News Disney testing smart speakers in guest rooms at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club

[Missing20K]

If you have a phone you have an always listening microphone.

My echos have gotten much better over the last year at the number of false activations they have.

Really? Even if I turn off the Siri (or equivalent Android) function?

 

[Missing20K]

Usually it is my TV that will set if off if I am not speaking. Trying watching Schitt's Creek with the character's name being Alexis....

Mine has been triggered while I've read a book in perfect silence.

 

[trainplane3]

We’re they on their honeymoon?

99% sure. Never heard or saw them leave their room either. Whatever they were there for, they were sure having a good time.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

It would be interesting if they developed the awake word to be "Mickey" rather than Alexa or something like that.

 

[bpadair32]

Really? Even if I turn off the Siri (or equivalent Android) function?

Depends on the software and the phone. But even then you are assuming that there is not a bug or programming glitch. Further, your ISP already knows every website you visit, as does every wifi you connect to. So ¯\(ツ)/¯

 

[Andrew C]

Mine has been triggered while I've read a book in perfect silence.

Maybe your house is haunted?...

 

[Missing20K]

Depends on the software and the phone. But even then you are assuming that there is not a bug or programming glitch. Further, your ISP already knows every website you visit, as does every wifi you connect to. So ¯\(ツ)/¯

Got it.

I understand the ISP has all the info from what I browse. My point was that browsing the internet is not the same as having a device constantly listening. I use the internet for lots of things, but I don't need the internet to know when I'm in the shower. Or giving my kids the what-for. Or giving my wife the.......ok I think I've made my point.

 

[Missing20K]

Maybe your house is haunted?...

It was built in 1938 so chances are high. Plus our cats get all bugged out sometimes and there is this odd noise coming from the attic. And every time I go up there I turn the light out but when I go back it's always on.

 

[Texas84]

Depends on the software and the phone. But even then you are assuming that there is not a bug or programming glitch. Further, your ISP already knows every website you visit, as does every wifi you connect to. So ¯\(ツ)/¯

I know how to hide from my ISP. It's not difficult.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Haven't read all of the replies but could it be that Disney isn't really testing it for this current generational visitor, more and more folks are using voice activated devices and becoming more comfortable with them.

 

[janoimagine]

Perhaps this money would be better spent on upgrading their website so it might actually work more than 3 hours a day.

The Disney Travel Agents site is even worse.

 

[actioncookbook]

me in my room: hey, uh, can we get fast passes for Mine Train today?

Disney: I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave.

 

[MisterPenguin]

How to change the wake word on your Amazon Echo

Amazon's Alexa can respond to "Computer" in addition to "Alexa," "Echo," or "Amazon." Here's how to set it up.

www.imore.com

But there's no changing Google's wake-up.

 

[Janir]

Disney testing smart speakers in guest rooms at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club

You may soon be talking to a speaker in your room to find out when the next bus to the Magic Kingdom is arriving.

www.wdwmagic.com

Nope. They roll this out resorts wide and I'll unplug the damned thing. While I'm on WDW property, I take it as a given that they are tracking my movements with Magic Bands etc. They do NOT need to listen to anything I might be saying in my room at night. Nope. Not a chance that will happen. If they make it some sort of fixed device, I'll take a leatherman to it to disable it, whatever I need to do to make sure its NOT operable under ANY circumstances and that I can put it back into operation on my way out.

 

[bpadair32]

I know how to hide from my ISP. It's not difficult.

How? VPN? Then your VPN provider has all the info. Tor? Thats been cracked before. There is no such thing as perfect privacy.

Nope. They roll this out resorts wide and I'll unplug the damned thing. While I'm on WDW property, I take it as a given that they are tracking my movements with Magic Bands etc. They do NOT need to listen to anything I might be saying in my room at night. Nope. Not a chance that will happen. If they make it some sort of fixed device, I'll take a leatherman to it to disable it, whatever I need to do to make sure its NOT operable under ANY circumstances and that I can put it back into operation on my way out.

This is a little, um, extreme methinks.

 

[baymenxpac]

My post was intended to be a joke...

ahhhh my bad! sorry, man!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

These types of speakers are going to be very common place in homes, and I think the expectation will be that they will be available in hotel rooms. I think Disney is wise to test this out - privacy will of course be a big issue however. It should be easy enough to offer a way to opt out - either power off or remove from the room.

To quote Yoda: "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should". Or maybe it wasn't Yoda, but it's cool!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

A test is certainly wise and needed to work out the kinks. However, people generally have an expectation of privacy in a hotel room. Besides, people who use smart speakers also have smart phones which can fill in as the digital assistant when not in the home.

Making these opt-out is a bad idea, and I think Disney will figure that out. Can you imagine checking in and being told, "By the way, all rooms here have a smart speaker, if you want total privacy, you'd better unplug it." Making smart speakers available for people who request them is a much better plan, and should be Disney's goal.

Wow! Common sense! thanks for that!

 

[kevlightyear]

Another site is reporting that these devices won't link to your MDE account. So they won't even be able to tell you anything about your trip. You won't be able to ask "When is my first fastpass tomorrow?" or "Where are our reservations for tonight?"

They'll only be able to answer generic questions like park hours, bus times, maybe show times. It's a talking times guide. How useful is that really? If they connect them eventually to curtains, lights, thermostats, then that might add some utility, but boy would it be expensive.

 

[NelsonRD]

It may not. But it is not going to hurt your vacation either, and is nice for those of us that are used to starting our day with a quick "Alexa, what is the weather like today".

Just turn on your resort TV. Its the default channel, and the weather is right there, with visualization!