|
|
|
Siri, the virtual personal assistant launched with the iPhone 4S has been a headline feature of the new device. Marking a step forward in terms of artificial intelligence Siri is an app bought by Apple in 2010 which was then made available on the iPhone 4 before becoming an exclusive feature of the iPhone 4S. Integrating with the device’s apps including email, notes, maps and messaging the programme has been praised for its ability to understand context, causing much delight among bloggers as they explore it’s limits asking existential questions about the meaning of life and the search for love, as well as to include meetings in their diaries.
However enthusiasm for the app has not been all-encompassing. Some iPhone 4S users with heavy accents have complained that Siri is finding it difficult to understand what they are saying.
Siri is meant to understand English (US, UK and Australia), French and German. Yet those with accents are reporting they are finding it difficult to make themselves heard. Native Spanish speakers speaking in English, for example, as well as Scots speakers in the UK say Siri cannot understand their voices. Strong accents and dialects are also proving to be a problem for Siri, distinctive regional accents like Boston in the US. While the mix-ups can have amusing results, for example one Scot who asked Siri “Can you dance with me” only to get the interpretation through the app of “Can you Dutch women”, it has proved to be frustrating to those who are unable to fully use their new device.
Tests that tech blogs and journalists have conducted on the app have suggested that the further an accent gets from its neutral, like RP or received pronunciation in the UK, the more confused Siri becomes.
On the Apple website, an FAQ associated with Siri says the app works better the more you use it. Much like voice recognition software like Dragon, frequent use means the app is able to understand your accent better, gradually recognising the nuances and dialects in each language. Apple also says that as more people use Siri, it will become better at picking up accents.
The Siri app is still in Beta, a note which is made clear on the Apple website, suggesting that although it marks a dramatic step forward in terms of voice recognition software, there are still elements to be developed and possibly bugs to be ironed out. iTunes and iOS5 regularly roll out updates to fix or tweak software elements that users might have picked up on, or simply do not work as well in practice as they did in software tests and on the drawing board.
In 2012, the languages Siri can understand will increase to include Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian and also Spanish. iPhone 4S users with thick regional accents will be hoping that the developments mean they will be able to be understood by their app, that is proving to be such a popular feature on the Apple device. But for the time being, for people with thick accents such as Scottish or Australian, maybe Siri isn’t enough to spend the extra money for the iPhone 4S compared to the comparatively cheap mobile phone deals of the iPhone 4.
unable inurl:/write php?uid= iphone 4s push to talk Powered By Pligg theme parks usa Powered By Pligg table radio Powered By Pligg pda gps receiver Powered By Pligg network problem errand inurl:/register intext:upcoming intext:published intext:submit -inurl: php Powered By Pligg earpiece Powered By Pligg new pda phones Powered By Pligg germany theme parks aimed inurl:/register intext:upcoming intext:published intext:submit intext:tag cloud -inurl: php Powered By Pligg av receivers Powered By Pligg theme parks games inurl:/submit php affricative Powered By Pligg a/v receiver Powered By Pligg chat server software Powered By Pligg cell phone software Powered By Pligg free software pda Powered By Pligg glenn Powered By Pligg java virtual machine Powered By Pligg network switch is siri considered push to talk Powered By Pligg ringtones Powered By Pligg all theme parks Powered By Pligg fix it program Powered By Pligg for handhelds and Powered By Pligg free pda game downloads Powered By Pligg theme parks in the uk Powered By Pligg free sirius radio on media center Powered By Pligg theme parks america push-to-talk on iphone Powered By Pligg i got my game on Powered By Pligg java game sites