Set your faces to stunned, because a new Amazon Echo update will help you feel like you’re living the dream aboard the Starship Enterprise.
The Amazon Echo is, in many ways, an example of science fiction entering reality. It’s a little talking speaker that can respond to voice commands and perform a variety of tasks ranging from playing music from a certain artist to turning on the lights in your home and even ordering you dinner from local takeout joints. Just like other personal helpers on the market, to activate the AI within the speaker, you need to utter a ‘wakeword’, such as ‘Alexa’. Words or phrases such as ‘Alexa’ or ‘Ok Google’ are chosen over more common words to stop the helper from being activated by everyday conversation. But, earlier this month, Amazon threw caution to the wind by adding a new ‘wakeword’ that will turn any Star Trek fan into a giggling bundle of glee.
The new update, first spotted on a German version of the software by folks over at Reddit, allows users to select the word ‘Computer’ as Alexa’s wakeword, just like the ship’s computer in countless Star Trek titles.
Sure, this might end up seeing your Amazon Echo activated when you don’t want it to, but it’s absolutely worth it just for that split second of feeling like you’re about to request that all power be directed to the forward shields.
The update is rolling out gradually, so if you’re upset that you don’t see the option for a computer wakeword just be patient, it’s coming.
Image Credit: Paramount/CBS
