Difference between revisions of "Amazon Echo"

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Amazon Echo<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E</ref> is a smart device by Amazon.com, Inc. that is controlled by a variety of voice commands and can function as a [[Intelligent Personal Assistants|intelligent personal assistant]].<ref name="ofic">http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E</ref> Unlike some other personal assistants like Microsoft Cortana or Apple Siri, Amazon Echo is not designated for smartphones or desktop computer, but it is a stand-alone device for the household.
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[[File:Amazon echo shelf.jpg|thumbnail|right|The Echo on a shelf. Note the power cable.]]
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Amazon Echo<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E</ref> is a smart device by Amazon.com, Inc. that is controlled by a variety of voice commands and can function as a [[Intelligent Personal Assistants|intelligent personal assistant]].<ref name="ofic">http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E</ref> Unlike some other personal assistants like Microsoft Cortana or Apple Siri, Amazon Echo is not designated for smartphones or desktop computer, but it is a stand-alone device for the household. Amazon announces the device on 6 November 2014.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkOCeAtKHIc</ref><ref name="announced">http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/7167793/amazon-echo-speaker-announced</ref>
  
The user can use Amazon services, play music, ask about weather or traffic situation, control other smart devices in the household, review calendar and task, ask about recipes, and other.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201608460</ref> The abilities of the device can be further expanded by third-party apps called Skills.<ref>https://developer.amazon.com/public/solutions/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/getting-started-guide</ref>
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The user can use Amazon services, play music, ask about weather or traffic situation, control other smart devices in the household, review calendar and task, ask about recipes, and other.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201608460</ref> The abilities of the device can be further expanded by third-party apps called Skills.<ref>https://developer.amazon.com/appsandservices/solutions/alexa/alexa-skills-kit</ref>
  
Amazon Echo was released on 23 June 2015.<ref name="releasedate">http://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-echo-now-available-everyone-buy-17999-shipments-start-july-14</ref>
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Amazon Echo costs 180 USD<ref>http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E</ref> and was released on 23 June 2015 for the United States of America.<ref name="releasedate">http://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-echo-now-available-everyone-buy-17999-shipments-start-july-14</ref> The service is not yet available outside of the US,<ref>http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/new-product/audio/amazon-echo-uk-what-is-amazon-echo-how-can-you-buy-it-update-3584881/</ref> although some users outside the US report using the device without any problems.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/3n5enc/is_there_any_info_about_alexa_coming_to_europe/cvlskzi</ref>
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In March 2016, introduced two smaller devices with the same capabilities as Amazon Echo - the Amazon Dot, a device with smaller speaker and Bluetooth, and the Amazon Tap, a smaller, battery-powered version of Echo.<ref>http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/03/amazon-adds-the-130-tap-and-the-90-dot-to-the-echo-family/</ref>
  
 
== Main characteristics ==
 
== Main characteristics ==
<!-- This section should describe the technology in more detail. Here should be information about the used hardware and software, available features, chemical composition and so on, provided that they are available. Second half of this section should offer information on history of the technology. When it was created, unveiled, developed, announced to the public or when it was available to purchase. Anything related to the technology that can be pinpointed to a certain date should be in this section together with relevant commentary.-->
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[[File:Amazon echo inside.jpg|thumbnail|right|Cross-section of the device and control features.]]
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[[File:Amazon echo opened small.jpg|thumbnail|right|The device with the outer shell removed. The motherboard is visible on the right.]]
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The Echo is a approximately 24 cm tall cylindrical device. The power and microphone buttons are on the top of the device. An array of seven microphones is also present here. A small part of the top rotates and can be used to adjust the volume. Almost entire housing of the device contains speakers, the control unit is embedded in the side of the inner tube. The device connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi. It is not battery-powered and thus needs to be connected to a power outlet.
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The user can select from three pre-defined 'wake' words the device listens to. After the device is ready, the user can say a command in plain language. The query is parsed on the side of the device and sent to Alexa service running on Amazon servers for processing. After the command is processed and relevant information retrieved or action taken, the [[Speech synthesizers|synthetic voice]] convey the results to the user. However, Amazon Echo can not process natural language in a way that more advanced [[Intelligent Personal Assistants]] can. Echo only looks for keywords in the voice commands from the users and fails at longer and more complicated sentences.<ref name="zdnetreview">http://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-echo-it-sucks-its-awesome-it-sucks-we-want-two-more/</ref>
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Additionally to it's personal assistant functions, Amazon Echo can also be used to control other compatible household appliances such as the smart lighbulbs from Philips or Belkin, or the smart WeMo coffee maker.<ref>http://time.com/4227833/amazon-echo-user-guide/</ref>
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Echo's abilities can be expanded by using 'Skills', third-party plug-ins develop through the Alexa Skills Kit which is freely available to developers since 31 July 2015.<ref>https://developer.amazon.com/public/community/post/Tx2SQ0B11SGLKOI/Alexa-Voice-Service-Now-Available-in-Developer-Preview</ref>
  
 
=== Purpose ===
 
=== Purpose ===
<!-- This is a very short description of the technology's purpose. What will it be doing, for what goal was it created, how it modifies human cognition. Keep this as brief as possible. -->
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Amazon Echo is a voice command-driven household device that the user can use to use internet services, search for information, play music, set tasks, and order items from Amazon.com.
  
 
=== Company & People ===
 
=== Company & People ===
<!-- This is a list of important people behind the technology. Note: It is not necessary to list absolutely everyone. -->
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The Echo was developed by the Amazon Lab126 based in Sunnyvale, California.<ref>http://www.lab126.com/welcome.htm</ref>
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* Frédéric Deramat - Senior Principal Engineer.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/in/deramat</ref>
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* Charlie Kindel - Alexa Smart Home Director.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckindel</ref>
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* Amir Aslani - Senior Manager.<ref>https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiraslani</ref>
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Amazon.com, Inc. held an recruiting event in Seattle on February 2016 which shows a big focus on this technology.<ref>http://www.geekwire.com/2016/amazon-ramps-up-recruiting-efforts-for-engineers/</ref> As of March 2016, Amazon lists over 600 open positions for Echo.<ref>https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search?base_query=%22echo%22&offset=0&cache</ref>  
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== Important Dates ==
 
== Important Dates ==
<!-- A list of important dates in the development and history of the technology. Use the information provided in the second half of the Main characteristics section and make it into a short, unnumbered list. -->
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* 6 November 2014 - Amazon Echo announced.<ref name="announced" />
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* 23 June 2015 - Amazon Echo released for the United States of America.<ref name="releasedate" /><ref>http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2061798</ref>
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* 3 March 2016 - Amazon Dot and Amazon Tap released.<ref>http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2143663</ref>
  
 
== Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment ==
 
== Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment ==
<!-- Describe in detail whether the technology aims to enhance human cognition, i.e. to improve human abilities beyond what is considered normal, and/or if it is also applicable as a form of treatment or therapy, i.e. it can serve to cure patients or restore abilities that do not perform as they would in a healthy person -->
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Enhancement - Smart home controllers and intelligent personal assistants enhances the user with the ability to control the devices in their home via voice commands in natural lanaguage. They also assist the user in information retrieval and the usage of internet services.
  
 
== Ethical & Health Issues ==
 
== Ethical & Health Issues ==
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== Public & Media Impact and Presentation ==
 
== Public & Media Impact and Presentation ==
<!-- Provide information about the impact the technology had on the public and how the technology is presented in the media or literature. If there was anything in the news regarding this technology, it should be noted and properly cited here. -->
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http://fortune.com/2015/06/23/amazon-echo-review/
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http://www.cnet.com/products/amazon-echo-review/
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http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-the-amazon-echo-and-why-you-should-get-one/
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http://qz.com/611026/amazon-echo-is-a-sleeper-hit-and-the-rest-of-america-is-about-find-out-about-it-for-the-first-time/
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http://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-echo-it-sucks-its-awesome-it-sucks-we-want-two-more/
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https://www.yahoo.com/tech/amazon-echo-adds-1000-new-features-1363173697691702.html
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http://readwrite.com/2015/07/31/amazon-alexa-voice-service-developer-preview-echo
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amazon user reviews http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/product-reviews/B00X4WHP5E
  
 
== Public Policy ==
 
== Public Policy ==

Latest revision as of 11:02, 10 March 2016

The Echo on a shelf. Note the power cable.

Amazon Echo[1] is a smart device by Amazon.com, Inc. that is controlled by a variety of voice commands and can function as a intelligent personal assistant.[2] Unlike some other personal assistants like Microsoft Cortana or Apple Siri, Amazon Echo is not designated for smartphones or desktop computer, but it is a stand-alone device for the household. Amazon announces the device on 6 November 2014.[3][4]

The user can use Amazon services, play music, ask about weather or traffic situation, control other smart devices in the household, review calendar and task, ask about recipes, and other.[5] The abilities of the device can be further expanded by third-party apps called Skills.[6]

Amazon Echo costs 180 USD[7] and was released on 23 June 2015 for the United States of America.[8] The service is not yet available outside of the US,[9] although some users outside the US report using the device without any problems.[10]

In March 2016, introduced two smaller devices with the same capabilities as Amazon Echo - the Amazon Dot, a device with smaller speaker and Bluetooth, and the Amazon Tap, a smaller, battery-powered version of Echo.[11]

Main characteristics

Cross-section of the device and control features.
The device with the outer shell removed. The motherboard is visible on the right.

The Echo is a approximately 24 cm tall cylindrical device. The power and microphone buttons are on the top of the device. An array of seven microphones is also present here. A small part of the top rotates and can be used to adjust the volume. Almost entire housing of the device contains speakers, the control unit is embedded in the side of the inner tube. The device connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi. It is not battery-powered and thus needs to be connected to a power outlet.

The user can select from three pre-defined 'wake' words the device listens to. After the device is ready, the user can say a command in plain language. The query is parsed on the side of the device and sent to Alexa service running on Amazon servers for processing. After the command is processed and relevant information retrieved or action taken, the synthetic voice convey the results to the user. However, Amazon Echo can not process natural language in a way that more advanced Intelligent Personal Assistants can. Echo only looks for keywords in the voice commands from the users and fails at longer and more complicated sentences.[12]

Additionally to it's personal assistant functions, Amazon Echo can also be used to control other compatible household appliances such as the smart lighbulbs from Philips or Belkin, or the smart WeMo coffee maker.[13]

Echo's abilities can be expanded by using 'Skills', third-party plug-ins develop through the Alexa Skills Kit which is freely available to developers since 31 July 2015.[14]

Purpose

Amazon Echo is a voice command-driven household device that the user can use to use internet services, search for information, play music, set tasks, and order items from Amazon.com.

Company & People

The Echo was developed by the Amazon Lab126 based in Sunnyvale, California.[15]

  • Frédéric Deramat - Senior Principal Engineer.[16]
  • Charlie Kindel - Alexa Smart Home Director.[17]
  • Amir Aslani - Senior Manager.[18]

Amazon.com, Inc. held an recruiting event in Seattle on February 2016 which shows a big focus on this technology.[19] As of March 2016, Amazon lists over 600 open positions for Echo.[20]

Important Dates

  • 6 November 2014 - Amazon Echo announced.[4]
  • 23 June 2015 - Amazon Echo released for the United States of America.[8][21]
  • 3 March 2016 - Amazon Dot and Amazon Tap released.[22]

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

Enhancement - Smart home controllers and intelligent personal assistants enhances the user with the ability to control the devices in their home via voice commands in natural lanaguage. They also assist the user in information retrieval and the usage of internet services.

Ethical & Health Issues

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

http://fortune.com/2015/06/23/amazon-echo-review/

http://www.cnet.com/products/amazon-echo-review/

http://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-the-amazon-echo-and-why-you-should-get-one/

http://qz.com/611026/amazon-echo-is-a-sleeper-hit-and-the-rest-of-america-is-about-find-out-about-it-for-the-first-time/

http://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-echo-it-sucks-its-awesome-it-sucks-we-want-two-more/

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/amazon-echo-adds-1000-new-features-1363173697691702.html

http://readwrite.com/2015/07/31/amazon-alexa-voice-service-developer-preview-echo

amazon user reviews http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/product-reviews/B00X4WHP5E

Public Policy

Related Technologies, Projects or Scientific Research

References

  1. http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E
  2. http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkOCeAtKHIc
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/7167793/amazon-echo-speaker-announced
  5. https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201608460
  6. https://developer.amazon.com/appsandservices/solutions/alexa/alexa-skills-kit
  7. http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-SK705DI-Echo/dp/B00X4WHP5E
  8. 8.0 8.1 http://www.androidcentral.com/amazon-echo-now-available-everyone-buy-17999-shipments-start-july-14
  9. http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/new-product/audio/amazon-echo-uk-what-is-amazon-echo-how-can-you-buy-it-update-3584881/
  10. https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/3n5enc/is_there_any_info_about_alexa_coming_to_europe/cvlskzi
  11. http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/03/amazon-adds-the-130-tap-and-the-90-dot-to-the-echo-family/
  12. http://www.zdnet.com/article/amazon-echo-it-sucks-its-awesome-it-sucks-we-want-two-more/
  13. http://time.com/4227833/amazon-echo-user-guide/
  14. https://developer.amazon.com/public/community/post/Tx2SQ0B11SGLKOI/Alexa-Voice-Service-Now-Available-in-Developer-Preview
  15. http://www.lab126.com/welcome.htm
  16. https://www.linkedin.com/in/deramat
  17. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckindel
  18. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiraslani
  19. http://www.geekwire.com/2016/amazon-ramps-up-recruiting-efforts-for-engineers/
  20. https://www.amazon.jobs/en/search?base_query=%22echo%22&offset=0&cache
  21. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2061798
  22. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2143663