IF YOU DON’T TRUST ALEXA, IT IS TIME TO GET PARANOID • CONFERENCE UPDATE

We had several comments about our post on Monday Do You Trust Alexa? 

It turns out that quite a few people don’t trust her either.

A helpful Spark News reader in Canada sent us the link to Paranoid [link], a nifty gadget that keeps your Smart Speaker muted except when you want to talk to it. 

The device works with almost any Smart Speaker but it was designed to work with Amazon Echo or Google Home.

According to a product review on C-NET  [link], Paranoid mutes or unmutes the speaker’s microphone automatically to ensure privacy.

C-NET reviewer Dave Johnson said in his post:

“I find Paranoid fascinating. My dad would probably say it's a Rube Goldberg-like contraption that solves a problem. But my dad doesn't have an Alexa device and wouldn't quite get the nuanced challenges of keeping a smart speaker available to listen for your voice, yet not listen except when you need it.” 

Paranoid works this way. When a user says the “wake word” that activates the speaker Paranoid is also activated. Then it mutes or unmutes the system’s microphone when the "wake up word" is heard. So, anyone, or any bot, can’t access the audio.

Paranoid Home Button

Paranoid offers a choice of three models: Paranoid Home Button, Paranoid Home Wave and Paranoid Home Max. Some models only work on certain types of smart speakers. For a full compatibility list, see https://paranoid.com/products.

Paranoid is currently selling the devices for $39 per unit. When offer ends later this year, the price will be $49 per unit.

The devices are only available from Paranoid. For more information and/or to purchase a unit contact them at their website Paranoid.com.

CONFERENCE UPDATE: TRIPLE A SUMMITFEST, SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST HAS BEEN CANCELLED

The annual Triple A conference in Boulder has been “postponed” until a future date can be found. Or, it might become a virtual event. We will let you know when we hear more.

Though the Triple A Summitfest mainly attracts folks from commercial radio, quite a few noncom folks usually attend.

The conference has had an unusual past. It was originally sponsored by Radio & Records magazine. When that publication folded in the late 1990s, the trade publication FMQB took over sponsorship.

Last year the Triple A Summitfest got too expensive for FMQB. For a while it looking it might fade away. Then Jack Barton Entertainment [link] took over the organizational and fiduciary responsibilities.

Barton knows the territory very well. He was the producer of the FMQB Triple A Summit since 2009. Barton is well known in the music industry and radio. He worked as a host at WYEP, WXPN and several commercial stations.

Attention once again turns to the Public Media Development and Marketing Conference (PMDMC), hosted by Greater Public and PBS.

The PMDMC is scheduled for July 21-24 in Atlanta.

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