Contributor I

Answered

Changing Sonos "wake word" (Sonos Arc with Sub 3)

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
October 8, 2020
31 replies
6626 views

I have many Amazon Echo devices (made by Amazon and by others) and I can change the wake word on all of them (I prefer Echo and really dislike Alexa in part because we have a young child with that name). When I ask any other device to change the wake word, they do it. When I ask Sonos, it says “you are unable to do that on this device.” SO FRUSTRATING.

I will probably install a Fire TV stick and avoid using Sonos for voice commands.

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Best answer by Paul A

Hi @jjb2020.

Welcome to the Sonos community and thanks for reaching out to us. I understand your frustration with the situation and would like to help out.

Currently, changing the wake word of Amazon Alexa on Sonos is not yet a supported feature. However, Let me send this up to our engineering team as a feature request. I would suggest subscribing to this thread and our announcement topic for any feature releases, feature updates, and bug fixes.

Please do not hesitate to reach out or create a new topic if you still have further questions or concerns. We are always here to help out.

Thanks,

Show previous replies

G

GregC1642

Lyricist I

I too, would like to be able to change the wake word.

V

vinnypowell

Contributor I

I'd like to change the wake word and also I prefer the male voice...which I use on my other amazon devices

G

Goochio

Lyricist I

An additional request to support changing the wake word. I have no option but to disable the Alexa integration until this is fixed due to the name of my youngest daughter.

Bobp3008

Lyricist I

I too want to change the wake word.

B

Bighouse

Contributor II

I would support being able to change the name/wake word as well, but not for the obvious reason. I believe it’s an equity issue.

By having only “Alexa” be the wake word, it creates by default a female role in a servant/subservient mode. I’m surprised that it hasn’t been mentioned before- but not all housekeeper maids are women.

We should all stop perpetuating stereotypes as doing so voids or makes other identities invisible. I would furthermore suggest that a gender-free name and voice should also be an option for those Sonos customers who may not identify themselves as male or female. There really should be a “she”, “he”, and “they” option for not only voice tones, but names/wake words as well.

Sonos, I just read you recently received a very high rating for having a workplace that was inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQ people. Now how about making your software as welcoming and inclusive???

106rallye

Alexa on Sonos is lagging behind on the technical changes Amazon has made for their own platform. There the system can have a masculine voice and also answer to Computer, Ziggy, Echo and Amazon. Not sure if this lies with Sonos or Amazon though.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/21/22587130/alexa-masculine-voice-gender-ziggy-amazon-smart-assistant

Maybe they can bring this to Sonos too.

B

Bighouse

Contributor II

I’m not sure if it’s a tech limitation implementation issue, or an intentional decision on the part of Amazon. I could see where Amazon may not allow fuller implementation of some features in hopes that, to get a fuller Alexa feature set, Sonos owners would just go out and purchase Amazon Echo devices. So, aside from licensing fees and issues, there really can’t be any technological reason why the full Alexa feature set couldn’t be implemented in what is unquestionably a superior product.

Still, I think it’s an equity issue. Lack of diversity in ethnicities and in the gender spectrum for names and voices isn’t very inclusive and welcoming to everyone in this time when many are looking to making places more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist.

melvimbe

I would support being able to change the name/wake word as well, but not for the obvious reason. I believe it’s an equity issue.

By having only “Alexa” be the wake word, it creates by default a female role in a servant/subservient mode. I’m surprised that it hasn’t been mentioned before- but not all housekeeper maids are women.

We should all stop perpetuating stereotypes as doing so voids or makes other identities invisible. I would furthermore suggest that a gender-free name and voice should also be an option for those Sonos customers who may not identify themselves as male or female. There really should be a “she”, “he”, and “they” option for not only voice tones, but names/wake words as well.

Sonos, I just read you recently received a very high rating for having a workplace that was inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQ people. Now how about making your software as welcoming and inclusive???

Why would you assume that Alexa is female? Sure, the name is traditional for women, and the voice is generally feminine, but aren’t you just perpetuating stereotypes by assuming gender based on these cues alone? Did you ever think to ask Alexa what gender he/she/they/it is and what her personal pronouns are? Perhaps your the problem here, and not Sonos.

Danny

B

Bighouse

Contributor II

I would support being able to change the name/wake word as well, but not for the obvious reason. I believe it’s an equity issue.

By having only “Alexa” be the wake word, it creates by default a female role in a servant/subservient mode. I’m surprised that it hasn’t been mentioned before- but not all housekeeper maids are women.

We should all stop perpetuating stereotypes as doing so voids or makes other identities invisible. I would furthermore suggest that a gender-free name and voice should also be an option for those Sonos customers who may not identify themselves as male or female. There really should be a “she”, “he”, and “they” option for not only voice tones, but names/wake words as well.

Sonos, I just read you recently received a very high rating for having a workplace that was inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQ people. Now how about making your software as welcoming and inclusive???

Why would you assume that Alexa is female? Sure, the name is traditional for women, and the voice is generally feminine, but aren’t you just perpetuating stereotypes by assuming gender based on these cues alone? Did you ever think to ask Alexa what gender he/she/they/it is and what her personal pronouns are? Perhaps your the problem here, and not Sonos.

I think you meant “you’re”.

Why would you object to having more choices for the names or voices? Does it threaten you? Sonos has an excellent 100% score from the HRC for how it relates to the LGBTQ community. I think its products in every way could also be as welcoming and accepting. Why would anyone possibly object to having a broader appeal and including more people???

Also, you might want to review the ground rules for these forums before tossing out ad hominem rudeness and uncivility.

melvimbe

I would support being able to change the name/wake word as well, but not for the obvious reason. I believe it’s an equity issue.

By having only “Alexa” be the wake word, it creates by default a female role in a servant/subservient mode. I’m surprised that it hasn’t been mentioned before- but not all housekeeper maids are women.

We should all stop perpetuating stereotypes as doing so voids or makes other identities invisible. I would furthermore suggest that a gender-free name and voice should also be an option for those Sonos customers who may not identify themselves as male or female. There really should be a “she”, “he”, and “they” option for not only voice tones, but names/wake words as well.

Sonos, I just read you recently received a very high rating for having a workplace that was inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQ people. Now how about making your software as welcoming and inclusive???

Why would you assume that Alexa is female? Sure, the name is traditional for women, and the voice is generally feminine, but aren’t you just perpetuating stereotypes by assuming gender based on these cues alone? Did you ever think to ask Alexa what gender he/she/they/it is and what her personal pronouns are? Perhaps your the problem here, and not Sonos.

I think you meant “you’re”.

Language is fluid.

Danny

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