[Ads-l] skill

[Bwh031451]

I would say that the access is not being called a “skill”. Rather, there are two functionalities mentioned: the ability to “plan your next visit” and the ability to “renew your membership”. So apparently their app now has these two added features.  While the ability to do these things could be called “skills”, it seems odd to call them “our new skill”.  IIUC, they are offering an updated version of an app, which includes new “skills”.  So no, I hadn’t seen it used this way, but I would describe it as
Skill = the ability to perform a task or function (enabled as a feature of software)  
So that would be in semantic range, but a bit of a stretch; I’d be inclined to call it a “feature”, “function” or “functionality”. 

Or perhaps it’s already in Alexa or Amazon Echo’s respective lexicon of jargon? Check the user manuals...



Date:    Tue, 14 May 2019 17:27:33 -0400
From:    Mark Mandel <mark.a.mandel at GMAIL.COM>
Subject: "skill"= online access to a corporate service

From a membership renewal letter from the Philadelphia Museum of Art:

>>>>> 
P.S. Ask Alexa to "Open Philadelphia Museum of Art" to plan your next visit
and renew your membership (Member through Keystone levels only). Our new
skill is available on Amazon Echo and via the free Alexa mobile app.
<<<<<

"Member through..." means the offer applies to only the three lowest
levels: Member @$75/year, Member Plus @$125/yr, and Keystone @$250/yr.

Does anyone see this as falling within the customary semantic range of
"skill"?

Mark Mandel
Brian Hitchcock
At Large
Email:  bwh031451 at gmail.com


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