[greghatch]

I think you might be too YOUNG to get it.

I think older people love the idea of interacting with a computer with voice - it's way easier for someone to get a quick answer with voice if they're otherwise unfamiliar with navigating a smart phone or laptop (plus the added Star Trek "Computer, locate Commander Riker" aspect - with that added feeling of nostalgia, maybe).

EDIT: changed words for clarity

[morganvachon]

Exactly. The generation that grew up with Star Trek:TNG and Voyager are 35-45 years old now, and that's our vision of the future. I see more thirty- and forty-somethings with iPads and Kindles (i.e. PADDs) than any other demographic, and the idea of saying "Computer, add X to the grocery list" just seems like how the future should be.

I do find it funny that the tech from a fictional post-scarcity society is being pioneered in the real world by a merchandise company (Amazon) and an advertising company (Google). Meanwhile, Microsoft is lagging behind despite Cortana (in my experience) having the best voice recognition of all the services, Siri included.