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Microphones cannot speak, but the Echo can.

• andrewzah 6y ago
  Actually all microphones can "speak". All speakers can be used as microphones as well. It's not like the conversion process only works one way.
  • thebean11 6y ago
    That's kind of a technicality, the vast majority of non-mic'd speakers don't have all the required hardware or software to save or transmit audio to anything.
  • mrob 6y ago
    >Actually all microphones can "speak". Counterexample: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_microphone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_microphone
    • c22 6y ago
      Countercounterexample: https://www.livescience.com/64619-laser-sound-beam.html https://www.livescience.com/64619-laser-sound-beam.html
      • mrob 6y ago
        That's a laser specifically designed for transmitting sound, not a laser microphone.
        • c22 6y ago
          You know, I had that (extremely pedantic) thought as I was posting, but I figured someone might find it interesting anyway.
• AlexandrB 6y ago
  In the context of the original article, the ability to "speak" is completely irrelevant since it's the privacy risks that are being highlighted. I think "microphone" is a perfectly fine way to capture the essence of the entire Alexa product line in this regard.