Amazon Echo could look like a normal Bluetooth speaker (and it has built-in omnidirectional speakers) but it does so many things! Keep reading to discover more.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH AMAZON ECHO AND ALEXA?
Echo is another step forward towards voice-activated science-fiction computers seen in movies. You can ask the device to play music, tell the weather, manage your calendar and to-do list, listen to the news and much more. Echo can also turn on and off the lights or appliances (with compatible smart home devices). You interact with Echo through voice commands, so no more fumbling with the phone or computer. Echo connects to the Internet via the home WiFi network and is always on. Upon installation, you set up a word of phrase (like “Hey, Echo!”) that serves as a wake-up call for the device, which will hear your voice command and send it to a natural speech recognition service in the cloud called Alexa Voice Service, which interprets it and returns an appropriate response. The device has multiple microphones that can pick up your voice from across the room, through music and other ambient noises. Amazon is constantly improving Echo and has made the Alexa cloud service available for use by third-party developers, opening it up to many future possibilities.
ARE THERE RISKS FOR OUR PRIVACY?
From what has emerged in recent days, Amazon employs thousands of people around the world to listen to voice recordings captured in the homes or offices of users who use Echo. According to Bloomberg, the recordings are transcribed and annotated before being re-entered into the software. The purpose is to eliminate gaps in the voice assistant’s understanding of human language so that it can respond better to commands. If you are concerned about your privacy but still want to use the device, follow this steps. Go to the privacy settings of your device and disable everything that may collect your data. Each Amazon Echo device uses keyword detection to wake up the device (for example “Hey, Alexa”). Amazon claims that no audio is stored or sent to the cloud unless the device detects this wake-up keyword. You can also turn off the device and use it only when needed, or make sure it only answers a specific person’s voice. You can also listen to the voice recordings associated with your account and delete all previous voice recordings in your settings. Some Echo devices can be configured to play a short beep every time audio is sent to the cloud.
Smart home devices improve our life but also present significant security risks so be sure to look into ways to protect your personal data.