Ask HN: Do You OK Google or Hey Siri in Public? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Do You OK Google or Hey Siri in Public?

I use ok-google around friends when I want to look up a fact or something to show them. It's a nice way to get some information and still stay involved in the conversation without having to stop, look at my phone, type something in and read the result.

I would if Siri worked for basic use cases. I tried to create a timer on my Mac with Siri and it couldn't even do that. Sad really.

Why don't you make your own? It occurred to me the other day to do this. I want some experience with hardware, so I'm going to install a microphone next to a drawer and a speaker on the drawer itself. I'll be using a Raspberry Pi and figure out what else I need, if anything, as I go. I'll be using it for the main thing I talk to Google for: to manage time.

I hate the fact that I can't tell Google to cancel an alarm for example. If I say "Cancel my alarm". It should ask back - if there are multiple alarms - "which alarm would you like to cancel?"."List alarms" should answer back with my alarms. "Cancel my alarms" should return "Would you like to cancel all of them?". That kind of thing.

If I ever have any need of invasive suggestions - which I don't - it's just encouragement to learn some DL.

It really depends on what's going on. If I'm out and I remember that I need to do something, I have no problem at all saying "Hey siri, remind me when I get home to switch the laundry around." It'll show me a geofenced reminder to switch my laundry when I get home. I haven't had any problems with it.

Never use hey Siri. Much easier to hold down the button to summon Siri. I do use it in public (rarely) and also voice dictate texts sometimes (less rarely)... but only if I can do so fairly discreetly.

I use it when i'm walking / driving.

I only use it around friends when checking a disputed fact (usually for a bet)

Not opposed to it, but rarely find it necessary. The time when I find OK Google most useful is actually just when my hands are busy and I'm trying to find out if I'm running early, on time, or late. I ask the time. Perhaps I should just have a wall clock.

The only use I've found for Siri that seems to work consistently well is when I say "Raptors score" or "NBA schedule." :)

Nope, but it's one of my favorite benefits of working from a home office. I use it to create new reminders all day as my GTD inbox system.

Obviously, if there's no one around. Who are you going to impress?

All it proves is when you have a name, whatever you create, it lingers but it's not of much use to anybody.

I do, but mine only works when unlocked on my desktop screen... it's just faster than typing for quick searches.

I don't think I have but possibly only if there was no one around.

Nope.

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