Feel really guilty, my one family member gave me this. I don’t use much google stuff anymore and I really dislike the company as it gets more intrusive. Is there anything I can do with this thing besides give it away? Nothing is worse than getting a gift that you can’t use.

  • Shelbyeileen@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Give it (or sell it) to a person with disabilities. I have a disorder where my joints dislocate constantly, and if it wasn’t for my service dog, I would be screwed. The ability of these things to call 911 or other family members is awesome and can be life saving. I’ve even read about a woman who collapsed down the stairs and turned music up to wake up their partner. Gotta do what you’ve gotta do.

    • Psythik@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Is there any other use for these things? I don’t understand the point of owing one, when I already have a phone and a TV running Android. What can these things do that my other devices can’t?

      • Shelbyeileen@lemmy.world
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        3 hours ago

        My grandma loves hers and screams commands at it all day. She has hers hooked up to her lights, to her plant watering thing, it plays music she wants, remembers stuff for her, sets timers and alarms. The fact that she can just talk at it and tell it what to do, instead of using her hands, figuring out apps, and getting up (she’s almost 80), makes it pretty beneficial for her.

        Though she gets angry when it can’t decipher what she wants, so I joke to her, that if/when society gets conquered by AI overlords in the future, they’ll probably punish her for abusing and enslaving their ancestors. 😅

    • toynbee@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      That disorder sounds awful. I’ve dislocated my shoulder fourteen times but no other joints and not for a long time, but that was bad enough and is still impacting me even though it’s been a while.

      I’m sorry you have to suffer through that.