Are calendars and paper planners a thing of the past?
Echo Dots have been selling in mass amounts because of the low cost and the idea of having a virtual digital assistant, that’ll shop for you, send messages, check the weather, set an alarm, and many other things. The question is it worth it?
According to an online interview conducted by Morning Consult, Amazon’s VDA devices are mostly owned by those 18 years old to 24 years old, but are they being used as often as you would’ve hoped?
Alexander Musick, a sophomore psychology major, has owned an Echo Dot for about a year. Since he’s had it, all he’s used it for is a speaker to play music and to check the weather. He has tried to use more of its features but always ends up failing.
“[The] Echo Dot is sometimes a little too hard to use. I’ve tried to use it to order products from Amazon and it always starts to not recognize what I’m saying. Most of the time my phone is just easier and more convenient,” Musick said.
Not only does Musick not use the device often, but he also didn’t bring it on move-in day. He also explained how he doesn’t miss it. He now uses a portable speaker.
John Mager, a sophomore chemistry and education major, received his Echo Dot from Santa this Christmas but doesn’t use it much because of some of the known facts.
“I haven’t used it [Echo Dot] since leaving for school. My phone does everything plus more,” Mager said.
Since move-in Mager has had his Dot on mute, which means it won’t be listening if he tries to use it.
“I’ve had it on mute since getting here because I don’t want it to listen to my conversations.”
“The generation before is full of people who resist change, but as young adults and children have a more welcoming view of new technology,” Mager said.
Mager said that the Dot is a very innovative technology and he thinks someone older might get more use out of it. Someone older that doesn’t know how to work everything on their phone. “All they have to do is say “Alexa,” and then tell it what they want it to do,” Mager said.
Zackary Campbell, a sophomore business marketing major, left his at home when packing to leave for school because his parents use it more.
“My parents use it [Echo Dot] more than I do. They use it to set morning reminders and to check the weather and news.”
