Alot of people think that Apple added “Beta” to Siri because there are still little bugs. This most likely is true but I also think that it’s also because Siri is not up to the true potential that they envision. I have had a little time to use Siri and it’s very cool and a huge change in what was possible before. However there are things that I would like in the next version of Siri to make it more of a digital assistant. These are the five things that I would like to see in Siri 2.0
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- Better activation method
Siri is your digital assistant, the purpose is for the user to create a more personal bond with the device. The problem is that the current method of activation creates an immediate disconnect for the user. It is not intuitive it doesn’t flow with your life and integrate seemlessly. It also makes times when Siri would be the most helpful more complicated and so Siri is of no help. As an example I’m currently typing up this post and I just got a text message from my wife. I’ve got my headphones on listening to music but instead of continuing to type while using Siri to answer the text message. I have to stop typing and hold down the Mic button on the headset to activate Siri. Just that break in whatever you’re doing means most people will just ignore the message, alert, email, etc. to finish what they are doing. I want to see Siri activate whenever the device does an action whether alert, reminder, alarm, email, etc. waiting for your input or some other ingenius Apple method.
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- Faster Response
Using Siri on Wifi has a bit of a lag to get a response. I know there are alot of factors since the request goes over the internet to the servers and back. So the data connection, server load and other factors play a part. As the feature becomes more used and put on more devices it will need to always be fluid and without interuptions. The iPhone 5 will have an even faster processor most likely and with the use of faster networks like LTE/HSPA+ this should happen
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- More Capabilities
What should be the best thing about Siri is that it should allow you to do more. It should allow you to truly multi-task within your life by doing some of the easier things with your direction. It should allow you to use speech in order to get things done, like a real life assistant. Let’s say you’re sitting on the couch watching TV, you might want to tweet, update your Facebook status, open an app to take notes. You don’t want to stop watching your show so you usually wait until commercials and try to get it done before the program starts again. I want Siri to be able to open Twitter and send a tweet, write something on my wife’s/Girlfriends/best friends Facebook wall, open whatever app I want, do a search, take a note, send a message with my direction.
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- Learning Capability
I’m not talking about John Conner, Skynet and the rise of the machines here. I feel that when Siri doesn’t understand something you should be able to say “it means….” and explain. Then it should be added to the database or whatever so that the next person that uses the same phrase or asks the same question doesn’t receive the same “I don’t understand ….”. This would help develop Siri over time so that commands, tasks, questions will be easier to ask and also more readily answered. I want Siri to learn things she doesn’t understand so that in time she can actaully answer the question when it’s asked again.
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- Natural
The way to interact with Siri is by talking. I want the interaction to become so fluid it’s like having a natural conversation. Obviously you will still need to pause and enter a time, title, alarm, etc. for your appointments, reminder and alarms. When I ask Siri things I want the answer to be more natural. This is a very hard thing to explain but it ties in all the other things on my list really. A seemless method for activation along with the ability to learn and the added capabilites. I want to say “Siri what smartphone are you on?” Siri: “iPhone 5″, “Siri how many alarms do I have?” Siri: “Four, would you like to edit or delete any?” and things like “So siri how are you today?” Siri: "Well i wish i could answer that, but i’m afraid i can not haha!"
