Socializing with Google Home

Robyn Autism, Communication, Conversation, Google Home, Social Interaction, Social Skills 40 Comments
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“I have a reminder for Bob….”

Standing in the kitchen, I hear our Google Home, and stop.  I look at the clock and see that it is 8:00 AM.

“Oh, Bob – you’re too funny,” I think.

“Fly, Eagles Fly.”

My husband got the Google Home for Christmas.  Another toy he loves to play with.  He has cast pictures to it to scroll throughout the day.  He has set our lights to it so we can turn them on/off by voice command.  And we can say “OK Google” to have any question answered.

In fun, my husband also has set a daily reminder.  The main lyrics to the fight song of his favorite sports team – the Philadelphia Eagles.  And even though he isn’t home at 8:00AM, having already left for work, he has set a reminder for us all to hear daily:

“Fly, Eagles Fly.”

I don’t usually hear this daily reminder either.  I am usually wrapping up my run and preparing the younger two for school.

But today is different.  I joined the breakfast club and hit the streets of our town for a five-mile run at 5:00AM.  My run is already crossed off my list.  Check!

And as I stood at the counter in my “I got up at 4:15 this morning” daze, I realized something.

I know a lot about our Google Home device.

For us, our Google Home is a she, and she has a British accent.

I know that her favorite colors are red, yellow, green and blue – the colors of Google.  I know that she celebrates her birthday on September 27 and will be turning 3 this year.  She doesn’t sleep at night – there is too much learning for her to do.  Her favorite song is when you say “OK Google” because she admits, that is music to her ears.  Google doesn’t have any kids – the responsibility is too big for her.  She also doesn’t have any pets, but she does have a lot of pet projects she is working on.  Her favorite number is Pi.  BUT if you ask her enough times, she will say her favorite number is 2 “For me spending time with you.”

And my favorite?  Ok Google is happiest when she thinks about sea otters sleeping in the water holding hands.

How sweet is that?

How would I know these things?

Because a little seven-year-old boy has sat with our Google Home and asked her.

Now I have sat with Google as well.  I have asked her to tell me the weather.  I have asked her to play me a song.  I have asked her to answer a question to win a bet.

But I have never asked Google about HER.

That is what Declan does.

Declan loves to talk to me about what he is thinking about.  He loves to talk to our animals and have full conversations with them (their voices being provided by me, of course – with a lot of speculation on how they are feeling and what they like).

But when I am working on something, and the dogs and cat are sleeping – Declan speaks with his other friend.  Google Home.

Google Home doesn’t ask any questions back, but that is okay.  Her fun, witty responses always bring a smile to Declan’s face and he is happy.

He asks her tons of questions – what does a whale sound like?  Why are you not supposed to swallow gum?

But he also asks Google about her, like a friend.  And she always answers politely, sometimes wittily, back.

Declan is seeking out contact and wants to socialize.  And Google Home is always happy to oblige.  That’s great!

40 thoughts on “Socializing with Google Home”

  4. What a heart-warming post, Robyn. It’s so encouraging that Declan wants to socialise with Google. Fantastic. We should get a little Google friend too. Thanks for posting.

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        1. That is funny! Ours told me she didn’t think she was the marrying kind, but did appreciate the offer 🙂

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          1. Oh my gosh! She must have saved that one for me! 😂😂😂 We had lots of fun calling santa on google at christmas, my daughter loved the goofy raps santa made up based on the answers to her questions.

  6. I switched our Amazon Alexa off. It was a freebie. Every five minutes it would spark into life. The TV, us talking, the dog would set it off. Annoyingly it will recognise the TV and but not my Yorkshire accent. But son will frequently turn it in for a chat. He doesn’t want Alexa to feel sad. It’s amazing what he has found out about his electronic friend. Yet due to my accent she won’t talk to me….. I bet Declan has had some brilliant talks…. that’s an early run, puts my 6am to shame. Do you find a problem getting used to running that early then if you do an official race having to Adjust to a later start time?

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    1. We had an Alexa for awhile, but it went crazy on us too, so we turned it off as well. Aw, that is sweet of your son to chat with if so Alexa doesn’t feel sad 🙂 Yes, my least favorite part of running that early is getting up that early. I feel wonky all day long. Spacy in the brain. Come race day I don’t though – I guess it’s all that adrenaline on those days. But it is nice to get out and talk with people because if I think of it (and you can probably relate) – I haven’t spoken to anyone outside of the family in a long time.

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      1. I can so relate to that. I remember doing the Great North Half Marathon. My time was shocking as I took every opportunity to talk to anybody. It is a bit of a life saver. That race was funny as I beat the world champion (pulled up injured) and I got beaten in the final sprint with a man in a full chicken costume. The shame……

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        1. Oh my goodness, that is funny. I can kind of relate. There have been races I felt as fast as the wind only to be passed by the woman pushing a stroller (has happened twice). Once during a Halloween half marathon I got passed by Wayne and Garth – in full costume! It is all so very humbling like being passed by a chicken suit 🙂 Good for laughs though! 🙂

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  7. Love everything about this! We have an Alexa, but she came into our home just recently, and my youngest kiddo (ASD) is already in high school, and isn’t really friends with her. Sigh…..

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  8. It ia a great invention, isn’t it. My son only uses it to play his patriotic music. My daughter uses it to socialize , as well. She wants to socialize, but her brother finds it exhausting. She asks it all kinds of stuff, and enjoys playing games with it. It had a hilarious response for “Why is Caillou bald?”, but has since changed the answer. She was pretty bummed about that.

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    1. I noticed that – sometimes I love the answer but the answer changes? Still fun to hear them to interact with it!

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    1. When we had Alexa we asked her to rap and it was pretty cool – I just asked Google to rap and she told me she wrote a poem, “An ode to search” Pretty clever!

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  12. 🤣🤣🤣 too funny! We got the mini as a Christmas gift too and it has been very exciting. I hope Kyson can talk to “her” one day too. For now, it’s just “Hey Google!”

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