Alexa - The Echo Dot

A coworker gave me an Alexa - Echo Dot for Christmas last year. I did not know what to think of a gift like that.
Part of me was thinking Amazon is in cahoots with the government and they are listening to me in my home. Part of me thought, this is awesome.

I started playing with Alexa and talking to her so much I was dreaming Alexa in my sleep. One day while driving to work I actually said, "Alexa, play Bethel Music". Problem was I was in my car and my car radio does not respond to Alexa comments. That was a hilarious moment. I think I want to buy one for my office. These things can work with lists, calendars, etc. It's amazing.

Not sure what to think of these things; are they good or bad? Have we gone too far?

Does anyone else have an Echo? If yes, what are your thoughts? It's scary what all these things can do. Alexa can sync with my refrigerator, lights, alarm system, etc.
Alexa can place my orders to Amazon... the list goes on and on.
 
For me personally, it's too much. The technology of todays gadgets can sync & communicate with pretty much everything. Meaning that all those connected devices and accounts have the potential to become compromised, hacked, exploited...
While they have amazing technology, I prefer to limit my exposure.
I'm not trying to frighten anyone, or to suggest any particular item is bad.
Just my personal preference :)
 
For me personally, it's too much. The technology of todays gadgets can sync & communicate with pretty much everything. Meaning that all those connected devices and accounts have the potential to become compromised, hacked, exploited...
While they have amazing technology, I prefer to limit my exposure.
I'm not trying to frighten anyone, or to suggest any particular item is bad.
Just my personal preference :)

I agree with you. I would never have purchased this for myself. My coworker gave it to me for Christmas. Now I am afraid I like using it more than I ever thought I would. It's scary how CONNECTED WE ARE. The question is HOW CONNECTED ARE WE TRULY? Meaning to the Gov...
We are probably one step away from..... I will leave it at that.... lol

It's also a good example of how we can get lured in to things I always said would never get me... Now I sometimes think it would be cool to link my stuff all together and talk to everything in my house. That's just weird. I will not do that, it would be crazy. But part of me wants to try it.

Its amazing how sneaky the government, the media, companies, etc. are at getting into our homes.. I guess it's scary when I actually say it out loud.
 
I interviewed someone at work today. I wish you could have sat in on the interview. It was hilarious.

The lady was quite conservative but then started going in the conspiracy theories. I almost a lot of my seat laughing. And honestly I probably believe half the stuff she was saying. It was unexpected and funny. I learned a lot from her today
 
I, too, have an Echo Dot. I was very attracted to its use at first, and spent a lot of thought on the practical and scientific side, doing serious tests, until I could think of little else, short of using the extra controls which would allow mw to control the heating at home while still miles awy, or sitting in my comfortable chair, listening to Alexa reading from my current Kindle book.
But now I occasionally ask her for the local weather and how far it is from A to B, in miles, please, and not kilometres.

But she's not daft. Yesterday I asked her who wrote the book of Job, and she immediately replied with various possibilities.
It is through talking to her that I have worked out a new connection between science and the operation of the Spirit.
 
Please keep in mind that "artificial intelligence" devices all "report" back to a central monitoring station, if you will, or a central database. The data that it collects can be used to market products to you based upon your interaction with the device, saturating you with advertising on websites and filling your email inbox with spam. These devices are made by humans and can be hacked by other humans, putting your personal identity and even your personal safety at risk.

We can think back to the "Mission Impossible" series of movies where Ethan Hunt interacts with devices that give him the mission details and than states, "This message will self destruct in 5 seconds". Perhaps, WE should stand up for our own privacy rights and say, "Alexa - destroy yourself in 5 seconds."
 
We are very right to step into the public surroundings with great care. I have always thought that Jesus was hounded on all sides and one gets the idea that he actually took physical evasive action while following his mission with faith.
Paul wasn't put off by the threats he encountered, being able to recognise the opposition and knowing that he would be delivered from any hindrance in the most unexpected ways.
Yes, I do get unuseful spam and even threatening viruses on-line from time to time, but I am very careful to destroy those which are so obviously unhealthy for me, without even opening them.
I am unable to enter into the public bustling about the streets and entertainment halls, and I don't want to boast that I manage well with life's technical aspects, but I'm ready to share in the Truth given by the Holy Spirit, and in my 95th year, I find guidance which meets every occasion.
I certainly wouldn't make an idol of Alexa !
 
Please keep in mind that "artificial intelligence" devices all "report" back to a central monitoring station, if you will, or a central database. The data that it collects can be used to market products to you based upon your interaction with the device, saturating you with advertising on websites and filling your email inbox with spam. These devices are made by humans and can be hacked by other humans, putting your personal identity and even your personal safety at risk.

We can think back to the "Mission Impossible" series of movies where Ethan Hunt interacts with devices that give him the mission details and than states, "This message will self destruct in 5 seconds". Perhaps, WE should stand up for our own privacy rights and say, "Alexa - destroy yourself in 5 seconds."

I posted this thread on Alexa but I honestly wanted to hear what others think. I took the humor side of owning one, etc. because I was not sure how deep I could go with this openly in a thread. I agree with what you are saying.

I believe the enemy is so slick, manipulative, cunning, etc. He uses things like gadgets, music, movies, computers, internet, cell phones, Apps, Smart Home items to turn your house into one easy command....... I am not seeing these things are all bad, but I am saying that the enemy gets his hands in everything and uses those things against us. Sometimes these things ensnare us and trap us, then we are slaves to them. Then the enemy uses them against us.

I agree with what you are saying about the information and it is stored somewhere and that can come back and bite us.
Maybe I too should take mine out back and shoot it now that I say things out loud.

I guess now I am asking how far is too far? When is enough enough? I guess this thread could derail and go in all directions.
I hope I am not stirring up anything by going this direction, but this is very interesting. When do Christians say enough is enough? I guess we have to use discretion and discernment as we move through the world and all the things that the world puts before us.

I also way go back to discernment because I think discernment is key in spiritual battles.
 
Lets move this into the Technology and Internet posting location where it will probably receive more views. :)
 
As long as we are discussing potential privacy issues with devices, your 'smart TV' - may be much smarter than you think. Please consider the details in this press release from 2015 - when the technology was in it's infancy, and how 3 years of additional development could be tracking you in your own home.

https://www.onenewsnow.com/features/2015/02/12/privacy-concerns-surround-smart-tv-technology
That's scary. I read articles like this a few years ago. When I purchased my smart TVs I had my audio guy disable all that stuff. I do not use the voice activated functions. Instead this guy gave me a combo remote that can go through furniture and walls and it can connect everything into this one device. We turned all that off.

but i use voice activated texting all the time on my samsung cell phone.. scary. yep, one day the gov may knock on my door... i hope not.. lol
 
Lanolin - if you are outdoors quite a bit, there is a nice option for not only your phone, but keys and other small items as well. This is just one of many and several members of my family use these when they are away from home or working in the yard.

(I am not endorsing this particular item - just using the link as an example and imaging of what is available.)

https://www.amazon.com/Running-Touc...ns&keywords=fanny+pack+for+smart+phones&psc=1


Moderator Note: The link in this post goes to a website which sells goods or services or solicits donations. Members are advised to be wary of ANY such donation requests or sales and to research the group making the request or sales and to PRAY before sending ANY donation or before purchasing any goods or services.
 
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Lanolin - if you are outdoors quite a bit, there is a nice option for not only your phone, but keys and other small items as well. This is just one of many and several members of my family use these when they are away from home or working in the yard.

(I am not endorsing this particular item - just using the link as an example and imaging of what is available.)

https://www.amazon.com/Running-Touc...ns&keywords=fanny+pack+for+smart+phones&psc=1


Moderator Note: The link in this post goes to a website which sells goods or services or solicits donations. Members are advised to be wary of ANY such donation requests or sales and to research the group making the request or sales and to PRAY before sending ANY donation or before purchasing any goods or services.
Thanks for showing that Gary. I've never seen that before. I used to have something like that that I can Velcro on my arm and put my phone in connect my earphones to it and Jog or go walking. But I never use it anymore. Everything is becoming fancy. I also have cordless earbuds that run by Bluetooth. I've never used them because I'm afraid they're going to fall out of my ears. LOL I am so old school. I wish we didn't have cell phones and all this stuff so many distractions
 
I received the Alexa Dot for Christmas and keep it in my kitchen. I use it only for the following things: timing for baking and cooking by asking Alexa, to set the alarm for (whatever) amount of time I want to cook or bake. Also for weather reports, latest news, and sometimes I ask to hear a joke or song. Otherwise she is pretty much dormant. Useful for me because I don't like to set the stove alarms, I like to know whether to expect rain or not and what the outside temp is without going outside to check my thermometer there., and the news flash briefing means I can know that is going on in the world anytime without a lot of commentary like you see on the TV news channels. And since I live alone my conversations with my cat would not add much to Alexa's data base knowledge. I do turn it off when there are people here. :)
 
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