SOFTWARE - SPEECH ASSISTANT - 30.09.2019

Working more efficiently with Google Assistant

Google Assistant ( https://assistant.google.com/intl/en_uk ) is Google’s version of Siri (Apple) and Alexa (Amazon). You can put questions orally to Google Assistant, after which the app (or the device) will give an answer or perform an action. In addition to the Android app, there is also an iOS app, while Google Assistant is built into devices such as smart speakers. To activate the app and give a command or ask a question, touch and hold the Home button, or say “OK Google” or “Hey Google” when the phone is unlocked. In the app, you can also press the microphone icon to say a (new) command.

What questions can you ask?

You can, of course, ask very simple questions such as What time is it in London?How do you say aeroplane in German? or What is the nearest restaurant? But sentences like Call John or Launch a video conversation with John are supported. Tip. On What can I do for you ( https://assistant.google.com/explore/?hl=en-UK ) you’re given an overview of possible commands.Handy commands are Jump 10 minutes ahead on my TV when using Netflix or Dim the light in the living room if you are using a smart lamp. If you are using a Chromecast you can operate it via Google Assistant. Spotify and Google Music are supported as well, so a question like Play pop music will be answered immediately. And if you’re on the move, then Navigate to the nearest petrol station is a good question, while you can also check train schedules. Tip. To find out which privacy data Google Assistant uses, log in to your Activity Controls ( https://myaccount.google.com/activitycontrols ) and check out the Voice & Audio Activity section.

Devices with Google Assistant

Google sells its own smart speakers equipped with Google Assistant: the Google Home Mini (about £35) and the slightly larger Google Home (£70). The Google Home has a relatively small speaker, but you can easily connect a Bluetooth speaker to it. Newer is the Google Nest Hub , a custom Google Home with a 7-inch screen (£115). This is useful, as you can now also receive answers on the screen, such as videos, e.g. recipes in the kitchen, or directions.

Other equipment that you can operate directly via Google Home is also available: there are the roller blinds at Ikea (the Kadrilj and Fyrtur series), the lamps from Philips Hue, and smart thermostats such as those from Tado.

Google Assistant on your Sonos

Google Assistant has become available on Sonos ( https://www.sonos.com/en-gb ). At first this only applied to the newer Sonos One and Sonos Beam models, but it’s now possible on the older models. The only requirement is that you should also have a Google Home speaker or use the Google Assistant app to “redirect” commands to the Sonos - you can’t speak directly to an older speaker. Open the Sonos app, go to More and then to Voice Services . Select your speaker(s), choose the service you want to use (Google Assistant) and use your Sonos account to log into the Google Assistant app, which opens automatically.

Sonos supports a number of music services that work via the Google Assistant: Spotify, Google Play Music and YouTube Music, plus TuneIn radio stations.