Are they listening?
Consider me warned. This year might be “the year of the listening robots”, as Alexa, Siri, Cortana, Google (who really needs a catchier name) and probably a few others that I don’t realize are standing quietly behind me, are all expected to take on more important roles in the constant surveillance of everybody else. Please note, none of the above are human, but they have the nosy neighbour thing nailed.
I have had limited exposure; my mother has a small object near her favourite chair. If she speaks slowly and clearly (like we do with those who haven’t mastered our intonation), and asks questions that are without ambiguity, the little object will respond. What time is it? What is the weather? Is the president of the US an idiot? All apt to respond with an answer.
No, I haven’t “adopted” one for my home. I’m paranoid enough to suspect that my table is already actively listening. How else to explain some of the quirky/eerie ad synchronicity in my life? I am old school. If I need to know the time, a cuckoo tells me every thirty minutes. It fails to stay aligned with the unofficial time shown on my stove and microwave oven, but that’s a minor detail. If I want to know the weather, I can look outside (or consult the website I maintain; another story).
Actually, it’s only a matter of time before the passive tools around me link up with the outside world. Yes, my laptop is likely to betray me. And as for the smartphone that sits over on the desk, “recharging”; I have my eye on you, too.
