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A remark on online ads and voice recognition software.
On online ads, there are several methods of what to do when presented with ads. These are (a) not responding to ads, (b) installing ad-blocking add-ons to your particular browser, (c) regularly clearing the cookies on your browser. There may well be more methods to attacking the online ads problem.
For (b), you may be visiting a particular site which detects that you have an ad-blocker. You could either (i) disable the ad-blocker or (ii) refresh the page and click on the X button before the page completely refreshes.
For (c), regularly clearing the cookies, can be achieved by accessing the browser's history cache and deleting the cookies, or by installing on your browser a cookie manager add-on.
Second, in regards to voice recognition programs connected to the internet I offer two remarks.
One, voice recognition software are embedded not only on smart speakers and mobile phones, but on smart appliances as such as smart TVs. Samsung's terms of service include a paragraph that voice recognition commands as well as device information are sent online to a third party, source https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-smart-tvs-do-not-monitor-living-room-conversations. On your TV you have to agree with this.
If you are concerned that your smart tv is using 'listening' to your software.
Solutions (a) don't connect your smart tv to the internet, but you can use the voice recognition software privately, (b) if you do use online services such as Stan, Kayo or other VOD or SVOD services, don't use the remote's inbuilt microphone by ensuring that voice recognition is switched off.
Two, when it comes to mobile phone users which have have Alexa or Siri installed, some users may well be inconsiderate when disregarding notices requesting users to switch off the mobile phone at the entrances of lecture theatres, public halls and houses of worship.
A way to discourage inconsiderate users is for the performer, lecturer or celebrant to say the following over the public address ('PA') system:
"Hey Siri, call my mother"
"Hey Alexa, call my girlfriend"
"Hey Siri, call the massage parlour"
"Hey Alexa, I want two pizzas please"
Thank you,
Anthony of analytical Belfield