3 On Your Side: Voice Recognition Devices Gaining In Popularity
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Smartphones and computers have dramatically changed our lives taking up an increasing amount of our time and attention. Now new technology could give our thumbs a rest but at what cost?
When Russell Sinclair has a question in the kitchen, he just shouts it out to to Alexa. She's the voice controlled personal assistant inside the Amazon Echo.
She can report the weather, play a song, even order a Domino's pizza.
Amazon's stand-alone device competes with the voice assistants found inside many smartphones, like Apple's Siri.
"I'd used Siri but she wasn't really reliable. Alexa, to me, just has the ability to do so much more," said Sinclair.
And tech experts this technology is here to stay.
"You are going to be talking to your appliances and your devices a lot more," said Ben Rubin with CNET.
Which raises privacy concerns. Last year customers revolted when certain Samsung tv's were found to transmit personal conversations to a third-party.
Amazon says the echo's mic is only turned on when you say Alexa's name.
To extend the Echo's range, Amazon is now selling satellite units to place around your home and a small, portable speaker with Alexa that you can take on the go.