Voice assistants are also known as virtual assistants are one of the most powerful computing tools that keep gaining new abilities every now and then. The best part about them is that they’re solely hands-free.
Then why is it that we don’t use them as much as we should? Well, the problem might be that not many actually know what to do with a voice assistant. They’re a new form of technology that hasn’t been stitched into people’s lives yet.
Are you one of the many people out there who has a smart speaker sitting idle in your room? Or perhaps you have an unused voice assistant on your smartphone? It’s time to take heart. We’ve shared a voice assistant uses that will make your life more convenient.
That said, let’s first take a minute to discuss what exactly is a voice assistant is.
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What Is A Voice Assistant?
If you weren’t aware, all voice assistants are AI-based digital assistants. The most popular voice assistants are Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. Microsoft Cortana is also gaining recognition.
All these voice assistants are web-connected software tools that not only listen to your commands but interpret them and further take action. They can answer questions, control lights, interact with apps, and order food, and even help find your phone.
Voice assistants are always pre-installed on smartphones. Moreover, speakers like the Google Home voice-activated speaker and Amazon Echo are some of the most common platforms. The Google voice assistant is installed in Google smartphones and Google Home. Whereas the Amazon Alexa voice assistant world on its Echo speaker.
You most likely have access to at least one or more of the best three-voice assistants depending on what device you’re using.
Play Music
The Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and Apple’s Siri can all play music natively. All you need to say is their wale word, “play,” followed by the song title you want to hear. For instance, “Hey Google, play ‘Barbara Ann.”
If your voice assistant replies back with, “I’m sorry, I don’t know that one,” then you might need to link your voice assistant to a music service like Spotify. If that still doesn’t work, you can pair your smartphone to a smart speaker through Bluetooth and play your favorite music via YouTube.
Make A Shopping List
We can all agree that shopping lists are a pain. However, once you begin using your voice-activated assistant, you’ll ask yourself why you even bothered muddling through with pen and paper.
Perhaps you are low on bread? Say, “Alexa, put bread on the shopping list.” When you’re in the grocery store, you can open the Alexa app on your smartphone to view the list. Simply swipe right to tick off the products as you add them to your cart.
Moreover, anyone at home has the ability to add last-minute items without the need to call or text. You can also buy directly through the speaker if you ever feel too gloomy to head out or grocery shopping.
Manage Timers And Productivity
Do you want to save time in the kitchen, or your home? One of the biggest advantages of voice assistants is the ability to set multiple timers. You can set a pizza timer and cake timer if you need to multitask while cooking.
This way you can complete your other tasks and the voice assistant will call you out by name once the timer’s up. Timers also come into use for a household that has many kids who share the same toys, so you can set a timer for the toy itself.
You can also set alarms to wake you up each morning. In fact, if you don’t want to wake up groggy, then you can have the voice assistant play your favorite song as the alarm. Voice assistants also make great secretaries as well.
Instead of making manual calendar reminders, you can get the voice assistant to create reminders for you and you can link the calendar in the Google Assistant or Amazon assistant voice setting first.
Create Smart Home
For the majority of us, a smart home might sound like it’s something for the rich. The reality, however, is really exciting. Anyone with a smart speaker or voice assistant on a smartphone can start creating a smart home with a $10 smart plug.
You can also invest in a smart speaker alongside smart lights. This way, your smart speaker can control your lights through voice commands. In fact, most smart devices can be controlled remotely today, and this is highly beneficial for people who travel a lot.
Conclusion
Well, there you go! Voice-activated assistants come in handy in every aspect of your life. Especially if you want more independence and convenience in your life, a smart speaker is a great device to invest in.