Comments on: Andy Rubin asks: Should smartphones be assistants or tools?

By: seo service provider

seo service provider — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

everybody have their own opinions but in my opinion a phone should be both

By: Vitaly Stockman

Vitaly Stockman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:56:00 +0000

I disagree with Rubin. Phone should be both tool and assistant.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:41:00 +0000

“This isn’t a new notion. In projecting the
future, I think Apple did a good job of figuring out when the technology
was ready to be consumer-grade.” — Andy RubinGeez look at how he tries to play out Apple… This just made me laugh because dear Andy that’s the point isn’t it. This is what separates market leading innovators from followers. Some dude from Forbes was saying this was one of Jobs contribution to tech. When you look at his achievements since coming back to Apple you see something that appears obvious when you are told about it but something that many tech companies still don’t get. “Sustainable Innovation” the ability to always have something significant to offer based on what is possible with the state of existing technology.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:31:00 +0000

I think everyone is missing one VERY VERY big area where Siri functionality will literary change the lives of the people concerned. I know a lot of blind people who have learnt how to use cellphones with a little bit of effort of course. Now imagine a blind/visually impaired person who can now simply tell their phone to do stuff for them, send SMSs, emails to friend by just talking…

Am not blind but I can see how life changing that can be. As Siri evolves and becomes wired into things like Facebook these people can start having a level of independence that they could never achieve without this kind of tech. The issue has never been weather VR/AI was available the issue, as with a lot of things, has been how well it worked and judging from the reviews and comments from people who have the 4S Apple seems to have nailed it.

Siri makes the iPhone a better choice for the disabled as it enhances its already existing Accessibility suite of functions. Android in this regard is seriously lagging behind. When I go to Accessibility on my HTC Wildfire I get a message that says, no accessibility software was found on this phone. Do the same on an iPhone and it’s a totally different story. On my iPhone 4 three clicks of the home button and the gestures button pops up etc etc…

By: Rudy Aunk

Rudy Aunk — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:09:00 +0000

Hetep and Respect folks Google was caught asleep at the switch and it will cost them dearly. They are now 2 to five years behind the A.I. Curve and my not catch up them. A.I. I hard as they are about to find out.
“I don’t believe that your phone should be an assistant. Your phone is a tool for communicating.”
Sounds a lot like the transportation wars where the railroad company’s insisted they were in the train business and not the transportation business. The Iphone clones have been flanked again.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:21:00 +0000

All the best user focused design is about charisma and positive emotional response…

By: Mannytalavera

Mannytalavera — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:49:00 +0000

And if one choose to have both ,,whats the big problem?
an extra help will not be bad at all…we have to move on,,
and let them stay behind.

By: Steve Struthers

Steve Struthers — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:05:00 +0000

Rubin makes it seem as if people have to make a choice here – either have a phone as a communication tool, or as a personal assistant, but not both. I fail to see what the problem is with having a phone that can handle both tasks. Remember the days when people used to carry a cell phone and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)? Were people who used PDA’s in conjunction with a cell phone as antisocial as Rubin seems to think they might be if they used a cell phone as a personal assistant?

Another way to look at the issue is to consider the idea that digital assistants like Siri and Vlingo can act as adjuncts to communication. Siri certainly handles the communication thing well, since it will send any text message you compose verbally to anyone you designate. In short, the use of a cell phone as a tool and as an assistant doesn’t have to entail mutually exclusive propositions.

By: james Katt

james Katt — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Siri is a SERIOUS THREAT AND SCARY to Google because it makes Google superfluous.

With Siri, there is NO NEED NOR SPACE FOR ADs.
With Siri, there is NO NEED TO SEARCH ON GOOGLE.

Siri completely strips away Google’s ability to make money.

This is why Google downplays the significance of Apple’s Siri.

By: Wayne McKenzie

Wayne McKenzie — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:34:00 +0000

I think what people are missing here is the evolution of the user interface. Ask yourself why interfaces exist at all (in varying degrees of intuitiveness). Humans and machines haven’t evolved together to understand each other without a contrived interface. The interface in your car is the controls, steering wheel, pedals, shifter, etc. and the gauges. The ability to speak, or language is what has made humans the dominant species. What Siri does is reduce the interface used with your phone to a natural form of communication. Apple has been on this path since 1984 when they debuted an interface that shunned a series of learned typed commands and answers in favor of the graphical interface. They asked us to “Think Different” and promised a “Computer for the Rest of Us”. With interfaces like Siri the “interface” part of human/machine interaction will eventually fade away to what comes completely natural to all humans; talking and listening. At the moment, this new interface may not be for all of use. To some of us it feels unnatural, to others it’s just silly, but if you’re young enough, or open-minded enough, or highly adaptable, it will become to feel natural. Graphics will still be important as a method of conveying information, but mostly for receiving information, like maps and photos. The input side of the equation will eventually become completely spoken and Siri is a big step in that direction.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 05:44:00 +0000

Eh that’s what I thought at first, due to my experiences with other voice services, until I started using Siri. Instead of opening up Safari, then googling a question, I just ask it as I do when I chat with a real person and the AI knows what I’m talking about the recognition works a lot better. It strips away steps to get what I need and does a faster job at getting what I need. Setting up business meetings, finding reservations, reminding me to do something when I get out of a certain location, etc works 1000x better, easier, and quicker than those other services which are humbug. Talking to your phone like a real person unlike the other services and it knows what you mean makes a world of difference. The way it works is almost perfect, kind of magical, not to sound like Steve Jobs. Kind of hard to desrcibe unless you actually use it for a week.

By: Verne Arase

Verne Arase — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:03:00 +0000

I think ya’ll have confused assistant with companion.

An assitant is a job description … a companion has all the emotional baggage your’re detailing …

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:43:00 +0000

Siri is nothing new. Not even on Smartphones, let alone PDA’s. In fact I had a Voice Powered Digital Assistant PDA in the late 80′s early 90′s that was small compact and could do many of the things Siri does on iPhone 4s or VLingo does on Android and iOS today. But it cost a fortune for the times back then of over $500 (today that’d be well over $1000). It was a business write off so I wasn’t concerned and for that it was pretty awesome for selling products on route sales and my Real Estate career. Not to mention showing it off at the time just for the fun of it to clients!

But for normal living it was a headache. Especially driving in a convertible with the top down, in sales meetings for notes ugh (no keyboard only speech recognition), at home when trying to not wake the wife, etc and the list goes on. Then it becomes detrimental instead of an assistant, like it was meant to be. Since it had limited input, that was the main problem. Although it was cool just speaking a name, putting it up to a phone and having it dial it for me, what happens when you have to or want to be more discreet? In 1995 it went into a drawer never to be used again.

As it is we are moving into an age where people like having their devices just be tools. Tools that don’t imitate humans or try to be like one, but that actually help us avoid interaction with other humans if we choose. Phone call screening on Ice Cream is a prime example of a device being used as a tool. People today are using their phones less to call and talk to real humans and that’s exactly why texting is still alive today, even after it was seen as dead. Voice communications have become less important. A Smart device trying to imitate the human mind and contact we’re trying more to avoid isn’t going to replace manual input where we have full control today. Anymore than it did when I was using my own Voice Activated PDA 20yrs ago! …..Siri just won’t make it anymore than the dozens of other Voice Personal Assistants available on every platform today, in the long term. No more than Guru on Google Labs and it was purely an AI input in Google Talk has, other than entertainment and the novelty of it!

But where any of these will be handi is for non-convertible hands free Voice Turn by Turn on Android devices with VLingo’s “In Car” App! ….beyond that? bah… humbug…..

By: opinion

opinion — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:03:00 +0000

what Andy Rubin said is just something that lies in the “grey area” of this technology…

Main purpose of that technology is to help the phone function better in assisting us, not as a companion to talk to.

Of course when people starts to chat with their phones (i love you…do you think I’m cute…i hate my boyfriend, should i dump him…etc etc), it would be terrible because you’re starting to communicate with your phone.

And to those who thinks Siri is the BIG thing, it’s actually not…well…kinda, because it’s actually a very good AI, but then android has a similar application in the marketplace “Speaktoit Assistant for Android”I’ve tried it and while it’s not as fluid / solid as Siri, it basically similar, you could talk with it in casual way, even asking stupid question (I tried “could you get naked for me” and it answered “I’m not that kind of assistant”).Siri / speaktoit / other similar apps basically is not a BIG thing, it’s just a normal thing which lot’s of smartphone nowdays have (just minus the AI and the AI is not a big thing either). The smart piece is that apple used this technology to actually improve the use of voice application to really help the users and increase their user experience. I agree with Andy Rubin that apple knows when to bring forth an existing technology and to actually make it hip (for people out there who thinks that apple is the one who make tablet computer…they’re not…tablets has been around wayyy back, shaped similar to notebook but usually you can rotate the screen and use stylus with it)…

By: Telltales

Telltales — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:03:00 +0000

It’s definitely FAR FAR better than the Android voice command system. With Android I had to learn specific commands, but with Siri I don’t have to. I can just talk to the new iPhone like I’m talking to a normal person and it can do a hell of a lot more stuff than the genreic basic Android voice commands. Siri is a ton more useful and the voice recognition is much better than Android’s as well…I don’t find myself repeating as much like I did with my Evo. What was simple, generic, and an OK voice recognition system on Android systems, Apple is leapyears ahead of Google when it comes to voice commands and recognition on iPhones. Siri is really useful…can’t believe I thought Android voice commands were good. Glad I switched to iPhone, this thing is awesome and the apps are a lot better to boot.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:34:00 +0000

well i really don’t expect that guy to praise siri…
i do not agree with this guy as well. i bought a smartphone primarily to use it as an organizer. my calendar, notes, reminders, list of things to do, etc etc. and if i can tell this thing to do some stuff for me why not. although it’ll be weird probably at first.with my android phone i’ve tried to use the voice commands and eventually have to stop, because i have to speak like a robot for the thing to get it right. i think it’s not mainly the sw but the microphone. but still, i found it hard to memorize the templates like “send sms to …”

but i will wait for siri to mature.

By: John C. Campbell III

John C. Campbell III — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:28:00 +0000

Andy is very, very right (and tactful to boot) but I think a point is missing in this whole discussion. I don’t really NEED to be able to ask my phone to locate the nearest good pizza parlour. It’s a diversion. What I need is a functional phone that runs the full version of Iambic’s “Agendus” program even if they have to do a Micro$loth and buy the company and do the port themselves (Google it,and look at the version that runs on Palm O/S It’s the PIM to end all PIM’s) and uses the silly voice recognition? for something basic and important, to wit? Allowing me to escape from yellow sticky notes. Do any of these people realize how many millions of yellow sticky notes are sold a year just in this country? The truth is that the voice recognition folks are throwing up all this smoke and mirrors about an ‘assistant’ to dodge the fact that they can’t really accomplish what I’ve suggested above. (don’t believe me? try and train the nightmare system that is “Dragon speak”. The Siri thing? Is an invented need that once again the computer / and software industry is trying to promote to divert attention from them doing sommat that is actually needed and useful at a fundamental day by day level to millions and millions of people. jccampb

By: John Lehmkuhl

John Lehmkuhl — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:01:00 +0000

It’s been interesting – for the last 6 days, anybody I’ve showed my iPhone 4S to has gone from “oh it has the ability to be talked to”- typical reaction to “wait, you’re kidding, you just created a text message, edited it, had it read back to you and then cancelled it?” People that don’t see it in action – don’t get it. It’s not a cute gimmick.

I can be driving and ask my phone to start playing my bassnectar tracks. I can ask what the tip for 18% on 90.00 divided by 6 people is – in a noisy restaurant and it WORKS.

If Andy thinks that we were intended to always gawk down and peck at a piece of glass with our fingers to communicate with people, then he clearly wants to sway people away from thinking of the implications…. because Google doesn’t have an answer. Microsoft doesn’t have an answer either. They WILL, but not for, oh, I’d say maybe 6 months??

Until then, if you want a slice of Star Trek in your pocket, then you have to go the way of the 4S…..

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:44:00 +0000

In less than a week, my ‘assistant’
Has helped me get way more organized than all of my laptop/ipad products combined.

As a leader, you might want to realize that your thinking is the reason Apple is so far ahead.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Andy, are you willing to bet money on that comment or is that kindergarden talk for being jealous but trying not to show it. I bet Andy’s assistant helps him communicate with people by setting appointments and such. I am an android fan and would love to treat my phone like an assistant, but I am not going back to the walled garden that is iOS.

By: SMOKEN

SMOKEN — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:03:00 +0000

Being able to operate your device (phone) with voice commands does not mean that you are speaking to it and commanding it thinking more of it as a person than a phone. In my view, this is just a different way of operating your phone, very helpful for the visually impraired or just for the lazy ones :D In no means do i see it as reffering to your phone like you would to a human being. Just a variation, of a keypad, joystick or touchscreen. ;)

By: Andre Richards

Andre Richards — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:54:00 +0000

You know why Google doesn’t like a concept like Siri? Because it comes at their core business from a tangent they would have a hard time monetizing. Think how incompatible that approach is to the way Google does search and how disruptive that would be if it were to become popular.

Here’s how it would have to work. “Android, tell me about some good places to eat around here.” “Let’s see… here is a list of restaurants in the area, arranged with those who spend more money on Google advertising at the top.” “No, just show me some Italian restaurants.” “Here is a list of restaurant that have purchased the Google ad word ‘italian.’”

That would suck. It’s in Google’s best interest to downplay and deride Siri. It would be very hard to make such a thing fit into their current strategy.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:34:00 +0000

Iris is comicaly bad..

I recommend everybody download it for a great laugh..

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:32:00 +0000

“Hey! No blue screens today, I mean it.” She never listens…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:31:00 +0000

They are good at that.. they should turn the seat around on their bicycles they backpedal so much..

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:29:00 +0000

The hilarity is that an “android” was our future vision of just such an ai personal assistant…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:28:00 +0000

Speaking of tools, arguing semantics makes you one, Mr. Rubin.

By: William W

William W — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:57:00 +0000

Dang she is cute… can you introduce us?!
wmhwashburn@yahoo

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:46:00 +0000

I like commanding my phone. I do not want to have a conversation with my phone.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:26:00 +0000

I can see natural speech voice command and control being a valuable tool on a desktop and even more so in a car or motorcycle. on a phone when you are walking around, not so much. Now if you could tie in the information to a computer wired all over your house, that would be cool to be able to call it up on command, all Captain Picard style:

“Computer, where is the clean underwear?”…

By: Wayne McKenzie

Wayne McKenzie — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:18:00 +0000

I was replying to eh_bandit. I am a fan of Apple’s products, but that doesn’t make me close-minded. To each his own. eh_bandit takes the unusual position of lecturing Apple re: the addition of Siri. An open-minded person would just wait to see how this new UI evolved before deciding it would inhibit an individual’s motivation “to get up and go, to discover, to know”. He (or she) also makes the incredible leap that the Siri interface will be interpreted as “an actual friend in his/her pocket”. This reeks of condescension. It’s OK for eh_bandit to prejudge Siri without experiencing it, decide it’s not for him/her and stick with whatever he uses now or buy something else, but to lecture those of us who find this new interface compelling and useful, is close-minded. Nothing in my comment (or any previous comments) is even slightly closeminded and I dare you to prove it.

By: younan fakhouri

younan fakhouri — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:15:00 +0000

He’s going to eat his words when, two iterations from now, Android 6.0 Creme Caramel is released with AILI (pronounced like ‘Ally’) , the Android Intelligent language interface, which will also have snarky and sassy answers to philosophical questions.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:02:00 +0000

I think the line will begin to blur.
The phone is a device to communicate with others, yes, but that’s not all you do with your phone. You schedule events on calendar, take pictures, listen to music, and maybe even do real work.
We will reach a point where I can say, “Look up all major literature on C++, download and display the most popular ones now, save the rest to my server.” And it does it, reliably.
10 minutes of work just turned into 10 seconds.

By: its_just_a_phone

its_just_a_phone — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:00:00 +0000

As a former Droid owner, the single thing I really miss about that platform was the ability to talk to the phone, eg “navigate to home”. A lot of fellow iphone users who had android phones feel the same.

How a vp at Google can be so out of touch with his consumers is beyond me, unless it’s just mindless competitor bashing.

By: Raygun

Raygun — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:38:00 +0000

I was speaking commands to windows XP in 1999 from across the room.

By: Raygun

Raygun — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:37:00 +0000

I would argue his imagination is taking him beyond yours. The fact that the idea is in question means he has thought through it.

Everything you comment on is pro apple and negative anything else. Based on your past commentary it is easily deduced that you cant think beyond apple…who is the close minded one again?

By: Darren Swanson

Darren Swanson — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:33:00 +0000

I’m deeply entrenched in the Android camp, but I can see what is cool about Siri. It’s a cool feature. I do agree with Rubin that the purpose of a phone is to connect us to other people, the outside world. But Siri isn’t necessarily replacing that. It’s a feature that a user can choose to use or not. And with how the iOS system works, it was only Apple that could build Siri to do all the cool things it does. Any downloaded app would be too sandboxed. The cool thing about Android is that the system works differently in that a downloaded app isn’t necessarily sandboxed quite like iOS. That makes Siri functionality downloadable on Android. You can already find very similar apps popping up such as Iris (Siri spelled backwards, savvy?) and apps that have already existed such as Speaktoit Assistant. So good for Apple, but please, people, don’t try to say that Apple invented this functionality or was “so innovative!” because it already existed, Apple just incorporated it into their OS.

By: Ben Gage

Ben Gage — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:26:00 +0000

only a matter of time…. come on Apple iGina

By: WJMcKz

WJMcKz — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:15:00 +0000

Your comment illustrates your lack of imagination, knowledge of the UI in question and your closed mindedness. Lucky for you there are plenty of phone choices that will not challenge your limited views.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:15:00 +0000

you can’t shag Siri, but you can shag your real life personal assitant. Nuff’ said.