From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch
OK Google. What happens if I get laryngitis and can’t say OK Google? Answer: Google gives you information on how to treat your voice loss.
OK Google is tightly integrated with Google Now, Android’s personal assistant program. They have almost become synonymous. In the next year or so, I think there will only be one program combining both.
In the last couple of years OK Google has become an excellent tool for making your mobile Android device easier to use. Without tapping anything on your phone, you can use your voice to make a phone call, send a text message or compose an e-mail. I often use it to write these articles for the club newsletter. I hardly ever key in a Google search anymore. It is just so much easier to speak my search phrase.
Almost all Android devices come with Google Now installed. For those that do not, the Google app is available from the Play Store. It works by setting up “cards” on your device to assist you with your personal life.
Google voice searching was first introduced in 2008 in Google Maps. It has constantly been improved over the years. Today it is excellent for both searching and phone commands. Examples of searching commands are:
Where was [President Obama] born?
Define [computer].
Who is the governor of [Louisiana]?
How old is [Bobby Jindal]?
Show me pictures of [the White House].
What’s the weather like? What’s the weather in [New Orleans] [this weekend]?
What’s [182 yards] in [miles]?
What is [12 ounces] in [liters]?
What’s [135] divided by [71]?
Some examples of commands are:
Take a picture (“Take a photo” also works)
Record a video
Call John Doe [mobile]
What’s my schedule?
Send email to [Tiny], subject [Darkside], message [That was a great article in the November newsletter.]
Text [Tiny] [I just sent you an email.]
Open Evernote
Of course, these are only a few of the things that Google will recognize. If you do a web search you can find complete lists. There are also a lot of fun “Easter Eggs”. On of my favorites is “Scotty, beam me up.” If you’re not a Star Trek fan, I’ll tell you that Google responds with a classic Engineer Scott reply, “I canna do it Captain. I do not have the power.”
This short article has only given an overview of the powerfulness of OK Google and Google Now. Click here for Google’s help page on setting up OK Google on your Android. Google also has a help page on OK Google and voice search. If it is not already installed, the Google Now app is available in the Play Store.
Thanks for reading.