#Alexa Skills Kit

[fluffyzhana]

Alright fine

So, to start, I need to go over the difference between a speaker and a step speaker. With a speaker, you can tell Alexa something like, "Set the volume to 26" and it will be set to 26. But sometimes, you don't know the scale on an audio device, because there's no real industry standard for that. So, instead you use a step speaker. All that does is raise or lower the volume by a number of steps.

Okay, we good? We good.

So, when you tell Alexa to raise the volume by 12, it will send me a command that says, in a more technical way, "Change volume of device ABCD by positive 6". The actual JSON message isn't important, just know that this is all the important information that is sent. This is fine. This works perfect if I want to spend the extra effort to increase the volume by a very specific amount. However, what happens when I just want to tell Alexa, "Turn up the volume?" By how much do you think it should increase? 1? 2? Maybe 5?

No, by default, Alexa thinks that the volume should be increased by a whopping 10.

Now, I want you to imagine for a moment. You're playing music on your speakers. Your speakers go from 1-10, with 1 unit intervals in between. It's a little quiet, so you tell Alexa, turn up the volume. Suddenly, your eardrums are being blown out by the sound of your music. You cry out to your Echo device "ALEXA! TURN DOWN THE VOLUME" but she can't hear you over the noise complaint you just created for yourself. Quick on your feet, you whip out your phone and type in, "Alexa, turn down the volume" and suddenly, nothing. No music seems to be playing at all. You lean into the speakers, try to unmute, try to play music, but you don't hear anything. Confused, you make the mistake of turning up your volume once more. You feel blood trickle down the side of your face as the last thing you ever hear is Smash Mouth, promptly followed by a loud pop.

Sure, call this an extreme example, but seriously, this is dangerous.

So, you may be asking at this point, "why not just change the default?" With that question, my dear reader, you have already proven yourself more competent than the Jeff Bozos who wrote this code, because you CAN'T.

There is no way to actually change that default value. Maybe interpret the default value on the program's sid--Nope! There is absolutely no difference in the command Alexa sends between "Increase the volume" and "Increase the volume by 10."

If you don't believe me, here's the documents! They're open for anyone to read! Tell me where, anywhere, does it give any possible way to change the default value? Nowhere! Absolute. Insanity.

How it has gone this long without anyone calling them out is beyond me. I've tried posting to their forums. It's a ghost town of questions with no answers. An endless line of people desperately begging silent walls for a response.

Fuck Alexa.

Alexa Skills Kit broke the color purple and it pisses me off to no end.

[bluebraintechnologies]

Emerging Technologies in UI Development: Shaping the Future of User Experiences

In the ever-evolving world of web and app development, User Interface (UI) design continues to be a focal point for enhancing digital experiences. The introduction of new technology in UI development is transforming the way users interact with digital platforms, making them more intuitive, accessible, and visually engaging.

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in UI Design

AI-powered tools are changing the game in UI development.

Predictive Interfaces: AI learns user behavior to offer personalized layouts and suggestions.

Design Automation: Tools like Adobe Firefly or Canva’s AI design assistants streamline repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus on creativity.

AI-Powered Chatbots: Integrated seamlessly into interfaces, these provide instant support and enrich user interactions.

2. Motion UI for Dynamic Experiences

Motion UI brings life to digital interfaces through animations and transitions.

Micro-Interactions: Subtle animations, like button clicks or loading indicators, improve user engagement.

Smooth Navigation: Transition effects between pages or sections enhance the flow and keep users engaged.

Feedback Loops: Dynamic responses to user actions (e.g., hover effects or error indicators) improve usability.

Tools like Framer Motion and Lottie are gaining popularity for creating sophisticated motion UI elements.

3. Advanced Front-End Frameworks

New front-end frameworks and libraries are simplifying complex UI designs:

React.js and Vue.js Enhancements: Continuous updates make these frameworks faster and more efficient for building interactive UIs.

Svelte: An emerging framework known for its lightweight architecture and exceptional performance.

Web Components: Facilitates the creation of reusable, encapsulated components, reducing development time.

4. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

PWAs bridge the gap between web and mobile experiences by providing:

App-Like Interfaces: Responsive and intuitive designs that mimic native mobile apps.

Offline Functionality: Allowing users to access content even without internet connectivity.

Faster Loading: Lightweight UIs enhance performance, especially on low-bandwidth networks.

5. Voice-Activated Interfaces

Voice UI (VUI) is becoming integral to modern applications, thanks to advancements in natural language processing (NLP).

Hands-Free Interaction: Useful for accessibility and smart devices.

Multimodal Experiences: Combines voice commands with visual feedback for richer interactions.

Popular Tools: Alexa Skills Kit and Google Assistant SDK help integrate voice capabilities.

6. Dark Mode and Adaptive Themes

User demand for customizable UIs has driven the adoption of dark mode and adaptive themes.

Energy Efficiency: Reduces screen brightness to save battery life.

Eye Comfort: Reduces strain, especially in low-light environments.

Dynamic Adaptation: Themes that adjust based on user preferences or system settings.

CSS variables and modern browser APIs make implementing these features easier for developers.

7. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

AR and VR are unlocking new possibilities in UI development:

Immersive Interfaces: AR-based UIs overlay digital elements on the real world.

3D Navigation: VR-driven UIs create interactive environments for gaming, e-commerce, and education.

Development Platforms: Unity and WebXR are popular tools for building AR/VR interfaces.

8. Low-Code and No-Code Platforms

Low-code and no-code tools are democratizing UI development:

Drag-and-Drop Builders: Enable rapid prototyping without extensive coding knowledge.

Customization Options: While simplifying the process, these platforms still allow tailored designs.

Popular Platforms: Webflow, Bubble, and Figma are leading this space.

9. Accessibility-First Design

Inclusivity is at the forefront of modern UI development.

Assistive Technologies: ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles make interfaces more navigable for screen readers.

Color Contrast Checkers: Tools ensure visuals meet accessibility guidelines.

Keyboard Navigation: Designs now prioritize non-mouse interactions.

10. Advanced Design Systems

Comprehensive design systems are streamlining UI development:

Reusable Components: Libraries like Material Design and Ant Design standardize UI elements.

Cross-Team Collaboration: Design systems bridge gaps between designers and developers.

Scalability: Ensures consistency across platforms as projects grow.

Final Thoughts

The future of UI development lies in its ability to merge cutting-edge technology with user-centric design principles. From AI-driven customization to immersive AR/VR experiences, the potential to create exceptional digital interactions is endless.

As new technologies continue to emerge, staying updated and adaptable is key to delivering interfaces that not only meet but exceed user expectations. Whether you’re a developer, designer, or business owner, embracing these innovations will keep you ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

[codezup]

Develop Smart Home Automation Systems with Alexa Skills Kit and IoT

Introduction Developing a Smart Home Automation System with Alexa Skills Kit is a rapidly growing field that enables homeowners to control and automate their homes using voice commands. This article provides a comprehensive, technical tutorial on building a smart home automation system using the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK). By the end of this tutorial, you will have a solid understanding of the core…

[makemywebsite1]

3 Common Voice User Interface (VUI) Tools and Technologies

Like many people, you might feel the temptation to use modern and emerging Voice User Interface (VUI) on your website. This powerful feature makes the search, navigation, or getting feedback easier and natural. But that is not it.

As a UI web designer in Melbourne or Perth, understanding the most useful voice-controlled interfaces for a website requires knowledge of using the right tools and technologies. Tools are quick mediums to design your website with voice search commands.

So, even if you are a beginner in the field, some of these voice interface softwares, including VoiceFlow, Dialogflow, Adobe XD, Amazon Alexa Skills Kit, and Canary are easy to use. Having said that, getting a website design in Melbourne with a professional UI designer is always a more convenient and effortless decision for your business.

Why Does Voice User Interface Matters?

Voice User Interface (VUI) is a crucial element on a website that relies on speech recognition technology. The main purpose of embedding it to your web design is to make your website interactive, useful, and engaging.

With this feature, you can help your visitors to search and talk to your website through voice-commands. For instance, if a user says “navigate me to the service page”, a voice-enabled control on the menu bar will quickly process the information and take them to the service page.

To take the most advantage of voice interface for your web design in Perth, let’s now move on to understanding the different tools and technologies.

Key Tools and Technologies to Design Voice-friendly Web Interface

1.    VoiceFlow:

The tool is one of the most efficient and powerful designing software that can create conversational experiences through both voice and chat.

Why to Use it?

Drag and Drop features to design conversational flows between the user and the chatbot.

Lets you test and experiment with different possible interactions, voice chatbots, and voice commands for Alexa, Google Assistance, or custom VUIs.

Integrated with APIs, which means it lets your designed voice agents communicate to other software as well.

Pro Tip:

With no coding expertise, you can easily choose this tool to design voice interactions, test every voice assistant well before making them official, and add extra features or make changes as per the need. If you need professional assistance, search for services offering website design in Melbourne.

2.    Dialogflow:

Powered by Google, this one is another effective design tool that supports both voice and text interactions. A visitor prefers a bot that processes information in casual language to avoid making it understand the intent over and over again. And so, the Digiflow adapts quite well to the scene, making user voice flows in conversational language.

Why to Use It?

Supports both text and voice-based interactions, helping users to switch for more refined queries.

Useful for websites, mobile apps, and Google Assistant.

Runs on Machine Learning technologies to understand user intent.

Pro Tip:

You can choose this tool for a more positive user experience. As the tool is engineered with Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP), you can create a voice flow that can understand complex user queries in the context of its meaning. If you need help, consider having a professional for web design in Perth.

3.    Adobe XD with Plugins:

This is not a mere voice flow creation app, rather it is a plugin, called as Speech, which is capable of enhancing voice interaction designs.

Why to Use it?

Helps in adding voice triggers to respond to voice commands and to make it talk back.

Test voice interaction thoroughly within the design environment.

Supports other design tools like VoiceFlow to make the design even more advanced.

Pro Tip:

It effortlessly and comprehensively blends prototyping of VUIS alongside traditional UI elements, to enhance the user experience. It covers everything, from designing visual appearance, functionalities, testing, and improving user experience to its best possible way. Voice User Interface elements are more valuable when you hire a professional for the best voice-enable feature in a website design in Melbourne.

Final Words

We hope you found this blog useful and informative. Coming to an end, it is clear that voice interfaces on a website are a direct communication medium to embrace your user’s needs, motives, environment, and intent behind using the website.

With all or one of the above tools and technologies useful in creating a voice-controlled web interface, you can build a website that provides quick and simpler responses to your target audiences.

While DIY tools are available at free versions, it is always a good idea to hire a professional serving comprehensive and customised web design in Perth. Call for quick assistance or request a collaboration with a free quote with your nearest digital marketing agency in Melbourne or Perth today.

[helloryseus]

Why Smart Blinds Should Be the Centre of a Smarter, Greener Home

In all the ways smart home technology is transforming our lives, this thing called smart blinds stands out as a truly powerful game-changer. They not only boost the appeal and convenience of your home but also greatly contribute toward comfort, security, and energy efficiency. In this post, let's dive into the many ways through which smart blinds, such as RYSEs, are revolutionizing the modern home and why you might want to start adding them into your own space, too.

How Smart Blinds Work and Why They Are Different

At their core, smart blinds are motorized window coverings, but what differentiates them from other ordinary blinds is that they can be controlled by a smartphone app, voice commands, or automated schedules. The best smart blinds do even more—they include into your house's ecosystem to let you manage light and privacy flawlessly. No need to open and close your blinds every day. You can set them to open at sunrise, close at sunset, or adjust to the weather.

RYSE smart blinds are highly attractive as you can retrofit them to most existing blinds, so you don't need to change your window treatments. It is quite easy to install and almost DIY-friendly, making it a great add-on with smart features for the window without much renovation hassle.

Smart Blinds and Energy Savings

One of the biggest advantages that smart blinds can offer is energy efficiency. With such an adjustment, according to the time of day, you have smart blinds that keep your home cooler in the summer months and warmer in winter. In sunny months, during hot hours when temperatures peak, smart blinds will shut to minimize air-conditioning appliance use and, thus, may decrease your energy bills. During winter, they will be open to let warmth from the sun into the house, which diminishes heating costs. With smart blinds from RYSE, you can set up specific schedules or sensors to take full advantage of these savings automatically. That means energy efficiency will be a part of your hands-free routine.

Better Security and Privatization

Improvement in home security also comes with peace of mind through smart blinds. You can manually control your blinds through the RYSE or remotely open and close them from outside the house. This makes people believe that someone is inside, providing a good lead as a deterrent from burglars. Moreover, smart blinds protect your privacy because they close at night or when you are away to limit visibility from the outside.

Smart Blinds as a Comfort Feature

Smart blinds make life easier and more comfortable. Imagine waking up with natural sunlight as your blinds open gradually or having total darkness for your movie night with just one voice command. RYSE smart blinds connect perfectly with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, making it so easy to control them that you will only have to say a few words. You can even calibrate them to switch their operation automatically to follow the indoor ambient lighting levels and ensure that you get the right amount of sun that you need at any particular time.

Why Choose RYSE for Your Smart Blinds?

In terms of picking the correct smart blinds, RYSE has an added advantage. Its retrofit kits enable you to convert your existing blinds into smart blinds, and thus, this is a cost-effective and accessible upgrade. Installation is user-friendly and does not require special skills or specific tools. The compatibility of RYSE smart blinds with all major smart home platforms makes it work seamlessly with any smart home setup.

Upgrade Your Home with Smart Blinds

Smart blinds are no longer a luxury; they're the practical, sustainable, and modern change of any home. If you want to have smart blinds that are installed easily and perfectly in the interior of your house, then order from RYSE and get all the advantages you will feel about smart blinds for your home. Upgrade your home to a new space that is comfortable and environmentally friendly at the same time!

[vetrivelapp]

Building Voice-Activated Mobile Apps with Amazon Alexa

In today's tech-driven world, voice-activated mobile apps are becoming more popular, thanks to innovations like Amazon Alexa. If you're looking to dive into this exciting field, you’re in the right place. As an app development company in Chennai, we at Creatah are well-equipped to help you build cutting-edge voice-activated applications that stand out in the market. Let's explore how to create engaging voice-activated apps with Amazon Alexa and why it’s worth your investment.

Understanding Voice-Activated Apps

Voice-activated mobile apps use voice recognition technology to perform tasks or provide information based on user commands. Amazon Alexa, a leading voice assistant, allows developers to create these kinds of apps, known as Alexa Skills. With the rise of smart speakers and voice assistants, integrating Alexa into your mobile app can enhance user experience and make your app more interactive.

Why Choose Amazon Alexa?

1. Market Reach: Alexa is widely used across various devices, including Echo speakers, smartphones, and tablets. By developing Alexa Skills, you can reach a broad audience and engage users who prefer voice interactions.

2. Advanced Technology: Amazon Alexa offers robust voice recognition and natural language processing capabilities. This means users can interact with your app using natural, conversational language, making the experience more intuitive.

3. Integration with Other Amazon Services: Alexa integrates seamlessly with other Amazon services like AWS, providing scalable and reliable backend support for your app.

Steps to Build a Voice-Activated App with Alexa

1. Define Your App’s Purpose: Start by identifying what you want your Alexa Skill to do. Whether it's providing information, controlling smart devices, or assisting with daily tasks, having a clear goal will guide your development process.

2. Set Up Your Development Environment: You’ll need an Amazon Developer account to access Alexa’s development tools. This account will allow you to create and manage your Alexa Skills.

3. Design Your Voice User Interface (VUI): Designing a voice user interface involves creating a conversational flow that guides users through their interactions with your app. Think about the questions users might ask and how Alexa should respond.

4. Develop and Test Your Skill: Use the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) to build your skill. This toolkit provides resources and APIs to help you code, test, and debug your application. It’s crucial to test your skill thoroughly to ensure it works smoothly with different accents and speech patterns.

5. Publish and Promote: Once your Alexa Skill is ready, submit it for certification. After approval, it will be available for users to enable and interact with. Promote your new skill to attract users and gather feedback for future improvements.

Best Practices for Voice-Activated App Development

1. Keep Conversations Natural: Users expect a natural conversational flow. Avoid making interactions too complex or technical.

2. Focus on User Experience: Ensure that the app responds promptly and accurately to voice commands. A smooth user experience is key to retaining users.

3. Optimize for Various Scenarios: Consider different use cases and environments where users might interact with your app. Ensure it performs well in noisy or quiet settings.

4. Regular Updates: Continuously update your app based on user feedback and advancements in voice technology to keep it relevant and efficient.

Benefits of Partnering with a Professional App Development Company

When creating a voice-activated mobile app, partnering with an experienced app development company in Chennai like Creatah ensures that your project benefits from professional insights and technical expertise. Our team can guide you through the development process, from concept to launch, ensuring a high-quality, user-friendly app.

Get Started with Creatah Today

Are you ready to build a voice-activated app with Amazon Alexa? Partner with Creatah, the leading app development company in Chennai, and bring your innovative ideas to life. Contact us now to discuss your project and start developing your Alexa Skill!

By following these steps and best practices, you can create a compelling voice-activated app that enhances user experience and stands out in the growing market of voice technology.

[prateekshawebdesign]

Top 10 Trends in Modern Web Design for 2024

The ever-evolving landscape of modern web design continues to adapt and push boundaries, redefining the way we interact with the digital world. As we look forward to the year 2024, it's essential to stay ahead of the curve and familiarize ourselves with the top trends in website design that will shape the online experiences of tomorrow. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring designer, staying updated about these trends could be your key to creating cutting-edge, user-friendly websites that stand out in the crowd.

This article aims to explore the top 10 trends in modern web design that are expected to dominate 2024. Our digital world is becoming more dynamic and interactive, and website designing is no exception. From immersive 3D elements to responsive interfaces, these trends reflect the future of website design. So, get ready to delve into the future of modern web design trends, and let's set the stage for a revolution in website design in 2024.# Top 10 Trends in Modern Web Design for 2024

As we stand on the precipice of 2024, it's an exciting time to be involved in website designing. The fast-paced nature of the internet means that trends are constantly evolving, and what's hot today may not be tomorrow. But don't worry, we're here to keep you ahead of the curve. In this blog post, we'll dive deep into the top 10 trends in modern web design that you need to know for 2024.

1. Minimalism

It's the classic case of 'less is more'. Minimalistic website design will continue to trend in 2024. Focused on functionality and simplicity, minimalistic designs incorporate only the essential elements, thereby reducing cognitive load and making it easier for users to navigate and interact with a website.

Minimalistic design focuses on simplicity and functionality, utilizing white space, clear typography, and limited color palettes.

Pros:

Enhances readability and usability

Faster load times due to less complex elements

Cons:

Risk of looking too similar to other websites

Limited design elements can be challenging to convey complex information

Tools:

Sketch

Figma

2. Dark Mode

Dark mode is a feature that allows users to change the background color of a web page to black. Dark mode took the digital world by storm, and it's not going anywhere in 2024. This trend not only gives websites a sleek and modern look but is also easy on the eyes, reducing eye strain for users browsing in low-light conditions.

Pros:

Reduces eye strain in low-light conditions

Can save battery life on OLED screens

Offers a visually pleasing aesthetic

Cons:

Not suitable for all types of content

Can make certain elements less visible

Tools:

Dark Reader

Night Eye

3. Microinteractions

Microinteractions are subtle design elements that provide feedback, guide tasks, or enhance a sense of direct manipulation. They can include changes in button after being clicked, animations, scroll effects, and more. Microinteractions can make a website feel more interactive and user-friendly.

Micro-animations are small, subtle animations that guide users through a website's interface and provide feedback.

Pros:

Enhances user experience and engagement

Provides visual feedback to user actions

Cons:

Can be distracting if overused

Requires additional resources and time to implement

Tools:

Framer

Adobe XD

4. Voice User Interface

With the rise of voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, Voice User Interface (VUI) is becoming increasingly important. A well-designed VUI allows users to interact with your website using voice commands, providing a hands-free, eyes-free browsing experience.

Voice user interface allows users to interact with websites through voice commands.

Pros:

Enhances accessibility for users with physical or visual impairments

Allows hands-free navigation

Cons:

Can be difficult to implement properly

Privacy concerns due to the use of microphones

Tools:

Amazon Alexa Skills Kit

Google Actions

Read More

[devoqdesign]

Designing for Voice User Interfaces: Best Practices and Challenges

Introduction

Voice User Interfaces (VUIs) have revolutionized the way we interact with technology. From asking Siri about the weather to instructing Alexa to play our favorite songs, VUIs have seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. But what goes into designing these sophisticated systems, and what challenges do designers face? Let's delve into the world of VUIs, exploring best practices and common obstacles along the way.

Best Practices for VUI Design

1. Keep it Conversational

Voice interfaces are inherently conversational, so your VUI should feel like a natural dialogue. Use concise, friendly language and avoid jargon or complex phrasing. Respond with complete sentences and maintain a consistent personality across interactions.

2. Provide Clear Guidance  

Since users can't see visual cues, VUIs must provide clear spoken guidance on what they can say or do next. Proactively offer examples of valid voice commands and gently steer users when they go off track.

3. Optimize for Fast Responses

Sluggish response times can be incredibly frustrating for voice interactions. Design your voice flows and backend systems to minimize delays. If there is a longer wait, provide status updates.

4. Design for Context

Unlike GUI apps, voice interactions are ephemeral with no lasting visual state. Design your VUI to be context-aware, referencing past commands and confirmations when needed, without requiring users to repeat themselves unnecessarily.

5. Embrace Multi-Modal Interaction 

While voice is the primary input method, effective VUIs can leverage other modalities like visual displays, gestures, and push notifications to enhance the experience when appropriate devices are available.

6. Test Extensively With Different Voices

How your voice interface interprets speech can vary substantially across different voices, accents, and audio environments. Rigorous testing with a diverse range of voices and conditions is crucial.

VUI Design Tools and Technologies

Popular VUI Design Platforms

Several platforms facilitate VUI design, including Amazon Alexa Skills Kit, Google Actions, and Microsoft Azure Bot Service. These tools provide frameworks for building and testing VUIs.

Integrating VUIs with Existing Systems

Integrating VUIs with existing systems and applications enhances their functionality. For instance, linking a VUI with a smart home system allows users to control lights, thermostats, and security systems through voice commands.

Key Challenges in VUI Design

1. Discoverability 

In GUIs, users can see the set of available actions and commands. For VUIs, surfacing the capabilities is more challenging. VUI design relies heavily on well-executed voice prompts and dialog flows to make the allowed inputs clear.

2. Error Handling

Human speech is full of disfluencies, ambiguities, and variabilities that can confuse voice systems. Robust error handling and graceful prompting for clarification is essential for an effective VUI.

3. Context Switching

VUI sessions often involve switching between different capabilities or domains (e.g. from smart home controls to general queries). Handling these context switches smoothly, while avoiding ambiguity or conversational dead-ends is difficult.

4. Privacy and Security 

Voice interfaces raise additional privacy and security concerns compared to other UIs since voice data is extremely personal and identifying. Designers must carefully handle voice data while still enabling core capabilities.

5. Audio Design Complexities 

While often overlooked, professional voice audio design is crucial for an effective VUI. Elements like voice quality, pacing, pronunciations, and sonic branding all affect the user experience.

6. Evolving Technical Limitations

While improving rapidly, speech recognition and natural language processing technologies still have limitations around accents, noisy environments, and understanding complex or ambiguous utterances. VUI designers must work within these constraints.

As voice interfaces become more ubiquitous across smart devices, cars, phones, and homes, businesses across industries must embrace VUI design. By following VUI best practices while thoughtfully addressing the key challenges, companies can create voice experiences that feel natural, capable, and delightful for users.

Building proficiency in VUI design will be crucial for designers seeking to ride this emerging wave. Those who cultivate VUI skills today will be well-positioned for the voice-forward world of tomorrow.

Future Trends in VUIs

Advancements in AI and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning continue to drive advancements in VUIs. Improved algorithms enhance voice recognition, NLP, and personalization, making VUIs more intelligent and responsive.

The Role of VUIs in the Internet of Things (IoT)

VUIs play a pivotal role in the IoT ecosystem, enabling voice control of connected devices. This trend is expected to grow, with more smart devices incorporating voice interfaces.

Emerging Applications of VUIs

Emerging applications of VUIs include healthcare, where voice assistants can assist with patient care, and automotive, where drivers can control vehicle functions hands-free.

Conclusion

Designing for Voice User Interfaces presents unique challenges and opportunities. By understanding the intricacies of speech recognition, natural language processing, and user interaction, designers can create VUIs that offer intuitive and engaging experiences. As technology continues to evolve, the future of VUIs looks promising, with potential for even greater integration into our daily lives.

Devoq Design is a prominent UI/UX Design Agency serving clients in Surat and Vadodara. With a focus on creativity and user-centric design, Devoq Design has earned a reputation for delivering exceptional digital experiences. As a leading UI/UX Design Agency in Surat, they have worked with diverse clients to create intuitive and visually appealing interfaces. Similarly, their expertise as a UI/UX Design Agency in Vadodara has helped businesses enhance their online presence and engage users effectively.

[ajentmm]

Heroes, Light and Shadow Refine Theorycraft

Heroes, Light, and Shadow, a banner in July 2020. It has two avatar characters, forgotten to time, from the Japanese exclusive New Mystery of the Emblem, and they have effectively the same weapon. Along with that, there’s two red heads, and one is a staff so toss her in the not weapon refine bin. The GHB unit is also a staff unit so she can join her. In a way, we only have 2 weapons to discuss. RIP. Alexa, play that song from Tokyo Ghoul.

Kris: Unknown Hero

Lvl. 40 5 ☆  40/37/40/30/25/ Max Invest: 50/47/50/39/35

Blade of Shadow: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If foe initiates combat or if foe's HP = 100% at start of combat, neutralizes penalties on unit and inflicts Atk/Spd/Def-5 on foe during combat.

Noontime – Hp/Spd 2 -Spurn 3 – Joint Drive Atk

Kris: Unsung Hero

Lvl. 40 5 ☆  40/37/40/30/25/ Max Invest: 50/47/50/39/35

Spear of Shadow: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If foe initiates combat or if foe's HP = 100% at start of combat, neutralizes penalties on unit and inflicts Atk/Spd/Def-5 on foe during combat.

Moonbow - Fury 4 - Spurn 3 - Rouse Spd/Res 3

The hero / heroine of shadow from the New Mystery of the Emblem, Kris was a long awaited unit, so I’m glad they are here, as five stars no less. Their perf weapons have accelerate special, neutralizes penalties, and inflict penalties on the foe during combat. They have an early version of the Enemy Phase standard condition that’s an easy buff. Compared to Fallen! Ike from 2 banners earlier, neutralizing penalties makes it so foe’s can’t use [Foe Penaltiy Doubler], [Sabotage], or trigger any other effect requiring [Penalties] but now they can’t use [Grand Strategy]  and I can’t change that in the weapon. Neutralizing penalties also only work with stat buffs and not Keyword statuses. So, taking from the Lull 4 skills I have done this.

Sword/Spear of Shadow: Accelerates Special trigger (cooldown count-1). If foe initiates combat or if foe’s HP ≥ 75% at start of combat, neutralizes penalties on unit, inflicts Atk/Spd/Def-X on foe (X = 5 + number of [Bonus] effects active on foe × 2, excludes stat bonuses), and neutralizes bonuses on foe’s Atk/Spd/Def during combat.

So the theme I gave them is “underdog” beating the odds. They will be really good against teams with stacked [Bonuses] and inflict [Penalties]. This makes them a stat ball that can counter these effects, even if it doesn’t disable the effects. And there is no cap.

At start of combat, if unit's HP ≥ 25%, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res +X (X = number of [Penalty] effects active on unit × 2, + 5; excludes stat penalties), reduces damage from foe's first attack by 40% during combat ("first attack" normally means only the first strike; for effects that grant "unit attacks twice," it means the first and second strikes) and also, before unit's first attack, grants Special cooldown count-1 to unit.

I continued the fun by giving extra stats based on the penalties on them, rather than increasing the debuffs on foes. I then tossed in the usually damage reduction and a Special Jump. It’s only 1, so it will be great for their initial kit, but getting something with 3 charges won’t be as good. At least both of these effect work with Spurn 3/4.

Julian: Tender Thief

Lvl. 40 5 ☆ 40/38/38/33/18   Max Invest: 50/48/48/42/28

Caltrop Dagger+: Effective against cavalry foes. Disables unit's and foe's skills that change attack priority. Effect:[Dagger 7]

Moonbow – Close Foil – Lull Atk/Spd 3

Now Julian is something else. If Mikoto was the “Atk/Def no Spd” version of the Close Foil user, Julian is the “Spd, and okay Atk/Def” user. There was only two user thou. Julian strategy was to tank the foe’s attack with lull Atk and higher that usually Def, and then two tap them to death, that is if they were a cavalry. He’d also disable desperation, but also disable vantage, which he himself could have used. He’d say, “Don’t underestimated this thief,” before getting properly estimated, and get killed. Well, I’m going to give him a weapon that will make him a tank that can use a close counter skill.

Tender Knife: Effective against cavalry foes. At start of combat, if unit's HP ≥ 25%, grant Special cooldown charge +1 per attack, inflict Atk/Spd/Def-4 on foe, neutralizes effects that guarantee foe's follow-up attacks and effects that prevent unit's follow-up attacks, and disables unit’s and foe’s skills that change attack priority during.

With this base effect, Julian will gain Special Charge +1 and NFU, along with less stats on the foe. I kept everything else from Caltrop Dagger.

If unit or foe initiates combat after moving to a different space, inflict Atk/Spd/Def-4 on foe, neutralizes effects that grant “Special cooldown charge +X” to foe or inflict "Special cooldown charge -X" on unit during combat, further inflict Atk-X% on foe (X = the number of spaces the unit that initiated moved x 5, + 5, Max 25%), and reduces damage from foe's first attack by 40% ("first attack" normally means only the first strike; for effects that grant "unit attacks twice," it means the first and second strikes).

Now it gets funky. Along with the Tempo and 40% DR (not dodge, maybe should have been dodge but everyone has flat DR now), he inflict a large about of ATK, equal to a percentage of foe’s Atk at the start of combat. This is similar to what Kjelle does, but the condition for how large a percentage is will be a Clash condition (The number of spaces the unit that initiated moved). Why Clash? Well, you know who is most likely to reach that max? Cavalry. Sure, Julian can’t move 4 spaces easily, but he’s going to be enemy phase, right? If you want that in player phase, you’ll need warping, and even then, it’s a defensive buff. If you’re planning this, get a Remote skill to further buff survivability, or Flashing Sparrow for Lethality nuking.

Alright, that's it. Maybe I could to the two Brides on the upcoming seasonal banner to get refines, before the end of the month. Then I can do the four heroes with perf weapons from the two Summer banner in 2020. Let me know if you want this, or if these refines are any good.

[mindfiresolutions-blog]

ALEXA SKILL IMPLEMENTATION FOR A GAZETTE

Executive Summary

We were approached by a long-established newspaper publisher in California to develop an Alexa skill for their weekly newspaper. The project entailed converting their WordPress website into highly interactive news interface with Alexa skill, allowing users to explore, search, and listen to the latest news from the newspaper using their voice on multimodal devices such as Echo Show Family, Fire TV, and Echo Dot with interactive APL screen designs. The skill provides a convenient way for visitors to access breaking news, multimedia, and archives, to increase engagement and retention and reach a new audience of voice-enabled device users. Our ability to deliver this innovative and effective solution demonstrates our expertise in meeting such specific needs of publishers.

About our Client

Client : Confidential

Location: USA

Industry: Media & Entertainment

Technologies

Python, Alexa Skill Kit, Alexa Presentation Language (APL),  AWS – Lambda, DynamoDB, Polly, S3, CloudWatch, EventBridge, Revive Ad Server

Download Full Case Study

[inventivaindia]

Amazon adds Hindi to the Alexa Skills Kit

Amazon adds Hindi to the Alexa Skills Kit

Users of Amazon’s voice assistant will soon be able to talk to Alexa in Hindi. Amazon announced today that it has added a Hindi voice model to its Alexa Skills Kit for developers. Alexa developers can also update their existing published skills in India for Hindi.

Amazon first revealed that it would add fluent Hindi to Alexa last month during its re: MARS machine learning and artificial…

[muthur9000]

In this article, Adam Radziszewski argued that making a conversational Alexa skill is quite difficult. First of all, the design of the Alexa Skills Kit doesn’t really help with this. You need to abuse the skill configuration to free your application from rigid intent–slot frames that would otherwise kill any free-form conversation. Then you need to deal with errors of the underlying voice recognition technology or wait and hope this will improve over time. The more open-ended your domain is, the more of these you’re likely to face. Last but not least, your users will use even more casual language than they would when typing to a chatbot.

[myprogrammingschool]

Module: Amazon Alexa Development Basics -Trailhead Salesforce Answers

Module: Amazon Alexa Development Basics -Trailhead Salesforce Answers

In this tutorial, we will solve the questions in a module called Alexa Development Basics. Learn about the voice-enabled, cloud-powered service behind Echo devices from Amazon. Amazon Alexa Development Amazon Alexa is a voice assistant developed by Amazon. It is used by millions of people around the world to perform tasks such as setting alarms, playing music, and ordering products from…

[xkitcharmont]

♛┈⛧┈┈•༶      NEXT GEN FACTSHEET       ( created: oct 2022 )

featuring : JACQUELINE “JACQUI” CHARMONT ( aged 28 ), crown princess of ulstead, eldest daughter of king kit charmont

inspiration : hilary banks ( bel air ), regan crawford ( bachelorette ), drea ( do revenge ), marie antoinette ( marie antoinette 2006 ), regina george ( mean girls )

first impression : immediately, she’s too busy for you. she will judge you but she will talk to you. i hope u like being stepped on in heels :// but like lovingly :// mostly ://

( HER BIO CAN BE FOUND HERE ) ( CONNECTIONS BELOW! :3 )

GENERAL

full name. jacqueline constantina sahasra charmont preferred nickname. jacqui !! date of birth. 6 september age. 28 years old. gender. female. pronouns. she/her abilities. fencing, horse-riding

sexuality. bisexual. place of birth. ulstead, france. current residence.  ulstead.     occupation.  princess, queen-in-training.    education. walt university (age 20-25 yrs old)

APPEARANCE

height.   5 ft 4 in (162½ cm) hair colour/style. dark hair, cut just above her shoulders. eye colour. dark-brown piercings. ear piercings.         tattoos. little flowers drawn by her family (inner fore-arm), dragon on her upper-right thigh.      notable markings. n/a glasses/contacts? n/a       faceclaim. naomi scott.

PERSONALITY

tropes. the beautiful elite, city mouse, cool big sis, daddy’s girl, alpha bitch, the social expert positive traits. intelligent, fashionable, protective negative traits. calculating, cold, holds grudges usual mood. resting bitch face, but will talk to you *annoyed sigh* interests/likes. paris, history, sparkling things, pretty things, art, shopping, city-life, coffee, fashion, GOSSIP, being pampered, organisation, things going the way she planned them to, her family, independence, honesty dislikes. bullies, two-faced people, lying (excluding white lies she says herself oop), unexpected dirtiness, tardiness, people asking her why she’s not betrothed yet or dating or married bad habits. impulse-buying to make herself feel better (shopping therapy), drinking excessively during parties (but its all fuuuunn mostly)

RELATIONSHIPS

mother. ????????  father. kit charmont. siblings. marcel charmont, marguerite charmont. significant others. ??

friends. 

liam charmont : cousins ( fave cousin )

seth charmont : cousins

rosalie charmont : cousins

cosima charmont : cousins ( fave, eldest kids need to stick together )

odette charmont : cousins

basil charmont : cousins

tzeitel arnadalr : friends ( annoyance (affectionate) )

lachlan arnadalr : friends ( annoyance (derogatory), especially when with geri >:// )

caesar reyes : alexa play ‘mastermind’ by taylor swift ( she flirts, he plays along, one of them falls, both of them falls, it’s all unexpected, also bodyguard trope EEEEEEEEP )

dixie reyes : friends ( the princess mia to jacqui’s queen clarisse, the karen to jacqui’s regina george; dixie sees that jacqui has a warm heart under her cold exterior )

matteo hamato-seara : EX ( they dated for way too long and were so incompatible everyone was thankful they broke up ; now they annoy each other when they can )

TESTS

zodiac sign. virgo hogwarts house. gryffindor.

SKILLS & STATS

languages spoken.  english, french, ASL drive? yes. jump start a car? no. change a flat tire?  no.   ride a bicycle? yes. swim? yes. play an instrument? no, she said ‘dad i dont wanna ://’    play chess?  yes. braid hair? yes.      tie a tie? yes. pick a lock? yes. (royal liquor cabinet)     sew? no ew.

[ WANTED CONNECTIONS ]

FRIENDS, ENEMIES, EXES, LOVERS, LET’S GOOOO

jacqui spends most of her time in ulstead or paris, but she did complete her studies in walt university. she’s assumed to be quite judgmental and cold, easily annoyed. she’s the warmest to her family and family-friends, but takes a while to warm up. she’d be friends with anyone who isn’t intimidated by her and isn’t too annoying rip. like kit she feels lonely sometimes but is unsure how to get out of that. she doesn’t know how to be more likable, she doesn’t want to sacrifice her identity as a queen-to-be.  she would have had only maximum 2 long-term partners lmao, but perhaps there was a one-night stand here and there. she is also a bit of a flirt, but don’t expect anything.

[techtiger]

The Role Of Voice Recognition Technology In AI And Machine Learning.

Speech recognition technology is something that has been dreamed of and worked on for many decades.

From the beep-bopping of R2-D2 in Star Wars to Samantha's dissatisfied but charming voice, science fiction writers have played a big role in shaping expectations and predictions about how speech recognition will be in our world...

However, for all advances in modern technology, voice control is a very sophisticated relationship.

It is felt to be historically helplessly clear and nothing but a novelty to simplify our lives. That is until we start to get more into the field of big data, intensive learning, machine learning, and AI technology. Similarly, text to speech is a technology similar to voice recognition that converts digital text into voice. Text to speech technology makes computer to read text aloud from the text document. There are many best free text to speech software that you can use to let your device read for you without looking at the text.

Voice Recognition: A Brief History

As with any technology, what we know today comes from nowhere, someone and someone else.

The first recorded attempt at speech recognition technology was in 1,000 AD. However, the tool that can answer direct questions “yes” or “no” comes back through development.

Although the experiment does not technically involve voice processing in any form, the idea behind it must be part of the foundation of speech recognition technology: the use of natural language as an input to speed up the action.

Centuries later, Bell Laboratories worked to develop "Audrey", which could detect vowel-speaking numbers 1-9.

Later, IBM developed a device that could detect and distinguish 16 spoken words.

These successes have greatly enhanced the dominance of technology companies focusing on speech-related technologies. The Department of Defense also wanted to join the action. Researchers are working steadily toward the goal of making machines more capable of comprehending and responding to our verbal commands.

The history of speech recognition technology is long and winding. However, today’s speech systems such as Google Voice, Amazon Alexa, Microsoft Cortana, and Apple’s Siri are not where they are today, there are no early pioneers.

Thanks to the integration of new technologies such as cloud-based processing and ongoing data collection projects, these speech systems have improved the ability to constantly hear and understand a wide variety of words, languages ​​, and voices.

At this rate, the predictions of future writers are not as far-fetched as we might think.

The Voice Recognition Process: How Does It Work?

Around smartphones, smart cars, smart home appliances, voice assistants, and more, it's easy to know how speech recognition technology works.

Why?

Because it is easy to be misled by digital assistants. Speech recognition is still very complicated.

Think about how a child learns a language.

From day one, they hear the words used around them. Parents talk to their child, and even if the child does not respond, they perceive all kinds of sound signals; Noise, reflection, and pronunciation; Their brain designs and makes connections based on how their parents use their language.

Although it may seem difficult for humans to hear and understand, we train all our lives to develop this so-called natural ability.

Speech recognition technology essentially works the same way. Although humans have improved our process, we have yet to identify the best practices for computers. We must train them in the same way that our parents and teachers trained us. In addition, this type of training requires vision, research, and manpower.

These speech recognition systems take longer and more field data to complete; Thousands of languages, voices, and dialects need to be considered.

To say that we have not made progress; As of May 2017, Google's machine learning algorithm has now achieved a 95% word accuracy rate for the English language. This current rate is a limit to human accuracy, take care of yourself.

What is the best voice assistant?

So far, we have all heard and/or used speech recognition systems; They entered the technological ecosystem to become a means of communication between humans and technology.

Voice input is a more efficient form of computing, as Mary Meeker said in her annual Internet Trends report: Humans can speak an average of 150 words per minute, but can only type 40. Farewell texting and push buttons - we're so busy now bus.

What has become the dominant form of computing is that speech recognition is unbelievable. In addition to regional accents and speech impediments, background noise can make word recognition difficult. Not to mention multiple-voice input.

In other words, recognizing sounds alone is not enough.

These speech recognition systems must be able to distinguish between homophones (words that sound the same but mean something different), to distinguish proper names from separate words ("Tim Cook" is an individual, not merely a search request for a cook called Tim), and more.

Ultimately, speech recognition accuracy determines whether or not they become voice assistants. It certainly answers the question of which voice assistants are the best on the market right now; In terms of speech accuracy, innovation and usability, and compatibility with other smart systems.

Apple’s Siri

Apple's Siri was the first voice assistant launched by mainstream tech companies in 2011.

Since then, it has been integrated into all iPhones, iPods, Apple Watch, Homepod, Mac computers, and Apple TVs.

Through your phone, Siri is being used as a major user interface for automobiles and wireless AirPods earbuds in Apple's Carplay infotainment system.

With the release of Sirikit, a development tool that allows third-party companies to integrate with Siri and HomePod‌, Apple's initiative Intelligent Speaker (after the success of Amazon Echo and Google Home), voice assistant capabilities Become strong.

There is always Siri with you, whether on the road, at home or even literally on your body. This gives Apple a big advantage in terms of adoption.

Although Apple has a big head when it comes to Siri, many users are frustrated by the inability of the device to understand and execute voice commands.

Naturally, being as quick as possible means getting too many errors for a function that does not work as well as the function.

But, to this day Siri is notorious for misinterpreting voice orders, even by providing a list of nearby liquor stores to respond to requests for help with alcohol poisoning.

If you ask Siri to send you a text message or call on your behalf, it can be done easily. However, when it comes to communicating with third-party apps, Siri is slightly less powerful than its rivals, working with only six types of apps: ride-hailing and sharing; Message and call; Photo search; Payment; Fitness; And auto infotainment system.

Why?

Because Apple advises that "users should not use voice commands without human experience, and what can be done to ensure that Siri works well". Is ", Reuters reports.

Siri will open any ride service app on your iPhone and you can book on the go. Gives you options like traveling to the airport and ordering a car.

Focusing on the system capability of follow-up questions, language translation, and re-incorporation of Siri's voice into a more human-Esque will definitely help to iron out the voice assistant's user experience.

In addition, Apple controls its rivals by country in terms of availability and thus makes sense of the slang of a foreign accent. Siri is available in more than 30 countries and over 20 languages ​​- and, in some cases, many different dialects.

By comparison, Google Home is only available in seven countries and can only speak four languages ​​'simply' (English, German, French and Japanese), although it does support multiple versions of some languages. Alexa, on the other hand, can only handle English (U.S. and U.K.) and German.

Amazon Alexa

Inside Amazon's smash-hit Amazon Echo smart speakers, as well as the newly released Echo Show (voice-controlled tablet) and Echo Spot (voice-controlled alarm clock), Alexa is one of the most popular voice assistants today.

While Apple focuses on areas where it has the capacity and expertise to meet its needs, Amazon does not impose such restrictions on Alexa.

Instead, a voice assistant with a lot of "skills" (the term for applications on your Echo Assist devices) will "get the reliable following, even if they make occasional mistakes and are easy to use." Will try harder ".

Although some users have set Alexa's word recognition rate as a shadow behind other voice platforms, the good news is that Alexa will adapt to your voice over time with those with your unique voice or dialect. The problem can also be solved.

In terms of skills, Amazon's Alexa Skill Kit (ASK) probably pushed Alexa into a bonafide platform. ASK allows third-party developers to create applications and tap into Alexa's power without local support.

With over 30,000 skills and growing, Alexa has integrated Siri, Google Voice, and Cortana in terms of third-party integration. With the incentive to "add voice to your big ideas and more customers" (not to mention the ability to build for free in the cloud, "no coding knowledge required"), it's no surprise that developers are putting content on the skills platform. To

While some may not be able to help draw parallels with Apple's Appstore, it's catching the attention of developers trying to keep content - any content - on their platform regardless of whether it's worthwhile or not.

Its integration with smart home devices such as cameras, door locks, entertainment systems, lighting, and thermostats is another big selling point for Alexa.

Lastly, give users complete control over their home whether they are in bed or on the move. With Amazon's Smart Home Skill API (another third-party developer tool similar to ASK), you'll be able to control devices connected to customers from millions of Alexa-enabled endpoints.

When you ask Siri to add something to your shopping list, she adds it to your shopping list - without actually buying for you. Alexa goes one step further though.

If you ask Alexa to re-order her debris bags, she will go through Amazon and order them. You can order millions of Amazon products without lifting a finger; Natural and unique ability to surpass Alexa's rivals.

Microsoft’s Cortana

Based on the artificially intelligent role of the 26th century in the Halo video game series, Cortana launched in 2014 as part of Windows Phone 8.1, the next major update to Microsoft's mobile operating system.

At the end of 2017, Microsoft announced that its speech recognition system had reached an error rate of 5.1%. It surpassed the 5.9% error rate reached by a team of researchers from Microsoft Artificial Intelligence and Research in October 2016 and keeps its accuracy on par with professional human transcription, with benefits such as the ability to hear text multiple times.

In this race, every inch is important; When Microsoft announced its 5.9% accuracy rate at the end of 2016, they were ahead of Google. However, the fastest-moving year surpasses Google - but only 0.2%.

While percentages and accuracy rates are important, Cortana distinguishes itself from other voice assistants based on real, human-assisted assistants.

Rival services dig into data from devices, your search history, cookie trails you left on the Internet. While this is often useful, it can also be annoying in the form of non-stop notifications or it can scare the smart system into knowing too much about you.

We all saw 2001: the mother of all sensitive computers, the HAL 9000, was murdered with her pale red-eye and soft-butter robot voice.

To prevent this, Microsoft spoke with several high-level personal assistants, all of whom found that they had notebooks with important information about the person they were looking at. It was this simple idea that prompted Microsoft to create a virtual "notebook" for Cortana that would store personal information and anything Cortana approved for viewing and use.

It's not a privacy control panel, but it's exactly what Cortana does and gives you a little more control over what's not accessible.

For example, if you are not comfortable with Cortana accessing your email, you can add or remove access to your notebook. Another special feature? Cortana always asks you if she stores any information in her notebook.

Microsoft has teamed up with Halo developers on visual themes as well as voice actress Jane Taylor for Cortana's voice. These elements bring Cortana to life and form the personality and emotion to a system that would not have happened without that cooperation. Cortana’s personality shines through in everyday use - along with funny reactions from her circuit boards.

In addition to Google Assistant and Google Search, Cortana is supported by Microsoft's Bing search engine. This allows Cortana to chew up the data needed to answer your burning questions.

And, like Amazon, Microsoft has come up with its own home smart speaker, the Invoque, which performs many of the functions of its rival devices. As soon as Microsoft hits the market there is another big advantage - Cortana is available on all Windows computers and mobiles running Windows 10.

Google Assistant

One of the most common responses to a question these days is "LMGTFY". In other words, "Google me".

This only makes sense when Google Assistant talks about answering (and understanding) any questions.

From asking to translate a phrase into another language, to change the number of butter columns to one cup, Google Assistant not only provides the correct answer but also provides some additional context and source information for the website This suggests that Google's powerful search technology supports it, perhaps with a surprising exception.

Although Amazon's Alexa was released two years ago (via the Echo introduction) than Google Home, Google has made significant progress in capturing Alexa in a very short period of time. Google Home was released in late 2016, and within a year, it had already established itself as Alexa's most meaningful rival.

By the end of 2017, Google had stated a 95% word accuracy rate for American English; Currently the highest of all voice-assistants. It turns out to have a word error rate of 4.9% - Google is the first in the group to fall below the 5% limit.

While some have tried to strike back at Amazon, Google has released several similar products for Amazon. For example, Google Home is reminiscent of Amazon's Echo and Amazon Echo Dot's Google Home Mini.

Recently, Google announced some new, important partnerships with Lenovo, LG, and Sony to launch a series of assistant-powered "smart displays" that will once again resemble Amazon's Echo Show.

Nuance’s Dragon Assistant and Dragon Naturally Speaking.

Although Nance did not come with a smart home speaker, their Dragon Assistant, and Dragon natural speech systems have been used as the backbone of speech recognition for other technology companies. "I need to be able to talk without touching my phone," said Vlad Sejonha, chief technology officer at Nance Communications. "It's constantly listening for trigger words and pop up the calendar or create a text message or browser where you want to navigate".

Nance's voice-recognition technology is largely centered around speech systems in the car; Embedded dictation capability and bringing interactive information to the car.

“Another development involves a deeper level of understanding,” says Nance’s lead solution architect John West.

West argues, "Here, the goal is not just to identify speech, but to gather meaning and purpose that enables voice-driven systems to respond intelligently, in a way that meets the needs of the user."

What is the best voice assistant?

Here's what we know

With over 400 million devices using Google Assistant, including Google Home speakers and Android phones, the company's voice assistant is now installed on more than 400 million computers and devices.

Similarly, Microsoft has officially stated that Windows 10 has 400 million active users; Exclude mobiles running a single system.

Since Amazon’s Alexa is only available on their Echo speakers, this number will definitely reduce the number of dwarves competing against Alexa.

On the other hand, with over 300 million iPhones worldwide by mid-2001, Siri took advantage of this space - not to mention the number of people who owned an Apple Watch, MacBook, or iPad.

With the support of millions of pre-existing users for the tech giants mentioned above, a simple software update is needed to integrate their post-voice assistants worldwide.

For example, people with Google's Pixel phones will be part of the Google Ecosystem. They are more likely to invest in Google Home Speaker, so they can get entangled with YouTube, Google Search, Google Maps, and more. Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft users are the same, without the least repetition of what ecosystem and what products they spend on.

It may depend on the use case.

After all, there is no one-size-fits-all winner when it comes to voice assistants.

If you like the Apple-consumer, Siri and its wide distribution across all Apple products will help you.

If you want to make your home a smart home, Alexa already has thousands of software and hardware integrations ready.

If you've been looking for a helper who can answer all your weird and amazing questions, Google Assistant's search engine will find the rest. If you want a little more control over what information your digital assistant has access to, Microsoft's Cortana has that functionality.

Collaboration that sets the bar high

The recently announced partnership between Microsoft and Amazon on August 30, 2017, is the real deal-breaker here.

This is correct. Alexa and Cortana are officially working together. Since both companies do not have popular smartphones (unlike Google and Apple), they have changed their assistants to suit their strengths.

Users can say "Alexa, Open Cortana" on their Echo devices and "Open Cortana, Alexa" on their Windows 10 devices.

Alexa customers will be able to remember Cortana's special features, such as booking meetings or accessing work calendars, picking flowers, or read your work email on your way home.

Similarly, Cortana customers can ask Alexa to control their smart home devices, shop on Amazon.com, and communicate with more than 30,000 skills built by third-party developers.

Therefore, in terms of voice-activation and digital assistants leading this new industry, Amazon definitely takes the cake.

The company not only supports the creation of other voice-activated technologies through their ASK and Smart Home APIs, but they are also the original inventors to create a smart home speaker with a smart home speaker and screen.

In other words, they are moving faster (and moving forward) than their rivals, all of which are new by continuing to share.

Speech Recognition in-Car

Voice-activated devices and digital voice assistants not only make things easier.

It’s also about safety - at least when it comes to speech recognition in the car.

Companies like Apple, Google, and Nance are completely changing the driver experience in their vehicles; Allows drivers to focus on the road with the intention of eliminating the distraction of looking down on their mobile phones while they drive.

Instead of texting while driving, you can now tell who to call your car to or which restaurant to navigate.

Instead of scrolling through Apple Music to find your favorite playlist, you can ask Siri to find and play it for you.

If your car is running low on fuel, your speech system will not only let you know if your car needs refueling but also point to the nearest fuel station and ask if you have any specific brands. Priority to this

Or you can be warned that the petrol station of your choice is too far to reach with the rest of the fuel.

As advantageous as it may seem in the ideal scenario, speech technology in a car is dangerous if applied before high-speed accuracy. The study found that voice-activated technology in cars actually causes a higher level of cognitive distraction. This is because it is as new as technology; Engineers are still working on software kinks.

But, as rate speech recognition technology and artificial intelligence are improving, we can’t stay behind the wheel in a few years.

Speech Recognition Apps and Devices

Voice assistants are making a big difference in our personal lives, according to a recent study by Voice Labs that 30% of respondents cite smart home devices as the main reason for investing in Amazon Echo or Google Home.

This next generation of 'communication' technology provides users with a way to use the clumsy remote control interface.

Therefore, it allows consumers to talk and communicate with their electronics as they further increase the ease of human use and reduce the barrier to access to technology products.

Engineers must work hard to create an abundance of voice-controlled devices that can integrate with the voice technology of leading digital assistants; From appliances and safety devices to thermostats and alarm systems.

Nest, for example, is a company that invests capital in the new voice-technology frontier. “Your smart home should not be dumb,” the company said.

With the Nest Thermostat, you can use the Amazon Echo to control the temperature in your home with simple voice commands. Or, pre-order the Nest Hello Video Doorbell and get the Google Home Mini at no cost when shipping. From alarm systems to smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, Nest Protect thinks, speaks, and warns your device.

Bringing these voice assistants to the office in future applications of speech recognition, beyond the home.

In late 2017, Amazon announced new voice-activated tools for the office, hoping that verbal commands such as "Alexa, Print My Spreadsheet" would extend to normal office tasks. Microsoft's Cortana has begun to handle some other office tasks, such as scheduling meetings, recording meeting minutes, and arranging travel.

Today, only a handful of high-ranking officials have their own personal assistants. With the introduction of AI digital assistants in the workplace, everyone can be one.

To access the company's financial data from last week to last year, please ask your Google Assistant to create a graph showing the year's increase in click-through rates - there are many uses for implementing Digital-Assistant in the workplace.

Think about it - just like electronic computers, voice can go manually through the files on your computer so that paper records can be easily changed shortly before.

Video Games with Voice Control

In these use cases, speech recognition techniques have been implemented with the aim of simplifying our lives, which is also evolving in other areas. Namely, in the gaming industry.

Creating video games is already exceptionally difficult.

Plots, gameplay, character development, customizable gear, lottery systems, worlds, etc. can take years to display properly. Not only that, the game can change and adapt based on the actions of each player.

Now, imagine adding another level to gaming with Speech Recognition technology.

Many companies that create this idea do so with the intention of making gaming more accessible to those who are visually and/or physically challenged, as well as immersing players further in the gameplay by launching another layer of integration.

Voice control can reduce the learning curve for beginners, with less emphasis on recognizing controls; The player can start talking immediately.

In other words: it can now be very challenging for game developers to collect hundreds (if not thousands) of voice data, speech technology integration, testing, and coding to keep their international audience.

However, despite all the goals that tech companies are shooting and overcoming challenges, there are already video games that believe the benefits outweigh the barriers.

Even mobile games and apps are now capable of using voice-activation in addition to the classic console and PC versions. Seaman, starring Leonard Nimoy as a sarcastic man-fish, debuted in the late 1990s, and Mass Effect 3, released in 2012, is just the latest example of speech technology in video games.

What is our history, where are we going?

Speech recognition has made major advances in the last decade; it's been 1,000 years in the voice technology market. Magic eight ball to today.

The intense level of competition we see among these tech giants in the industry and the growing trend of companies creating materials in space indicates that we still have a long way to go.

[helloalexappguide]

Alexa app help section – Alexa App Guide

If you be the owner of an Amazon Echo you might be surprised to gain an understanding of how much it can really do. It's filled with quality and hidden settings.

Alexa can make to-do lists, set alarms, play music, Entertainment, Skype calling with Alexa, provide weather news, Make a phone call or send a message, and more. We've been living with many Echo gadget and Alexa in common for a while, and we use them for a scale of tasks.

1.       Download the Alexa app. 

Download the Alexa App through the window store of your pc. Follow the steps, create an amazon account and sign in. It is free of cost.

2.       Turn on Echo Dot. 

Place the echo dot in the any conner of a room, with a minimum of 20 cms away from any walls or windows. Plugin the device to the adapter. Once the blue light turns to orange, Alexa will say hello to you.

3. Connect Echo Dot to a Wi-Fi network.

Connecting your gadget to an internet source is a lead step in setting up echo dot. There will be given clear steps on how to connect your device to a Wi-fi network.

 4. Talk to Alexa. 

Now you can use your echo device. To get started, say to this word “Alexa” is set by default and then use your Alexa device. You can change the wake word later through the option of “change the wake word” in the settings section of your play store and window store. Clear instructions on how to complete setting up echo dot will be given to you.

Things I Can Say To Alexa

What is the date today?

What time is it?

What is weather today?

When is (holyday) this year?

For current event and facts.

What in the news?

What movies are playing?

Who sings ....?

Did the team win ?

Tellme a fact about ...

Remind me to ....

Set a timer for ....

Play ... music ....

Tell me a joke.

Play Simon Says?

Pick a number between ...  and ...

Flip a coin.

Using Echo with a Screen

Show me picture of...

Show me the weather forcast.

Show me how to....

Create a sports update

You can say "Alexa sports update," you'll get a rundown of news for teams you have chosen. Go into the Alexa app > Settings > Sports update and you'll find the option to search for teams. You can add important teams, like Cobras or The Master Batters, or find national teams. Play music on a different Echo

If you have more than one Echo gadget, you can tell one Echo to play music on another Echo - different from groups. This is where renaming can help, because you'll call your Echo "Office" or "Kitchen" and tell any Echo on your system to play music therein room.

Your Echo speaker is already lovely intelligent but thanks to Alexa Skills it can learn new tricks ranging from playing games to giving you more control over your smart home devices.

You can add a skill tap on the Menu icon and then Skills & Games. Here you can search the most popular skills or browse for one that’s more relevant to you. For example if you have a Philips Hue lighting kit you can gain complete control over your lights using your voice by adding the Hue Skill.