Comment by louprado | Hacker News Reader

Comment by louprado | Hacker News Reader

Are there psychological concerns regarding a child's development by interacting with these devices ?

For example, I recently changed Alexa's awake word to be "computer" (one of 4 allowable options) and I say it with a commanding Picardesque voice. I enjoy doing that. But sometimes I wonder if the joy is coming from the TNG nostalgia or from a sense of power.

I have also wondered about the consequence of adding "please" to the awake word (that isn't an option yet). Given the complexity of the human mind it is not obvious. Perhaps it is human nature to desire exertion of authority. Better to have the authority gratuitously exerted on a piece of electronics than on the family pet.

edit: Picardesque may be obscure so I added a TNG reference.

Not according to our pediatrician.

Children quickly learn the difference between speaking to an inanimate object, and speaking to someone in person.

Pretty much everyone who is 10 or older has learned to be assholes on the internet without having something like a Home/Echo at home.

I wouldn't worry about it. Humans are profoundly good at learning and contextualizing associations and recognizing special cases. And to a certain extent this is not a new phenomenon. It's very similar to having a dog in the house, which you and your child will give commands to. You don't preface all your commands to the dog with "please" and follow it up with "thank you," and yet children have no problem with learning manners or develop an unhealthy desire for power.

Authoritarian personalities aren't that uncommon IME.

Sure, but that's specious reasoning. I have green eyes, and I haven't been attacked by a tiger, but that doesn't mean that green eyes prevent tiger attacks. Similarly, just because we have dogs around kids that are given commands without please and thank you, and also authoritarian personalities doesn't suggest a causal relation (or even a correlation!).

adding please would be useful. It would force us all to be a little more courteous.

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