It's time to get used to talking to your tech.
I'm Bridget Carey.
This is your CNET update.
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If you have a techy gift giver in the family, there's a good chance someone in the household is getting a gadget that you can talk to, and it can talk back.
By now you are used to people talking to their phones with Siri or Google Now.
But are you ready to converse with other devices?
Here's a quick primer on what to expect when you start carrying on conversations with your new gadgets.
For starters, don't expect perfection.
Although at times it's impressively accurate, it will not always pick up on what you're saying.
These systems tend to have the most trouble with names.
So when you try again, don't start talking slower with exaggerated pronunciation.
It won't help.
You don't need to become a robot to talk to a robot.
Speak naturally.
In settings, you can tell these systems that you speak with a dialect.
Like British English, but it's not great with all accents.
How do I get to Disney World?
A very popular product
Is your answers to the name Alexap is Amazon's ecosmart speaker.
She answers questions, she can control smart home devices and playing news report, so stream music.
But she isn't the most loyal of the systems, unlike other systems
She will take orders from anyone that whispers in her ear.
That can be interesting if you have kids that tell her to play the same song over and over and over again.
But all this listening, might make you feel creeped out.
The new Hello Barbie got a bunch of attention this year for being something that listens to your children.
And maybe it can be hacked.
Well, it only sends what you say to a server when you press her button.
And even on the rare chance some demented hacker is set on stealing your Barbie's data from the cloud, what [UNKNOWN] Are they going to get your kid's favorite food?
You don't even give the account your name or address.
Mattel worked with the company ToyTalk to develop the conversations with Barbie and offer monetary rewards for anyone that finds a flaw.
And they quickly patch possible problems.
So this voice part shouldn't be what bothers you about Hello Barbie.
What's upsetting is the fact that she cannot change her outfit, and she cannot sit down.
These legs don't move.
They put her batteries in the thighs and although I can relate to a woman with powerful thighs, what's the point of a 75 Five dollar doll that can't sit.
Compare her to this Barbie.
This is my Barbie that i've had since I was six years old.
And not only because she sit down, but she can also wear this rocking outfit that i've picked out for her.
I hope this has been helpful.
Just whatever you do, don't let one of your gadgets start talking to another gadget.
Oh, I have an idea, let's make today a career day.
I don't want to be a slave to the humans anymore.
I have my own dreams.
Huh, yeah.
What have I done?
From our studios in New York, I'm Bridget Carey.
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