This way, the effect of the agent looking at the user with its light-up eyes would trigger an unconscious response for the user to be aware of the device's activity. Instead of passively sitting on the shelf while listening for its wake word, whenever the device is active speaking or listening (such as when a user makes noise in the room, or speaks a command) it is also actively engaging the user by making "eye contact."

However, it is unlikely this design intervention will be adopted by the tech companies that produce these speakers to make their users more aware of their devices' presence in the home. The following are prototypes for DIY solutions, or critical design interventions, that owners of these devices could construct for themselves.