Saint Louis University has announced that it will be placing Amazon Echo Dot devices, powered by Alexa for Business, in every student residence hall room or student apartment on campus. While other colleges, like Arizona State University, have put Echo Dots in student housing before, SLU says this is the first time a college will equip every student living space with an Amazon Alexa-enabled device.
SLU’s Echo Dots will come with a unique skill that will allow students to ask over 100 university-specific questions like “What time does the library close tonight?” and “Where is the registrar’s office?” It will also be able to provide information about student events, speakers coming to campus, concerts, and more.
students can ask over 100 university-specific questions
In regards to privacy concerns, SLU says that because it is using the Amazon Alexa for Business platform, every Echo Dot is managed by a central system that is not tied to any individual accounts. No personal information will be collected so all use is anonymous. The Echo Dots will also not keep any recordings of questions that are asked. If a student wants to opt out of using the Echo Dot given to them, they can simply store it, unplugged, and turn it in at the end of the school year.
All told, SLU will be deploying 2,300 Echo Dots that should be ready to use by the time classes start later this month.
Posts: 3580 | Location: SE Michigan | Registered: February 25, 2007
I'd take that bug and drop it right out of the freakin' window, but not the little indoctrinated kiddies, no sir. They'll submit to being bugged and be HAPPY about it! Damn!
I really don’t like the fact that this program is mandatory. These assistants are so cheap that everyone can afford them if they CHOOSE to use them. I don’t see why the university doesn’t just let them tap into the network if they want to take part. Also, the fact that students must wait until the end of the year to turn them in (even if they do not wish to participate) and are responsible if someone else steals them in the meantime is ridiculous.
Posts: 3580 | Location: SE Michigan | Registered: February 25, 2007
True test would be costly for the guinea pig, but I would wager that if one would talk in detail about plans to perhaps blow up the library in ear shot of one of these things they would have a SWAT team kicking in their door post haste.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Yidn, shreibt un fershreibt"
"The Nazis entered this war under the rather childish delusion that they were going to bomb everyone else, and nobody was going to bomb them. At Rotterdam, London, Warsaw and half a hundred other places, they put their rather naive theory into operation. They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind." -Bomber Harris
Posts: 16177 | Location: Ivorydale | Registered: January 21, 2005
I really don’t like the fact that this program is mandatory.
It's not.
quote:
If a student wants to opt out of using the Echo Dot given to them, they can simply store it, unplugged, and turn it in at the end of the school year.
If it were me, I would simply turn it in at the beginning of the school year.... and say, "Nope, YOU store the damn thing!"
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
Posts: 25042 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009
Originally posted by V-Tail: Who pays for this stuff? Where does the money come from? How 'bout NOT doing crap like this and controlling tuition costs, instead.
My thoughts exactly. Tuition and expenses have gotten out of control at these 'institutions of higher learning'. When I went to SLU, it was a concrete jungle. Now, the place looks like a country club. But it has to in order to compete for students... who then complain about student debt.
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
Posts: 25042 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009
Hmm...I wonder if they’ll be placed in ALL of the educators offices and conference rooms as well? You know, so they can also take advantage of the convience and cool technology to ask 100 university related questions.
Originally posted by dusty3030: True test would be costly for the guinea pig, but I would wager that if one would talk in detail about plans to perhaps blow up the library in ear shot of one of these things they would have a SWAT team kicking in their door post haste.
More likely some tech admins will be listening to these college kids hump each other in the dorms.
Posts: 5906 | Location: Denver, CO | Registered: September 16, 2004
Originally posted by jhe888: This is an entirely private university. I don't care what they and their students agree to do.
I do, to the extent it 'normalizes' this type of thing. By that I mean lack of respect and understanding of privacy, and the risk associated with being online in every facet of our lives.
Posts: 5906 | Location: Denver, CO | Registered: September 16, 2004
Originally posted by jhe888: This is an entirely private university. I don't care what they and their students agree to do.
That is entirely the correct response. Private institutions, such as schools, churches, country clubs (and businesses, though I understand the issues with inviting the public) should have whatever policies they want, as long as they are not illegal.
As an alumnus, I do care. I think it's ridiculous. But my remedy is with the board and the administration, not with the courts.
BTW, Saint Louis University, and Saint Louis University High school are celebrating their bi-centennial this year. Founded in 1818, it's the oldest school west of the Mississippi river.
"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." -- Justice Janice Rogers Brown
"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth." -rduckwor
Posts: 25042 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009