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Saying please to a device is no effort and always saying please is a better habit to learn than the alternative of forgetting to say please when speaking to a p

by Jenk 5y ago

Saying please to a device is no effort and always saying please is a better habit to learn than the alternative of forgetting to say please when speaking to a person. Imagine being upset that someone suggests you say please to Alexa.

l33t2328 5y ago
Saying please to a device is some effort I don’t want to have to do for it to work. I’m not mad about it, I’m saying it’s objectively a bad feature.
- Jenk 5y ago
  > it’s objectively a bad feature. It's subjective, and no it isn't bad. Your argument is "I don't want to" and that is as far from objective as one can get. -- There is at least some logic presented for using Alexa as a tool for kids (and adults) to learn, practice, and habitualise their manners. That is an objective argument.
  - l33t2328 5y ago
    It’s objectively a bad feature because it requires the user to add extra steps to their input for no benefit.
    - Jenk 5y ago
      ... except for the benefit already explained and, seemingly, with zero detriment because you and the other "I don't want to say please" brigadiers haven't come up with anything.
      - l33t2328 5y ago
        That “benefit” is tenuous at best. Making this feature mandatory or default would be an objective downgrade, but I’ll grant that it would be a solid optional feature.
- necovek 5y ago
  Why do you want a device to have a name, let alone a human one, at all? Having no name at all is much better, and more in line with all the sci-fi we've been through. "Play music" is sufficient, and less work. It's up to the tool to figure out if you are talking to another person or not, of course.
  - majewsky 5y ago
    Ah, if only all our problems could be solved by handwaving away the hard part (in this case, distinguishing commands directed at the machine from other speech, including voice lines on the TV).
    - necovek 5y ago
      There were several solutions presented earlier (do not use a human name, make every owner choose a name) that are possible right now and do not cause any of the issues a current choice has. This was a proposal for where we should be going if we care about the even terser communication (which was the argument being made), and where ultimately, voice assistants are surely going (otherwise, if we do not develop speaker-recognition ["there are two persons talking, look for extra hints that message is aimed for me"] and tone recognition, home-integrated ones will soon be unlocking doors for thiefs who can shout "Alexa, unlock doors" or "open windows" loud enough, or, you know, using a loudspeaker).

by Jenk 5y ago

l33t2328 5y ago

Saying please to a device is some effort I don’t want to have to do for it to work. I’m not mad about it, I’m saying it’s objectively a bad feature.

Jenk 5y ago
> it’s objectively a bad feature. It's subjective, and no it isn't bad. Your argument is "I don't want to" and that is as far from objective as one can get. -- There is at least some logic presented for using Alexa as a tool for kids (and adults) to learn, practice, and habitualise their manners. That is an objective argument.
- l33t2328 5y ago
  It’s objectively a bad feature because it requires the user to add extra steps to their input for no benefit.
  - Jenk 5y ago
    ... except for the benefit already explained and, seemingly, with zero detriment because you and the other "I don't want to say please" brigadiers haven't come up with anything.
    - l33t2328 5y ago
      That “benefit” is tenuous at best. Making this feature mandatory or default would be an objective downgrade, but I’ll grant that it would be a solid optional feature.
necovek 5y ago
Why do you want a device to have a name, let alone a human one, at all? Having no name at all is much better, and more in line with all the sci-fi we've been through. "Play music" is sufficient, and less work. It's up to the tool to figure out if you are talking to another person or not, of course.
- majewsky 5y ago
  Ah, if only all our problems could be solved by handwaving away the hard part (in this case, distinguishing commands directed at the machine from other speech, including voice lines on the TV).
  - necovek 5y ago
    There were several solutions presented earlier (do not use a human name, make every owner choose a name) that are possible right now and do not cause any of the issues a current choice has. This was a proposal for where we should be going if we care about the even terser communication (which was the argument being made), and where ultimately, voice assistants are surely going (otherwise, if we do not develop speaker-recognition ["there are two persons talking, look for extra hints that message is aimed for me"] and tone recognition, home-integrated ones will soon be unlocking doors for thiefs who can shout "Alexa, unlock doors" or "open windows" loud enough, or, you know, using a loudspeaker).