Siri is great! Why aren't you using it more?

[daniel1948]

Siri seems to work for me for opening iOS apps. Sometimes I can't find an app. But for everything else, 90% of the time Siri gets my question wrong.

When I asked her "Siri, what's the answer to life, the universe, and everything?" she replied, "I don't think there's a consensus on that question yet." That's nonsense. EVERYONE knows the answer is 42.

But the worst was when I decided to enable Siri Always On. I was talking to a friend, and all of a sudden Siri interrupted with some nonsense answer to a question I had not asked. I must have said something that, muffled through my pants pocket, sounded to her defective brain like "Hey Siri," which I had most definitely not said, and then she interpreted my next words as a question which I had not asked. It was not even related to the actual conversation. I disabled always on, and use the button when I want her to open an app.

I've also tried voice dictation, which I assume is using the same software, and there are so many errors it's easier to just type in the first place.

My judgement: Siri is a great idea that's not yet ready for prime time. I'll try her again when iOS 10 comes out.

 

[Spink10]

Siri seems to work for me for opening iOS apps. Sometimes I can't find an app. But for everything else, 90% of the time Siri gets my question wrong.

When I asked her "Siri, what's the answer to life, the universe, and everything?" she replied, "I don't think there's a consensus on that question yet." That's nonsense. EVERYONE knows the answer is 42.

But the worst was when I decided to enable Siri Always On. I was talking to a friend, and all of a sudden Siri interrupted with some nonsense answer to a question I had not asked. I must have said something that, muffled through my pants pocket, sounded to her defective brain like "Hey Siri," which I had most definitely not said, and then she interpreted my next words as a question which I had not asked. It was not even related to the actual conversation. I disabled always on, and use the button when I want her to open an app.

I've also tried voice dictation, which I assume is using the same software, and there are so many errors it's easier to just type in the first place.

My judgement: Siri is a great idea that's not yet ready for prime time. I'll try her again when iOS 10 comes out.

iOS 10 - probably still be disappointed in her

 

[M. Gustave]

...But the worst was when I decided to enable Siri Always On. I was talking to a friend, and all of a sudden Siri interrupted with some nonsense answer to a question I had not asked. I must have said something that, muffled through my pants pocket, sounded to her defective brain like "Hey Siri," which I had most definitely not said, and then she interpreted my next words as a question which I had not asked. It was not even related to the actual conversation. I disabled always on, and use the button when I want her to open an app.

I've also tried voice dictation, which I assume is using the same software, and there are so many errors it's easier to just type in the first place.

"Hey Siri" misfires too often for me also. I disabled that feature. But dictation works really well.

 

[martint235]

I just feel really strange talking to my phone. Also my ipad tends to wake up at the same time!!!!

Although someone up thread mentioned using it on a watch (got one arriving soon) and it would be useful when I'm cycling to have my emails read out to me so may use it more

 

[Dukins]

I just tried the same task, and it worked on the first attempt. I'm in iOS 9.3.2.

View attachment 638968

Worked for me also

View attachment 638969

Try a local store like Dollar General or whatever local store ie Walmart, etc. Glad it worked for you all, but it didn't work for me. I'll continue to use what works for me.

 

[MacScott]

I don't want to talk to Siri... the wife doesnt want to hear me talk to Siri...

 

[addamas]

No support for my native language ( Polish ) and no knowledge of my language names (basic control works - dial, play song, stop etc. ).
I cross my fingers that one day they will make it true

 

[Shirasaki]

I don't want to talk to Siri... the wife doesnt want to hear me talk to Siri...

Then just use Male voice to use Siri.

 

[mrex]

I would rather use the male but in my country i have to listen the brainless blonde and had to turn her off. I stopped trying to use it because what ever i want to do, it always ask me to open my iphone.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

I don't wish to talk to my computers in public or private.

It's much more efficient, accurate and effortless to tap or type. I see the strange enthusiasm of tech companies for voice control as a desperate attempt to pretend that there is still something worth developing in software. But most people will simply never bother with voice input, so it's largely a waste of time.

I would prefer Apple to cut most of their voice development in order to save money. They should keep it going for the blind, and allocate appropriately reduced funds.

 

[M. Gustave]

It's much more efficient, accurate and effortless to tap or type.

Sometimes it's more accurate, but it's never more efficient or 'effortless'. How many taps is it for you to create a new alarm or reminder? For me it's zero, because I have Siri do it.

And just yesterday I asked Siri to reply to a text my wife sent me, while I was driving. It would be slower, less accurate, and downright dangerous to do that manually.

You need to widen your limited use case viewpoint on this. Not everyone feels like you do, and uses their devices like you do.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Sometimes it's more accurate, but it's never more efficient or 'effortless'. How many taps is it for you to create a new alarm or reminder? For me it's zero, because I have Siri do it.

And just yesterday I asked Siri to reply to a text my wife sent me, while I was driving. It would be slower, less accurate, and downright dangerous to do that manually.

You need to widen your limited use case viewpoint on this. Not everyone feels like you do, and uses their devices like you do.

Using Siri to compose a text message whilst driving is dangerous. A scientific study found that drivers who text verbally are as distracted as those who use handheld mobile phones whilst driving.

You need to stop texting whilst driving and endangering people's lives.

 

[Shirasaki]

Using Siri to compose a text message whilst driving is dangerous. A scientific study found that drivers who text verbally are as distracted as those who use handheld mobile phones whilst driving.

You need to stop texting whilst driving and endangering people's lives.

Perhaps I should turn on DnD while I am driving.

 

[M. Gustave]

Using Siri to compose a text message whilst driving is dangerous. A scientific study found that drivers who text verbally are as distracted as those who use handheld mobile phones whilst driving.

Link? That makes no sense. It's no different than speaking to a passenger in the car. Should I refuse to talk to them for safety reasons?

Human beings aren't driving robots. Yes, anything can distract them. Leaving your front door is inherently dangerous.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Link? That makes no sense. It's no different than speaking to a passenger in the car. Should I refuse to talk to them for safety reasons?

It's very different to talking to a passenger in the car.

The study showed that much more concentration is needed to talk to someone on the phone than someone in the same car. Our brains perceive the conversation in a different manner. Crucially, the study found that the level of distraction involved when talking by phone or to someone remotely, ie via text or phone, impaired concentration significantly more than talking to someone in the same car.

 

[M. Gustave]

It's very different to talking to a passenger in the car.

The study showed that much more concentration is needed to talk to someone on the phone than someone in the same car. Our brains perceive the conversation in a different manner. Crucially, the study found that the level of distraction involved when talking by phone or to someone remotely, ie via text or phone, impaired concentration significantly more than talking to someone in the same car.

I think you're letting your imagination run wild. Saying "Siri, reply to ____ that I'm on my way", while in stop-and-go NYC traffic, at 5 mph, is hardly dangerous, and it took 6 seconds.

And I'm still waiting for the link to this famous study of yours. From your description it sounds pre-iphone era, handset phone related.

 

[maflynn]

I fall into the hardly category. I use it sometimes to play music, i.e., hey siri, play the Who. Other then that, its fairly inactive.

 

[akash.nu]

It's very different to talking to a passenger in the car.

The study showed that much more concentration is needed to talk to someone on the phone than someone in the same car. Our brains perceive the conversation in a different manner. Crucially, the study found that the level of distraction involved when talking by phone or to someone remotely, ie via text or phone, impaired concentration significantly more than talking to someone in the same car.

I agree with that. It's just common sense really. I'm amazed that a study was needed to prove that.

 

[Shirasaki]

I agree with that. It's just common sense really. I'm amazed that a study was needed to prove that.

Probably because nowadays people trust solid scientific research result rather than using way simpler mindset or common sense when "understanding" something.

 

[akash.nu]

Probably because nowadays people trust solid scientific research result rather than using way simpler mindset or common sense when "understanding" something.

Well said, I'm baffled by some of the responses I see in this forum.

 

[mpavilion]

Last week, I said "What's the song?", to ID the song playing in a restaurant (this has worked for me before). However, Siri just told me the name/artist of last song played in Google Music app. I tried phrasing several different ways ("What's the song playing over the speakers?," etc.), with the same result.

I do use Siri occasionally to place a call while driving. Otherwise, keyboard is faster / more accurate.

 

[tw1ll]

I think you're letting your imagination run wild. Saying "Siri, reply to ____ that I'm on my way", while in stop-and-go NYC traffic, at 5 mph, is hardly dangerous, and it took 6 seconds.

And I'm still waiting for the link to this famous study of yours. From your description it sounds pre-iphone era, handset phone related.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36475180 (June this year - so not pre-Siri)
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hands-free-texting-is-no-safer-to-use-while-driving/ (2013 - so also post-SIri integration into iOS)

Perhaps if you stopped being so sarcastic and abusive of other posters and got off your butt and did some research on topics of interest to you then you would learn more and not be denigrating others and questioning their integrity from a position of total ignorance.

 

[M. Gustave]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36475180 (June this year - so not pre-Siri)
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hands-free-texting-is-no-safer-to-use-while-driving/ (2013 - so also post-SIri integration into iOS)

Perhaps if you stopped being so sarcastic and abusive of other posters and got off your butt and did some research on topics of interest to you then you would learn more and not be denigrating others and questioning their integrity from a position of total ignorance.

'Abusive'?!? Never. But I do call out trolls for what they are, and they don't tend to like that. Case in point.

And your further attempt to derail this thread into a silly driving safety debate, by posting some links you Googled but didn't read, will go nowhere. It was said several times in this thread that Siri failed at basic task xyz, which was then proven to work just fine for others. Next issue?

 

[tw1ll]

'Abusive'?!? Never. But I do call out trolls for what they are, and they don't tend to like that. Case in point.

And your further attempt to derail this thread into a silly driving safety debate, by posting some links you Googled but didn't read, will go nowhere. It was said several times in this thread that Siri failed at basic task xyz, which was then proven to work just fine for others. Next issue?

You asked for some references - you got them. Have you read them, considered them. No, of course not. Your pleasure comes from trying to look smart the lazy way. If you don't get your way then you sulk, call someone a troll and change the subject.

 

[M. Gustave]

You asked for some references - you got them. Have you read them, considered them. No, of course not. Your pleasure comes from trying to look smart the lazy way. If you don't get your way then you sulk, call someone a troll and change the subject.

The subject is Siri, not driving safety.