apps but those are still a part of the Alexa system. That's like saying a computer is useless without software installed. I wouldnt use my computer very often if I wasnt able to install software but that doesnt mean it isnt functional without it. Plus you would still have the entire Amazon app ecosystem. While their apps may not seem perfect they do have a free music section that could at least partially replace spotify. Other first-party apps on Alexa allow you to access lot's of other Amazon services like purchasing items from their website. That's a lot of functionality even if we are excluding third-party applications.
- deadbunny 8y ago
  > An Alexa device can operate on its own. Only if you conveniently ignore the AWS services it uses.
  - Taylor_OD 8y ago
    Pedantic. I conveniently ignored the electricity it uses as well. :/
smacktoward 8y ago
But the mouse does have a runaway hit: Microsoft Windows. That being said, it took 22 years to get from Engelbart's original mouse to the first version of Windows that really took off (3.0), so perhaps we're just too early on in this product cycle for the hit to have emerged yet.
- melling 8y ago
  I'd say the Alexa is more like birth of the personal computer. Computers weren't very good in the mid 1970's. Now that companies realize there's a product here, there will be an arm's race. Look for big improvements in next decade. Lots of people and billions of dollars are about to go into making these products better.
  - kristianc 8y ago
    To take this analogy further, it is interesting that by say 1976, we seem to have already realized that what you need to make voice devices actually useful is a screen and a GUI.
    - smacktoward 8y ago
      In 1976 every office had perfectly functional systems that could be controlled with voice alone. They were called "secretaries."
  - tomc1985 8y ago
    It isn't that revolutionary. When they can do all that processing locally, without cloud assistance, then maybe...
    - melling 8y ago
      You mean the opposite of networking computers? Like taking the Internet away? At any rate, being connected to the cloud will allow for faster iteration. Once it becomes a solved problem, then you can more easily remove the network.

pintxo 8y ago

But that is not the original (or publicly perceived) USP. If I need to learn or memorize the interface it's not what has been promised.

clavalle 8y ago
That's the thing about USPs...most are idealized possibilities not yet realized. I mean, look at VR and AR and, hell, even AI. But AI is not useless even though it hasn't reached it generalized intelligence promise. It is adding tremendous value even though it has landed in the limited middle. I don't mind learning Alexa's syntax and what it expects of me. I get value from what it can do well. As long as that's true, I think it can miss its more grandiose promises and still be a huge success.

PopeDotNinja 8y ago

> Alexa is just an input/output device. It is limited, which is OK but that means there will not be a 'runaway hit'. I like the way you say that. My Google Home is a remote control for my mouth. It's like licking a keyboard one key at a time in the dark. Simple queries are easy, but any non-trivial query just aint't gonna happen at the moment.

jedberg 8y ago
> It's like licking a keyboard one key at a time in the dark. Ewww. Good analogy, but eww.

Taylor_OD 8y ago

I don't believe your comparison really works. A mouse is useless on its own. An Alexa device can operate on its own. I do agree with your latter sentiment. It does feel like a command line at times. More so like trying to figure out a text adventure game. Zork would be very difficult if you didn't know the basic functions/words. That's what Alexa feels like most of the time for me. I'd love a help menu.

clavalle 8y ago
>An Alexa device can operate on its own. Can it? I don't know how much I'd use Alexa if it weren't for Spotify. There are some native apps but its real value is in the 3rd party apps it connects to.
- Taylor_OD 8y ago
  It's more useful with third-party apps but those are still a part of the Alexa system. That's like saying a computer is useless without software installed. I wouldnt use my computer very often if I wasnt able to install software but that doesnt mean it isnt functional without it. Plus you would still have the entire Amazon app ecosystem. While their apps may not seem perfect they do have a free music section that could at least partially replace spotify. Other first-party apps on Alexa allow you to access lot's of other Amazon services like purchasing items from their website. That's a lot of functionality even if we are excluding third-party applications.
deadbunny 8y ago
> An Alexa device can operate on its own. Only if you conveniently ignore the AWS services it uses.
- Taylor_OD 8y ago
  Pedantic. I conveniently ignored the electricity it uses as well. :/

smacktoward 8y ago

But the mouse does have a runaway hit: Microsoft Windows. That being said, it took 22 years to get from Engelbart's original mouse to the first version of Windows that really took off (3.0), so perhaps we're just too early on in this product cycle for the hit to have emerged yet.

melling 8y ago
I'd say the Alexa is more like birth of the personal computer. Computers weren't very good in the mid 1970's. Now that companies realize there's a product here, there will be an arm's race. Look for big improvements in next decade. Lots of people and billions of dollars are about to go into making these products better.
- kristianc 8y ago
  To take this analogy further, it is interesting that by say 1976, we seem to have already realized that what you need to make voice devices actually useful is a screen and a GUI.
  - smacktoward 8y ago
    In 1976 every office had perfectly functional systems that could be controlled with voice alone. They were called "secretaries."
- tomc1985 8y ago
  It isn't that revolutionary. When they can do all that processing locally, without cloud assistance, then maybe...
  - melling 8y ago
    You mean the opposite of networking computers? Like taking the Internet away? At any rate, being connected to the cloud will allow for faster iteration. Once it becomes a solved problem, then you can more easily remove the network.