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Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

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Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#71

Post by julianlam »

ben509 wrote: post #44
jmosbech wrote: post #36

Related: Being married to an actual Siri made it easy for us to rule out one of the home automation platforms. (I asked, but somehow she didn’t feel like changing her name.)

> I asked, but somehow she didn’t feel like changing her name. That's nuts. It's just a bit of paperwork!

I actually did go through the process to switch my middle and first names around.

Surprisingly, Canada needed a lot of documentation, over and beyond the traditional "two pieces of ID".

If I recall correctly, I also needed my birth certificate, the original passport used when landing in the country (as I was born abroad), and the landing papers.

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#72

Post by LeoPanthera »

MarkLowenstein wrote: post #17

It's certainly become an inconvenient name to utter around our house, due to the responses it elicits from our countertops. So my daughter came up with the idea of referring to the device as "Amelia" whenever we talk about her. It has worked brilliantly and I suggest that everyone adopt the same convention.

We just say "the echo" when we want to refer to it without triggering it. But you can change the hotword in Echo devices anyway, if you don't like "Alexa".

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#73

Post by LeoPanthera »

NullPrefix wrote: post #30
MarkLowenstein wrote: post #17

It's certainly become an inconvenient name to utter around our house, due to the responses it elicits from our countertops. So my daughter came up with the idea of referring to the device as "Amelia" whenever we talk about her. It has worked brilliantly and I suggest that everyone adopt the same convention.

Or you could just throw away those listening devices.

Do you think unrequested snarky comments like this will actually convince anyone?

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#74

Post by totalZero »

reaperducer wrote: post #52
da_big_ghey wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Has she considered changing the name on the tag, just at work? Just put "Jane" or something generic, or "Sarah" so it sounds similar. But yeah, it unfair that she has to be the one to change.

I don't know her well enough to ask.

I know a phrase that you can use to start the conversation.

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#76

Post by pvorb »

d1zzy wrote: post #58
reaperducer wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am acquaintances with a Siri. She's seems like a nice person, but since she works in a service industry I bet she's tired of hearing "Hey, Siri" all the time. If I was her, I'd ask for permission to not wear a name tag.

So, after all, Google deciding to use "OK, google" as introductory phrase was the better choice?

Definitely, yes! And it's helping their brand. But I doubt this would've worked with Apple or Amazon, as those are not search engines and are used differently.

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#77

Post by Channel »

ghaff wrote: post #48
throw14082020 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't worry the wake word will be customizable soon enough;

You can change it to Amazon, Echo, or Computer. None of which are likely to be names of people in your house--other than the Dollhouse exception for Echo. Most people just likely prefer a more personal name which is, almost by definition, an accepted human name.

Computer is great because it reminds me of Star Trek.

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#78

Post by [deleted] »

pvorb wrote: post #76
d1zzy wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, after all, Google deciding to use "OK, google" as introductory phrase was the better choice?

Definitely, yes! And it's helping their brand. But I doubt this would've worked with Apple or Amazon, as those are not search engines and are used differently.

[deleted]

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#79

Post by jolmg »

ben509 wrote: post #44
jmosbech wrote: post #36

Related: Being married to an actual Siri made it easy for us to rule out one of the home automation platforms. (I asked, but somehow she didn’t feel like changing her name.)

> I asked, but somehow she didn’t feel like changing her name. That's nuts. It's just a bit of paperwork!

It can also be a matter of pride, I think. People can like their name enough to not change it simply because some company chose to use it for their product.

Re: Has Amazon Ruined the Name Alexa?

#80

Post by mc32 »

MarkLowenstein wrote: post #17

It's certainly become an inconvenient name to utter around our house, due to the responses it elicits from our countertops. So my daughter came up with the idea of referring to the device as "Amelia" whenever we talk about her. It has worked brilliantly and I suggest that everyone adopt the same convention.

Can't you just change the prompt for the device to one of the other options? Though I dunno why they can't make it use any wake word you choose.
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