Alexa ,,in simple language

[Highland Mule]

Just on the of chance , have you ever refused to get on any of O'Leary's (or any other carrier's) modern aeroplanes because they work (partly) on via computers and even the human pilot has to pull levers that are fly by electrical wire rather than an actual rod or wire ?

Now, that is something I try to avoid where possible - not a fan of O-Leary airlines at all (based on considered and detailed understanding of their safety management arrangements and general management style). I’m also not a huge fan of fly by wire, but that’s getting more difficult to avoid.

I've answered that point in the very post you reply to.

With respect, you haven’t.

 

[Highland Mule]

Who's truth?

But anyway, this from the MIT, although the institute appears to be little more than a cheerleader for the subjugation of the human spirit by algorithm, all for the greater profit of the great US corporations. They were once heavily pushing AVs, but we don't hear so much about that nowdays.

What makes voice-based AI so appealing to consumers is its promise to conform to us, to respond to the way we speak—and think—without requiring us to type on a keyboard or screen. That’s also what makes it so technically difficult to build. We aren’t at all orderly when we talk. Instead, we interrupt ourselves. We let thoughts dangle. We use words, nods, and grunts in odd ways, and we assume that we’re making sense even when we aren’t.

Amazon’s Alexa is a bet that in the future we will be talking to our computers

Voice-based AI devices aren’t just jukeboxes with attitude. They could become the primary way we interact with our machines.

www.technologyreview.com

They don’t actually know what we think then - it’s a turn of phrase used by MIT to explain how they can understand irregularly structured questions and statements, when they are spoken.

 

[Highland Mule]

Who's truth?

John 14:6 ?

 

[Scribus]

Now, that is something I try to avoid where possible - not a fan of O-Leary airlines at all (based on considered and detailed understanding of their safety management arrangements and general management style). I’m also not a huge fan of fly by wire, but that’s getting more difficult to avoid.



With respect, you haven’t.

Oh but I have. I pointed out quite clearly that I am happy to enjoy the benefits of technological progress but I am not willing to accept all 'advances' without question or protest. What don't you understand about that?

 

[Scribus]

All a bit extreme. It's just a bit of fun for us for things like kids music, kitchen timers etc. I haven't noticed any intrusion into my life from it and couldn't care what it heard to be honest. Yes, it's an information gathering sales tool but we all know that, it was obvious from the start. Eyes wide open and all that.

Unfortunately those who choose to remain without it are sneered at and derided as being somehow backward. On the contrary, I am looking a lot further forward than most and considering the ill effects that such exploitation will have on the individual and society.

 

[Highland Mule]

Oh but I have. I pointed out quite clearly that I am happy to enjoy the benefits of technological progress but I am not willing to accept all 'advances' without question or protest. What don't you understand about that?

The question was if you’d ever refused to fly on a particular type of aircraft. That question hadn’t been answered. For me, the answer would be “yes”, if you’re interested.

 

[Highland Mule]

Unfortunately those who choose to remain without it are sneered at and derided as being somehow backward. On the contrary, I am looking a lot further forward than most and considering the ill effects that such exploitation will have on the individual and society.

I think that’s just your perception- I’ve never been sneered at for my refusal to have an Alexa, or to cover up the webcam on my laptop.

 

[Scribus]

The question was if you’d ever refused to fly on a particular type of aircraft. That question hadn’t been answered. For me, the answer would be “yes”, if you’re interested.

He was making a point through a question, I had already addressed that point.

 

[Highland Mule]

He was making a point through a question, I had already addressed that point.

He asked you a specific question.

Anyway, I don’t care any more - it’s clear you’re just stirring.

 

[Scribus]

I think that’s just your perception- I’ve never been sneered at for my refusal to have an Alexa, or to cover up the webcam on my laptop.

The tone of several on this thread, and others whenever I have questioned where all this is taking us, is quite clearly one of derision.

I admire your decision re Alexa and your laptop. Outside of this forum there are those who can't get their head round the fact that I want nothing to do with FB or Whatsapp, yet there are others who certainly do.

 

[Scribus]

He asked you a specific question.

Anyway, I don’t care any more - it’s clear you’re just stirring.

Yes, he asked me a specific question in a bid to make a point.

I'm not stirring at all, I'm feel that we are rapidly losing the ability to function at a personael level without the intervention of IT in some form, and that IT is controlled by those who wish to profit from us. It is not a healthy situation for society or humanity as a whole.

 

[Highland Mule]

The tone of several on this thread, and others whenever I have questioned where all this is taking us, is quite clearly one of derision.

I admire your decision re Alexa and your laptop. Outside of this forum there are those who can't get their head round the fact that I want nothing to do with FB or Whatsapp, yet there are others who certainly do.

Nothing wrong with WhatsApp or Facebook - whatsapp has end to end encryption and is probably the most secure messaging system you could use - I prefer it to my previous choice (PGP) and note that various security services use it too. Facebook is a tool, and only knows what you let it - have that mentality and you may find it useful.

I have to say that your anti technology tone and word choice far eclipses that of any promoting the various services. Maybe have a red back of some of your word choices in this thread alone and reconsider your supposed position?

 

[Shughie McFee]

enormous yawn.

 

[Paddington]

I found this video after two days with Alexa if you get really desperate;

 

[Dry Rot]

My vote goes for Scribus. Can't think of any of his posts I disagree with so far.

 

[Scribus]

Nothing wrong with WhatsApp or Facebook - whatsapp has end to end encryption and is probably the most secure messaging system you could use - I prefer it to my previous choice (PGP) and note that various security services use it too. Facebook is a tool, and only knows what you let it - have that mentality and you may find it useful.

I have to say that your anti technology tone and word choice far eclipses that of any promoting the various services. Maybe have a red back of some of your word choices in this thread alone and reconsider your supposed position?

But it's not anti-technology. Technology extends far beyond the internet, for instance it has given us engines that burn far more efficiently than before, I'm all in favour of that.

Whatsapp insists on knowing your mobile number, which is far too rapidly becoming a universal identifier.

 

[Highland Mule]

But it's not anti-technology. Technology extends far beyond the internet, for instance it has given us engines that burn far more efficiently than before, all in favour of that.

Whatsapp insists on knowing your mobile number, which is far too rapidly becoming a universal identifier.

No it doesn’t. On first installation it sends a confirmatory text message to a number you assign - it doesn’t need to be the number of the device you’re installing on and can easily be a throw away £1 number/ virtual number that you have never been associated with but do have access to.

 

[Scribus]

No it doesn’t. On first installation it sends a confirmatory text message to a number you assign - it doesn’t need to be the number of the device you’re installing on and can easily be a throw away £1 number/ virtual number that you have never been associated with but do have access to.

So one has to jump through various hoops to avoid being monitored in some way by Whatsapp which neatly illustrates just how are lives are being taken over. If we don't agree with procedures or processes (not just Whatsapp) then we are obliged to take the trouble to opt out. Shouldn't it be the other way round?

 

[Scribus]

No it doesn’t. On first installation it sends a confirmatory text message to a number you assign - it doesn’t need to be the number of the device you’re installing on and can easily be a throw away £1 number/ virtual number that you have never been associated with but do have access to.

One might be forgiven for thinking that Whatsapp is little more than a tool by which FB can harvest mobile numbers.

 

[Highland Mule]

So one has to jump through various hoops to avoid being monitored in some way by Whatsapp which neatly illustrates just how are lives are being taken over. If we don't agree with procedures or processes (not just Whatsapp) then we are obliged to take the trouble to opt out. Shouldn't it be the other way round?

Most people don’t care. My number is out there anyway (as it’s the way that customers get in touch with me), so I’m afraid I fall into the “most people” category.

Personally, I struggle to see the problem here.

Remember, with end to end encryption, even WhatsApp can’t read your messages.