Accurate and fast voice recognition technology enables devices to understand exactly what you are saying. Getting an answer is effortless and simple, just like you are used to when typing. You say the wake word or tap the microphone icon, ask a question and receive the answer immediately. If the answer is short and quick, you get it aloud. Otherwise, the display will contain all the information you requested.
It’s an undeniable fact that using voice search has become an increasing part of how we do things. According to a Google study, more than half of US teens and 41% of US adults use voice search on a daily basis. It’s obvious people love to use their voice as an instrument of control. Voice commands provide quick access to various apps and functions. Users don’t need to unlock the device previously or use hands at all, for that matter. The ease of use is what really sells the voice search as it brings a whole new level of convenience (at least compared to the traditional use). It’s also a cool and interesting way to control your smartphone or PC. With some exploring, there is so much to do with just the power of your voice. But what and how exactly – that’s what we’re set to find out.
Google Voice Search
The undisputed champion in the voice search, Google’s voice platform is basically the template of what we know as the hands-free control. It has been in the business for over 15 years, expanding each year into a better, more comprehensive tool. It allows users to use the famed Google Search by simply speaking to a mobile device or a computer. GVS is a multilingual tool that supports various languages and its variants either fully or partially. As of Android 4.1+ (Jelly Bean), it was merged with Google Now, which ultimately evolved into Google Assistant.
To use Google’s voice interface, you need to fulfill a couple of requirements. First, you need to have the Google app installed (version 3.5 or higher) and run Android 4.4 or higher. Next, you need to turn on the “Ok Google” (the magic words) option. From the Google App, tap Menu on the top left. Go to Settings > Voice > “Ok Google” Detection and set when you want your smartphone to listen for the “Ok Google” trigger. The standard procedure is to say “Ok Google” three times to train the voice app to respond to your voice. Once complete, it will unlock the device and allow you to access voice commands at any time. The process is same for both the mobile and PC versions of the platform. The only difference is the requirement of a third-party microphone for desktops.
Specific commands and preferred apps
Upon voicing your command, GVS listens and displays the results. You can search for topics, create reminders, get updates, directions and so on. The voice search is rather intuitive so you can beat around the bush a bit and still get the desired answer. For instance, saying “Ok Google, do I need an umbrella tomorrow” will provide a result mentioning if there will be rain in the weather forecast. However, there are a few things to note.
While the voice search may be available in your native language or country, some commands might not be available. Not every language has equal support so watch out for that. Next, it’s very important to be specific in order to avoid repetitions and time-wasting. For example, saying “Ok Google, send a message to Jack” will result in a pop-up window offering a few options. But, if you throw in a specific app like Viber, WhatsApp or a private messages app, the end result will be more straightforward and quicker. So, the command “Ok Google, send a Viber message to Jack” or “Ok Google, send a message to Jack with Viber” is more direct and to the point.
Hence, mentioning specific app in your command (provided there is support for it) will prompt Google to automatically open it and perform the command. Another handy feature is the setting of a preferred app. If you frequently choose the same app for a specific command, Google will learn you preference and automatically launch that app in the future. Naturally, some commands instantly adhere to Google’s own apps due to vast Google-based integration. When a user says “Ok Google, launch Calendar”, naturally, Google Calendar will pop out by default. For an overview of supported commands and apps, click here.
Voice Search Button
Moving away from Google Voice Search, you’ll sometimes encounter a dedicated voice search button. This manifests in two ways – either as a physical or a virtual button. The idea is to press it and then state your request. For example, Samsung’s Galaxy S8 has a dedicated button for its still up-and-coming personal assistant Bixby. A lot of secondary devices like smart remotes also have special buttons for voice search activation. However, it’s a far more common practice of inserting a virtual button for voice commands. Almost every mobile keyboard has a dedicated voice input button in the form of a microphone icon. It’s easier to implement and more convenient for the end user.
Another option of activating voice search is by long pressing a certain button. This can be a physical button like Home button (the standard choice) or its virtual counterpart. The option is there for times when a voice activation won’t do the job because of too much background noise or other factors.
More than a convenience
It’s safe to say that voice search is more than mere convenience. Having a device do your bidding and search for data upon a vocal request isn’t just a cool way of asserting control. It’s effectively changing how people search and receive information on the world wide web. It’s almost like watching a baby grow. From the first few syllables to actual words to building a vault of sentences to quickly answering questions with witty replies, the voice technology has come a long way. Due to its massive success, voice search will continue to tread further. Still, there are still some kinks to work out.
Because it is a type of dialog system following a coherent structure, voice search is interactive in nature. It can take several rounds of communication between a user and a device to get to the bottom of the query. A voice system may ask a question or two for clarification. Why? Because voice-based search queries are different than typed queries. Fine-tuning it to be even more intuitive and understanding is the future challenge. With big players like Google, Apple, Amazon and others in the fold, the world of voice search is growing day by day. Until we get to the ideal version of it, what we have now will have to suffice. Hopefully, this post gave you a better understanding of the process behind the camera (display, in our case) and how to benefit from it. It’s a trend that’s not going away anytime soon, if ever.
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