WHILE IT’S BEEN around for a while, there’s still a reluctance to use voice recognition on our phones. While you may think it will struggle to recognise what you’re saying, things have become much better over time.
Both Google and Apple have improved their voice recognition software to the point where, provided you speak clearly, can help free up time for you.
You might be reluctant to speak to your phone out loud when you’re out in public (which is understandable), but when you’re at home or if you’re driving, it can cut down the time to complete smaller tasks.
What to keep in mind
While voice recognition software has improved immensely in recent years, it’s not perfect. You will have to adjust your speaking pattern a little bit so it recognises your commands. You won’t have to make that big a change – it’s likely you will have to slow down your speech a little – but it’s something you’ll need to keep in mind.
If you’re on Android, you can access it straight away through saying ‘Ok Google’ while iOS users have to take a little longer to get Siri activated (it also can be activated by saying ‘Ok Siri,’ but your phone must be plugged into a power source for it to work).
Both settings must be activated first, otherwise it’s hitting the mic icon on google search, or holding down the home button on your iPhone/iPad.
Before you complete an action (unless it’s search), you will be asked whether you want to change certain details before it’s carried out. This is particularly helpful when you’re writing text messages or setting reminders.
Alongside speaking clearly, it’s better to speak in sentences rather than using keywords. Not only is it more natural for you to say, but the more context a query has, the greater chance it has of completing the action you want.
To help get you started, here are a few things you can ask Google or Siri.
Set reminder for x at y: Handy for when you need to set quick reminders for events happening later that day.
When is x happening?: If you need to know the date for a major event, it’s always handy to have.
How long is [x film]: For when you need to know how long it’ll take for you to finish watching Lawrence of Arabia or any long movie.
What time is it in New York?: Useful for when you need to keep track of events happening elsewhere. You can also ask what the time difference is between two cities.
What’s the weather like today?: For when looking out the window isn’t enough to help your decision.
Text x ‘where are you’: Or any message you wish, really. If you’re dealing with people with the same name, say their surname or if you’re really stuck, give them titles (sister, dad, etc.) so it recognises this faster. You will get to review the message first before it sends so don’t worry if you need to make slight adjustments.
Remind me to go to the gym at 3pm: Setting a reminder on your calendar is one of the best ways to use voice search You can set location-sensitive reminders like ‘water plants when I get home’ if you’ve included your home or work location.
Set alarm for 7am: Or any time you wish, really. Another one to keep in mind is setting a timer for a certain amount of time. Eg: set a timer for 30-minutes.
How long does it take to go from x to y: The reasons for doing this is rather obvious, but as long as you can pronounce the street name clearly, it’s a more efficient method.
You can ask more specific queries if you wish like calculations, definitions, match results, or further information. It may feel a little strange to rely on it, but once you’re used to it, it will speed things up for you.
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