Trends of "smart speakers" analyzed from the manufacturer's point of view -Home appliances Watch

Japanese smart speaker that started with CES in 2017

――Clova, Google Home, and Amazon Echo information are now flying in the media, but when has smart speakers starting to be talked about in Japan in the first place?

　Kai: Originally, the spread of overseas, mainly in the United States, was becoming more popular, but the big topic in Japan was this year's "CES" ( * The world's largest home appliance trade fair held in Las Vegas in January every year.).

　It became a hot topic at the venue that more than 700 Alexa -compatible products were exhibited, and CEREVO representative Iwasa wrote that "the venue was full of Alexa", which gathered more than 1,000 Hatena Bookmarks.rice field.

　▼ More Than 700 Amazon Alexa Applications May Launch in the next 4 days, Ces Chifeef Economist Says - Geekwire

　Until then, domestic media was at the level of "Hey, Alexa is popular overseas", but there is a feeling that "Alexa seems to be amazing" when looking at the CES situation.。

　As a product, LINE has released the "Clova Wave" in Japan, and then Google Home and Amazon Echo have been released, so 2017 is likely to be a smart speaker in Japan.

――What about the word smart speaker and the definition? It's an impression that it is called an “AI speaker” or a word that expresses these products.

　Kai: That's right.Speaking of smart speakers, I think that the image of "I will answer when I talk to you" is strong, but in fact, CEREVO's "1/8 Tachikoma" will answer when you talk, and tell me the weather forecast and schedule.It has a function such as setting an alarm.

　But 1/8 Tachikoma is not a smart speaker.If you call it a smart speaker just by telling you when you talk, you will be a smart speaker for Sharp's Robophone and Softbank's Pepper.

　Based on that, if you think "what is a smart speaker", you may want to consider the "smartphone", the most popular "smartphone".Smartphones are characterized by being able to expand their functions freely by adding various apps, but in the same way, it is smart to have a mechanism that can "expand functions in cooperation with other devices and services".Can you call it a speaker?

--I see.

　Kai: This is an aside, but it's quite difficult to call new products and concepts.I have been a reporter in the web media before, but when Twitter first appeared, I tried and error not only my media but also other media as well as "what to call".I have a memory.

――There were a lot of mini blogs and microblogs (laughs)

　Kai: Smart speakers also send the opinions of free writer/journalist Muneka Nishida, "Let's call it a smart speaker, not an AI speaker."

　▼ Let's call it "smart speaker" instead of "AI speaker" (1) Why is "AI speaker" not appropriate?

――Maker itself uses two of the Amazon and Google, smart speakers, LINE, and smart speakers and AI speakers, and Apple is described as a home music speaker, and there is an impression that words are not determined by the manufacturers.hey.