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Comment by reaperducer | Hacker News Reader

I am acquaintances with a Siri. She's seems like a nice person, but since she works in a service industry I bet she's tired of hearing "Hey, Siri" all the time. If I was her, I'd ask for permission to not wear a name tag.

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So, after all, Google deciding to use "OK, google" as introductory phrase was the better choice?

Definitely, yes! And it's helping their brand. But I doubt this would've worked with Apple or Amazon, as those are not search engines and are used differently.

Allowing Alexa devices to respond to the more generic "computer" is a not-insignificant win for Amazon IMO.

Though it can get a little confused when I'm watching Star Trek variants on a nearby TV...

Try setting it to "amazon" and then watch a video about AWS or something similar.

"Echo" is the 'safest' one for me.

Echo is also a name...

But he isn’t complaining...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecco_the_Dolphin

And Umberto is dead.

I wish I could use Echo. I have to spell words by phone using the phonetic alphabet at least once a week. And E (Echo) triggers Alexa often.

I ditched my google homes almost entirely because of ok google feeling to hail corporate - I much prefer echo or computer on the Amazon platform. I think the key is just allowing some customization.

Has she considered changing the name on the tag, just at work? Just put "Jane" or something generic, or "Sarah" so it sounds similar. But yeah, it unfair that she has to be the one to change.

I don't know her well enough to ask.

I know a phrase that you can use to start the conversation.

Hey, Siri!

I almost never give my correct name for informal use (I am not a waiter, but for coffee orders and the like). Gives me a marginal amount of privacy (I mean, who cares) and makes it less likely my name will be mispronounced/misspelt with my coffee order.

If I were in a service job with a name tag I would definitely not use my real name.

I take the opposite route, my name is everywhere. (See username) The wisdom of that choice however may be questioned freely.

I have a name that is easy to pronounce but hard to spell correctly, so it's easier to give a more common name, than making people struggle and explain how to spell it.

Well at least your name isn't Michael Bolton!

That no-talent assclown!

"Alexa" sounds nice.

At one camp where I was a counselor, all the staff had made up names. I guess it was so we wouldn't get tired of hearing our real names. Having worked at several camps as a teen/young adult, I wish all had done this.

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