Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#61

Post by dave333 » Sun, Nov 27, 2016, 10:52 PM UTC

tell me which stocks to buy

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#62

Post by smarinov » Sun, Nov 27, 2016, 11:14 PM UTC

Make me a healthy breakfast.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#63

Post by CmdrSprinkles » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 12:16 PM UTC

raybb wrote: post #23

johnchristopher wrote: post #8

I whish Internet access wasn't needed for basic tasks like "play that song".

I agree. Even something like a "note to self" command requires internet for Google Now.

Google are increasingly adding offline commands

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#64

Post by madamelic » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 4:30 PM UTC

aliencat wrote: post #31

I would really wish for a timer assistant. When I'm cooking in the kitchen with both of my hands occupied, I could just ask it to set timers.

This is basically why I bought an Alexa.

It is really embarrassing because I really only use her for converting from F to C, asking the weather while I am getting dressed, waking me up and setting cooking alarms.

Basically all of those can be answered with a Google search but it is a nice hands-free, from the kitchen or bed thing.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#65

Post by madamelic » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 4:33 PM UTC

smw wrote: post #49

Use iCloud "Find my iPhone" to make my phone make a noise.

I believe you can use IFFFT to do this. I know I've seen an recipe for this before. Not exactly native behavior but it should do that.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#66

Post by jayajay » Mon, Nov 28, 2016, 11:52 PM UTC

andai wrote: post #50

jayajay wrote: post #25

In the next 5-20 years, I think "programming and IOT without screens" will allow pretty much anyone to do a lot of useful stuff on the computer without actually being present at one, or knowing the exact technical syntax for how to do it. "Please analyze the traffic from Y and let me know if there's any anomalous traffic regarding ISIS" --anyone "Please start a server on local port 8080 from my computer and serve all…

What is your reason to be scared?

Simple -- people tend to think in the gutter, because there's no harm in it. I can wish you dead right now, and it will literally not materialize into anything, and because of that, I may not even feel bad about it. A problematic situation arises when thinking about something is pretty much all you have to do to make it so. There's a lot of good, and also a lot of bad that come from having that power.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#67

Post by babyrainbow » Tue, Nov 29, 2016, 4:39 AM UTC

Wash cloths, Iron them out, clean the house, do the dishes.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#68

Post by JaumeGreen » Tue, Nov 29, 2016, 2:57 PM UTC

remir wrote: post #11

Things an actual assistant could do, like call XYZ to make an appointment on my behalf. Find the best price for my car insurance. Send flowers to my wife. Find tickets for an event.

Plan a retreat for me and my S.O. without me telling it, checking for approval, while checking both agendas for availability.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#69

Post by 3minus1 » Tue, Nov 29, 2016, 4:37 PM UTC

Setting variables. "Hey Siri, set my favorite color to green" "Hey Siri, what is my favorite color"

I think it could have a lot of uses, mostly for remembering things.

Re: Ask HN: What do you wish digital assistants (Siri, Alexa, etc.) could do?

#70

Post by fearandclothing » Tue, Nov 29, 2016, 5:27 PM UTC

3minus1 wrote: post #69

Setting variables. "Hey Siri, set my favorite color to green" "Hey Siri, what is my favorite color" I think it could have a lot of uses, mostly for remembering things.

Google assistant can do that. I asked it in Allo "what's my dog's name?" It then asked me what my dog's name was, and now can respond to that question whether I ask in Allo or through Google home.