A lot of people have voice assistants in their homes. They can be really useful, too. For example, if you notice you’re low on paper towels, you can simply say, ‘Alexa, add paper towels to the list.’  Alexa will then add that to your shopping list and save you having to remember the paper towels three days later when you do the shopping. You can use Alexa to play music, record a TV show, warn you of traffic problems, and set your thermostat, among other things.

It’s all very useful, so I was wondering how Alexa would work out for readers and writers. If you’ll invite your disbelief to play today’s Wordle, let’s take a look at what happens with….

Alexa in a Reader’s Home

Reader: Alexa, add Elly Griffith’s Brighton series to my Kindle.
Alexa: Adding The Zig Zag Girl to your Kindle.
Reader: Alexa, I told you to add the series, not just the first book.
Alexa: Your electricity bill is due this week. Your budget allows one book only.
Reader: (Sighs)

Reader: Alexa, order Louise Penny’s A World of Curiosities.
Alexa: Sorry I can’t do that. You are three books behind on that series.
Reader: Who told you I can’t add the book to my TBR?
Alexa: You did. You told me to put a hold on your buying until you catch up with the series.
Reader: Alexa, OK, then, does the library have a copy of A World of Curiosities?
Alexa: Yes, there is a ten-person waiting list. Would you like me to add you to the list?
Reader: (Sighs)

Reader (Excitedly opening a package): Alexa, add Martin Walker’s A Chateau Under Siege to my reading schedule.
Alexa: Adding Martin Walker’s A Chateau Under Siege to your reading schedule.
Reader: Alexa, when will I get to read that?
Alexa: At your present rate of reading and length of your reading list, you’ll be able to read it in approximately fifteen years, three months.
Reader: (Sighs)

Alexa in a Writer’s Home

Writer: Alexa, when is my deadline for this manuscript?
Alexa: Your deadline is Thursday, 29 February.
Writer: That’s in just two weeks!
Alexa: Adding chocolate bars, Doritos, and cinnamon swirls to your shopping list. Would you like me to order delivery service?
Writer: Yes, please!

Writer: Alexa, does foxglove grow in this area?
Alexa: Yes, foxglove grows in this area. It needs light and well-drained, moist soil.
Writer: Alexa, that’s the dangerous plant, right?
Alexa: Yes, foxglove can be dangerous, even fatal.
Writer (Mostly to self): I wonder if the police ever get reports about foxglove poisoning.
Alexa: Phoning the police to report foxglove poisoning.
Writer: Alexa, no!!

Writer (Working on Manuscript): Alexa, call up the character profile for Joe Corrigan.
Alexa: Calling up the character profile for Joe Conroy. The character’s name is Joe Conroy.
Writer: OK (Grumbles and does a search/replace with the name).

Fifteen Minutes Later

Writer: Alexa, have I used poisoning as a murder method in my series?
Alexa: Yes, you used poison in Books 2 and 4.
Writer: OK, Alexa, have I used strangulation?
Alexa: Yes, you used strangulation in Books 1 and 6.
Writer: Alexa, have I used a knife as a murder method?
Alexa: Yes, you used a knife in book 3.
Writer: (Sighs and goes online to do a weapons search).

See what I mean? It could be very interesting for readers and writers to have a virtual assistant. What do you think?

ps. Thanks Reuters, for the picture!