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> I think the next major evolution in phones should be removing the screen. We need to develop a voice assistant technology which retains context and can "under

> I think the next major evolution in phones should be removing the screen. We need to develop a voice assistant technology which retains context and can "understand" in a more conversational style, but I think that once we've jumped that hurdle there would be plenty of people—for whom phone-staring is currently an act of boredom or filling time—who would willingly get rid of that screen in favor of a voice assistant. have you heard of Google Assistant? It does exactly what you are saying. They do have a screenless device too. Also there is Amazon Alexa that basically does the same thing.

eimrine 4y ago
These things can not do anything except of delivering some adware to be honest. I will change my mind when it become possible to do anything in REPL using this kind of screenless device. And, of course, author tells nothing about online-only devices.
- robofanatic 4y ago
  well, my point was that the technology exists. Obviously it doesn't replace the traditional computer or a phone but you can do things like making phone calls, setting reminders, timers, alarms, playing songs etc. for some of these tasks you don't need wifi connection on.
  - eimrine 4y ago
    > my point was that the technology exists > for some of these tasks you don't need wifi connection on And all of this abilities are literally baked in chip. For example, if Google (or user/owner of the device) decides to change "OK Google" to "OK Alphabet" than all the old chips will be unable to support such a newcoming. So, I do not agree that the technology exists, these are way closer to speaking dolls than to computers.
    - robofanatic 4y ago
      > And all of this abilities are literally baked in chip. For example, if Google (or user/owner of the device) decides to change "OK Google" to "OK Alphabet" than all the old chips will be unable to support such a newcoming. Its not baked into chip, its software and gets updated just like your phone or computer when its connected to the internet.
      - eimrine 4y ago
        Software is too slow for this task, especially if that speaking doll does not have a powerful CPU. It is way cheaper to produce a lot of cheap ASICs which can recognize very fast only the "ok google" keyword, maybe few most common phonemes also, but otherwise it just throws recorded sound on the server. So, all the software for recognizing unusual phrases is usually running on cloud and the speaking doll has nothing to update.
- borbulon 4y ago
  I'm not sure if you mean me by "author" or the article's author, but I think we have different base thoughts. Mine would need to be online. I'd like to be able to get information, store information, get and receive calls, texts, slack messages, make appointments, etc. I started with "what do I want to be able to do on a regular basis, from anywhere I am?" Then I go to "does a technology exist which allows me to do that without a screen?" Google Assistant is close-ish, but there's still a lot of work to be done to get past "the Beat up Martin -> Eat up Martha problem," and TBH I don't think they're putting much work into it anymore, progress seems stalled.
  - eimrine 4y ago
    > "author" The article's author. I agree with the every single point of the article and I want to develop author's idea here because it resonates with some ideas of mine. > I'd like to be able to get information, store information, get and receive calls, texts, slack messages, make appointments, etc. This is what Iphone does maybe in the best possible way. My needs are: to write, to program, to use Vim and Emacs, to be as close to body as possible, to be able to control others computers and screens in my house. > the Beat up Martin -> Eat up Martha problem That's why author's poind about keyboard-centric device is timeless. But Google was never close to the computer the author describes (in my opinion). Perfect listening (recognizing everything with no errors) is not a big deal if you already have a perfect keyboard but perfect sounding of anything happening on the screen is where the progress is absent. Imagine working with CLI using sound only in such a way which make your CLI experience better than GUI.
borbulon 4y ago
GA doesn't do -exactly- what I'm saying. It's close, but not all the way there. The interactions and context would need to be seamless. And my experience with Alexa is that it's a steaming pile of garbage. YMMV.

eimrine 4y ago

These things can not do anything except of delivering some adware to be honest. I will change my mind when it become possible to do anything in REPL using this kind of screenless device. And, of course, author tells nothing about online-only devices.

robofanatic 4y ago
well, my point was that the technology exists. Obviously it doesn't replace the traditional computer or a phone but you can do things like making phone calls, setting reminders, timers, alarms, playing songs etc. for some of these tasks you don't need wifi connection on.
- eimrine 4y ago
  > my point was that the technology exists > for some of these tasks you don't need wifi connection on And all of this abilities are literally baked in chip. For example, if Google (or user/owner of the device) decides to change "OK Google" to "OK Alphabet" than all the old chips will be unable to support such a newcoming. So, I do not agree that the technology exists, these are way closer to speaking dolls than to computers.
  - robofanatic 4y ago
    > And all of this abilities are literally baked in chip. For example, if Google (or user/owner of the device) decides to change "OK Google" to "OK Alphabet" than all the old chips will be unable to support such a newcoming. Its not baked into chip, its software and gets updated just like your phone or computer when its connected to the internet.
    - eimrine 4y ago
      Software is too slow for this task, especially if that speaking doll does not have a powerful CPU. It is way cheaper to produce a lot of cheap ASICs which can recognize very fast only the "ok google" keyword, maybe few most common phonemes also, but otherwise it just throws recorded sound on the server. So, all the software for recognizing unusual phrases is usually running on cloud and the speaking doll has nothing to update.
borbulon 4y ago
I'm not sure if you mean me by "author" or the article's author, but I think we have different base thoughts. Mine would need to be online. I'd like to be able to get information, store information, get and receive calls, texts, slack messages, make appointments, etc. I started with "what do I want to be able to do on a regular basis, from anywhere I am?" Then I go to "does a technology exist which allows me to do that without a screen?" Google Assistant is close-ish, but there's still a lot of work to be done to get past "the Beat up Martin -> Eat up Martha problem," and TBH I don't think they're putting much work into it anymore, progress seems stalled.
- eimrine 4y ago
  > "author" The article's author. I agree with the every single point of the article and I want to develop author's idea here because it resonates with some ideas of mine. > I'd like to be able to get information, store information, get and receive calls, texts, slack messages, make appointments, etc. This is what Iphone does maybe in the best possible way. My needs are: to write, to program, to use Vim and Emacs, to be as close to body as possible, to be able to control others computers and screens in my house. > the Beat up Martin -> Eat up Martha problem That's why author's poind about keyboard-centric device is timeless. But Google was never close to the computer the author describes (in my opinion). Perfect listening (recognizing everything with no errors) is not a big deal if you already have a perfect keyboard but perfect sounding of anything happening on the screen is where the progress is absent. Imagine working with CLI using sound only in such a way which make your CLI experience better than GUI.

borbulon 4y ago

GA doesn't do -exactly- what I'm saying. It's close, but not all the way there. The interactions and context would need to be seamless. And my experience with Alexa is that it's a steaming pile of garbage. YMMV.