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Those are nice smart home features, but why do you need specifically voice for that? For example, displaying a rain cloud symbol and temperature seems just as

Those are nice smart home features, but why do you need specifically voice for that? For example, displaying a rain cloud symbol and temperature seems just as effective and quicker than asking alexa.

razemio 5y ago
He specifically mentioned that he controls a lot from the car. How would you do this without support for voice commands? The little speakers can be put into every room, almost invisible, and for a fraction of the cost of a smart display. Also, at night, smart displays suck. They always turn on, when you do not need them. Waking you up on the way to the toilet.
- diffeomorphism 5y ago
  Not while I am driving and then by using my phone obviously. Lots of these tasks are completely automatic (e.g. locking doors, announcements, turn things off when I am gone, motion sensors....) or simple inputs, e.g. volume buttons or a slider for oven temp. > The little speakers can be put into every room, almost invisible, and for a fraction of the cost of a smart display. My phone is in my pocket and thus in every room I am in. So let me rephrase the question: If I use my phone, for which things is voice input so much better than just clicking on widgets? Thus far I think hands-free while cooking and the UX for music/video are the standard examples. The question above was: Besides this, what are great use cases?
  - wkearney99 5y ago
    Voice needs no physical mode-switching. Ask and receive regardless of whether you've got your hands full doing something else, or looking at something else, or don't have your phone super-glued to your person. There's also no tangential distraction when looking up information. If I'm going to travel I can ask for the forecast (daily or weekly) at places along the way without getting bogged down with unrelated web browsing or advertising.
  - vineyardmike 5y ago
    > My phone is in my pocket and thus in every room I am in. Not everyone does this. Eg. My parents use Alexa but keep their cell phone by the door or on their nightstand. > So let me rephrase the question: If I use my phone, for which things is voice input so much better than just clicking on widgets? You already answered one: Cooking, etc. But also some people have other household members. The communal nature of the device matches the communal nature of a household. If I hear an announcement saying to put laundry in drier, I can act on it even if I didn't start laundry. Or if there's an timer to take something out of oven, I can act even if the cook is in the bathroom.
michaelmior 5y ago
Voice has the advantage that you don't need line of sight. If I think of the range of locations where a voice assistant can hear and respond, it's much larger than what could be easily covered by displays.

Those are nice smart home features, but why do you need specifically voice for that? For example, displaying a rain cloud symbol and temperature seems just as effective and quicker than asking alexa.

razemio 5y ago

He specifically mentioned that he controls a lot from the car. How would you do this without support for voice commands? The little speakers can be put into every room, almost invisible, and for a fraction of the cost of a smart display. Also, at night, smart displays suck. They always turn on, when you do not need them. Waking you up on the way to the toilet.

diffeomorphism 5y ago
Not while I am driving and then by using my phone obviously. Lots of these tasks are completely automatic (e.g. locking doors, announcements, turn things off when I am gone, motion sensors....) or simple inputs, e.g. volume buttons or a slider for oven temp. > The little speakers can be put into every room, almost invisible, and for a fraction of the cost of a smart display. My phone is in my pocket and thus in every room I am in. So let me rephrase the question: If I use my phone, for which things is voice input so much better than just clicking on widgets? Thus far I think hands-free while cooking and the UX for music/video are the standard examples. The question above was: Besides this, what are great use cases?
- wkearney99 5y ago
  Voice needs no physical mode-switching. Ask and receive regardless of whether you've got your hands full doing something else, or looking at something else, or don't have your phone super-glued to your person. There's also no tangential distraction when looking up information. If I'm going to travel I can ask for the forecast (daily or weekly) at places along the way without getting bogged down with unrelated web browsing or advertising.
- vineyardmike 5y ago
  > My phone is in my pocket and thus in every room I am in. Not everyone does this. Eg. My parents use Alexa but keep their cell phone by the door or on their nightstand. > So let me rephrase the question: If I use my phone, for which things is voice input so much better than just clicking on widgets? You already answered one: Cooking, etc. But also some people have other household members. The communal nature of the device matches the communal nature of a household. If I hear an announcement saying to put laundry in drier, I can act on it even if I didn't start laundry. Or if there's an timer to take something out of oven, I can act even if the cook is in the bathroom.

michaelmior 5y ago

Voice has the advantage that you don't need line of sight. If I think of the range of locations where a voice assistant can hear and respond, it's much larger than what could be easily covered by displays.