by: Dayren Santamaria February 1, 2022
To facilitate and improve the tasks humans do, is a purpose of technology. The invention of digital speech and visual recognition devices like Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri have been advantageous to society. Nevertheless, these devices possess negative aspects, they are convenient and useful to 110 million users in the United States of America. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field in technology that advances every day with discoveries, inventions, and research. Creators have developed devices that can “act and think like a human” (Market Business News, 2020), and these products are able to analyze human speech while logically responding to the commands or requests.
There are four companies leading with their product development, quality, and public satisfaction. Nuance Communications, Google, Amazon, and Apple are prestigious organizations that provide this type of service globally. The benefits of using speech recognition devices can assist users that are unable to perform certain tasks due to medical conditions, in the same manner that assists users that are multitasking. Customers can talk, conversely of utilizing their hands to press a button, and the speech recognition device can fulfill the user’s request by accomplishing the goal desired. Nuance Communications is a company that delivers its products to the health industry, to business, and private users. Their advanced level of encryption to secure the data and personal identifiable information (PII) of their users, allow them to attract over “10,000 global healthcare organizations” (Research, 2021).
Another company that leads in technological creations and products is Google LLC, and it is the developer of Google Assistant. This technology is available in devices like Google Nest Thermostat, Google Nest Wi-Fi, Nvidia Shield TV, and Google Pixel Smartphone. The Google Nest Thermostat allows users to control their home temperature by commanding the request to their device, or by allowing the device to learn the patterns of the users through the visual recognition. If a person is absent from home at specific hours, the Google Nest thermostat can raise or lower the temperature for the comfort of the user. The Google Nest Wi-Fi improves the strength of the internet connection in selected areas of a home. Parents can generate groups for their kids that block the adult content on the children’s devices. Nvidia Shield TV provides features like turning the TV on and/or off, choosing a streaming media, or showing pictures taken by the user. The Google Pixel Smartphones enable users to make a call to one of their contacts, which is an excellent feature while a user is driving. Customers can turn the Bluetooth on/off with a voice command, start or stop a recording, and get directions (Android Authority, 2022).
The next company that gleams with technological products is Amazon Inc, which developed Alexa. This speech recognition system is available on amazon.com to enable different consumer experiences. The user can use Alexa to browse for products, which can be convenient at times. This artificial intelligence can be included on alarm systems, thermostats, radios, timers, to browse the internet for manual instructions or recipes, and to help regulate the sleep pattern and behavior. As technology becomes a more salient and indispensable part of our lives, people around the world have been adapting to the new digital devices. Amazon has created an organization where consumers can link their products to common needs and/or desires. Alexa offers speech and visual recognition to a vast diversity of products. “It’s safe to say that at least 200 million smart speakers and displays have been sold around the world” (Sterling, 2021).
One more company at the pinnacle of technological advances is Apple Inc, which developed Siri in 2011, and it has been the speech recognition for Apple devices. Apple’s products are popular for their sophisticated style and quality. The satisfaction of their customers keeps this company as one of the leading brands worldwide. Apple’s HomePod Mini is the updated version of HomePod. HomePod Mini uses Siri to assist users with Apple devices like types of iPhone models, iPads, laptops, and desktops. The design and color choices of this mini speaker are exquisite, and the features allow users to use their speech to open applications like maps for directions, internet search, and distinguish the voice patterns of up to six different people. The sound quality of this product is a quality that sets them apart from other speech recognition devices (Apple, n.d.).
The advances in natural language processing have led to the development and improvement of speech recognition. NLP (Natural Language Processing) is a field in technology that specializes in the creation of computer mechanisms and devices that can comprehend and respond to human speech and behavior (IBM Cloud Education, n.d.). Google Assistant, Alexa, and Siri use NLP, which is a form of artificial intelligence, to satisfy and assist users. Notwithstanding, these devices are advantageous, there are frustrations among customers when a user requests a command and the response from the device is invalid in relation to the request. Correspondingly, there are disadvantages for parents, when toddlers order expensive products through speech recognition devices; but benefits in the transportation industry, healthcare, and education systems surpass the negative aspects of this wonderful creation.
References
Alexeko. (2019, December 11). How to get your local business listed in Alexa, google assistant and Siri? alexeko.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://alexeko.com/how-to-get-your-local-business-listed-in-alexa-google-assistant-and-siri/
Amazon.com. (n.d.). Alexa together – amazon.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.amazon.com/Alexa-Together/b?node=21390531011
Android Authority. (2022, January 6). The best Google assistant devices to spend your money on. Android Authority. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.androidauthority.com/google-assistant-devices-955106/
Apple. (n.d.). Homepod Mini. Apple.com Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/
IBM Cloud Education. (n.d.). What is natural language processing? IBM. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/natural-language-processing#:~:text=Natural%20language%20processing%20(NLP)%20refers,same%20way%20human%20beings%20can
Lacoma, T. (2021, March 24). What is google assistant? A beginner’s Guide to Google’s Virtual assistant. Digital Trends. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/what-is-google-assistant/
Market Business News. (2020, May 5). What is Artificial Intelligence? definition and examples. Market Business News. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/artificial-intelligence/
Research, M. (2021, July 26). Home. Meticulous Blog. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://meticulousblog.org/top-10-companies-in-speech-and-voice-recognition-market/
Sterling, G. (2021, October 14). More than 200 million smart speakers have been sold, why aren’t they a marketing channel? MarTech.org Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://martech.org/more-than-200-million-smart-speakers-have-been-sold-why-arent-they-a-marketing-channel/
Sterling, G. (2017, June 5). Apple introduces HomePod: A premium speaker with Siri. MarTech. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://martech.org/apple-homepod-premium-speaker-siri/
Vailshery, L. S. (2021, January 22). Number of voice assistants in use worldwide 2019-2024. Statista. Retrieved February 2, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/973815/worldwide-digital-voice-assistant-in-use/#:~:text=Virtual%20assistants&text=There%20are%20over%20110%20million,in%20smartphones%20and%20smart%20speakers
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