API.AI is really great but I really don't like this UX.
From using and developing for the Amazon Echo for the last year or so this "Conversational" setup just sounds super unnatural.
You want bus times:
Amazon: "Alexa, ask [nextbus] [for the next bus]"
Google: "Hey Google, let me talk to [nextbus] <wait> when is the next bus?"
Perfect: "[keyword], when is the next bus?" (context set in advance for the specific bus you care about)
You want to control the lights:
Amazon: "Alexa, turn off the [kitchen lights]"
Google: "Hey Google, let me talk to [the house] <wait> [turn off] the [kitchen lights]"
Perfect: "[keyword], turn off the lights" (contextually turn off the lights immediately nearest the source of the voice. optionally "turn off the [named] light"
You want to activate a scene:
Amazon: "Alexa, [turn on|activate|start] [scene name]"
Google: "Hey Google, let me talk to [the house] <wait> activate [scene name]
Perfect: "[keyword], [time for a movie|it's bedtime|good morning]"
I haven't seen or heard of a single "Conversational" app for the Echo that has real usage. I just don't think that's the killer app (at least until they get smarter). The current killer apps are being able to:
- Set timers/alarms
- Ask quick questions (measurements, weather, time)
- Control home automation
I just don't think the experience of talking back and forth to a bot is that enjoyable (again, yet, maybe in a Her future).
You may be looking for https://godoc.org/golang.org/x/net/context which is likely to make it into stdlib in the 1.7 timeframe from what I've seen in various channels. Doesn't quite solve the global logging problem though.
From using and developing for the Amazon Echo for the last year or so this "Conversational" setup just sounds super unnatural.
You want bus times: Amazon: "Alexa, ask [nextbus] [for the next bus]" Google: "Hey Google, let me talk to [nextbus] <wait> when is the next bus?" Perfect: "[keyword], when is the next bus?" (context set in advance for the specific bus you care about)
You want to control the lights: Amazon: "Alexa, turn off the [kitchen lights]" Google: "Hey Google, let me talk to [the house] <wait> [turn off] the [kitchen lights]" Perfect: "[keyword], turn off the lights" (contextually turn off the lights immediately nearest the source of the voice. optionally "turn off the [named] light"
You want to activate a scene: Amazon: "Alexa, [turn on|activate|start] [scene name]" Google: "Hey Google, let me talk to [the house] <wait> activate [scene name] Perfect: "[keyword], [time for a movie|it's bedtime|good morning]"
I haven't seen or heard of a single "Conversational" app for the Echo that has real usage. I just don't think that's the killer app (at least until they get smarter). The current killer apps are being able to: - Set timers/alarms - Ask quick questions (measurements, weather, time) - Control home automation
I just don't think the experience of talking back and forth to a bot is that enjoyable (again, yet, maybe in a Her future).