Watching my latest toy in action, my wife said, “Remember when we were 4 years old and we were the remote controls?” Yes, I do!
“Jimmy (that was me then)… turn on the lights”
“Jimmy… go see what time it is” (umm, the big hand is on the 5, and the little hand is on the 6)
“Jimmy… go answer the phone”
“Jimmy.. do you want to play a game?”
“Jimmy… change the channel on the tv”
“Jimmy… turn up the volume”
My 4-year-old self has been replaced. And so much more. And her name is Alexa. I rarely touch a light switch now. “Alexa, turn on kitchen”. What time is it? I just ask Alexa. But she also knows so much more. Where I used to pick up the iPhone/iPad/Macbook and google… I just ask her. “What is the temperature? Will it rain today? When does Costco close? What is the Royal’s score?” On and on and on. It is so much easier to just ask Alexa. And she is getting smarter every day.
Now, with the Fire TV Cube, I say, “Alexa, turn on the tv.” Alexa then turns on the tv, tunes to the last channel I was watching, turns on the stereo receiver. If I want a different channel, I just ask. If I want more volume, I just ask. Little need for a remote control anymore. Watching a Royals game? Alexa can do the nice extra touch of turning all our lights blue. Watching a movie? She knows to dim the lights and make them the old movie house glowing orange color.
But wait! “Alexa, bring me a beer”.. and she says, “That’s not something I can do” ….. yet!
It is coming, sooner than you might think. Project Vesta… a mobile Alexa.