Siri is a UI game changer

[Umbran]

They're both in the lounge anyway. And it's a wireless network; no cables involved. All I actually have to do is flip the TV to AV2 on the remote.

Well, Morrus, consider how much technical knowledge was required to set up your current arrangement. Now, consider that done with Apple's eye to technical ease, seamlessness, and intuitive UI. It may not really be that much better than the setup you have, but it is Apple's version of that setup.

 

[IronWolf]

But "has a use" is not equivalent to "complete game changer for everyone"

Like any technology, it starts out on the cutting edge and for those with some discretionary cash and then trickles down if it passes those hurdles as the market opens and the cost becomes more affordable. The Internet, private phone lines, VCRs, DVD players, flat screen TVs all sort of worked like this.

I agree with Morrus that this could very well be the first of the true voice capable devices.

With respect... folks have been imagining that for decades. Asimov wrote of such stuff early in his career.

Yep - and now it looks like we might actually have a contender technology to make this a reality.

Talking to my house would require a substantial computer integrations into the electrical and heating systems - more money. We're talking thousands of dollars, in a bad economy.

There would be some integration that need made of course, that is true of anything. I'm not sure if it would be *that* expensive once the technology trickles down a little bit. For heating/cooling you don't need a whole new heating system, just a thermostat capable of controlling your heating or cooling over it. An Apple TV (or PC connected to the TV w/ compatible app) connected to the TV can handle nearly anything you would want to bring up on the TV. It may be the brains that actually hears your temp increase request and passes it along to the thermostat for you.

There are a lot of pieces out there that Apple has at their disposal to bring some of this together. Is everyone's house going to start doing this today? Nope. Partially because we aren't *quite* there yet and there is a price component today. But prices drop, we see it all the time.

The game doesn't change on the leading edge. The game changes in the mid-market, and that's a way off yet.

The game does change on the leading edge though. That's where we will see the technology first that will eventually trickle down to the mid-market.

 

[Morrus]

I

With respect... folks have been imagining that for decades. Asimov wrote of such stuff early in his career.

Oh, for sure. Don't get me wrong - I'm not claiming to have had some kind of novel idea. What I meant to put across is that we're pretty much there for that. None of that is even slightly difficult for Apple to get Siri to do (and it already does some of it) - it's not a technological challenge. It's just about partnerships now - which services Apple can strike a deal with to access their data.

Payments via voice is probably the biggest hurdle there. Apple already uses your iTunes credentials to purchase stuff from its own Apple store, from a small number of apps like Comixology, and of course for its own digitial products in iTunes, iBooks and the app store itself.

The barrier is Apple making agreements with different outlets and organisations to be able to do that.

That's what I meant to say - not that it's a new idea, but technologically it can be done very easily. Just a question of getting partners to sign on to the concept. We're there with the tech.


The

Talking to my house would require a substantial computer integrations into the electrical and heating systems - more money. We're talking thousands of dollars, in a bad economy.

Yes, indeed. That's certainly a barrier; as I was saying, I was just trying to say it's not a technological barrier. The economics of it - I agree, some of that won't be any time soon for that precise reason.

Well, Morrus, consider how much technical knowledge was required to set up your current arrangement. Now, consider that done with Apple's eye to technical ease, seamlessness, and intuitive UI. It may not really be that much better than the setup you have, but it is Apple's version of that setup.

Good point; I guess that's where Apple TV comes in. My setup wasn't difficult, but it did require me to Google a little in advance.

 

[Janx]

How does that differ from just throwing your PC display up on your TV via your wireless network (other than it being limited to just the stuff on your i-device rather than everything your PC can do)?

You also could have bought the cable to connect your iThing to your tv via hdmi or component video.

AirPlay just makes it wireless.

As to Umbran's setup concern. Most people with Xboxes have it hooked up to the internet. Except for iTunes integration, it does mostly the same things for streaming from your shared media and Netflix/hulu. iTV sets up just as easy.

 

[Janx]

I...snip...
But "has a use" is not equivalent to "complete game changer for everyone"



With respect... folks have been imagining that for decades. Asimov wrote of such stuff early in his career.
...snip...
The game doesn't change on the leading edge. The game changes in the mid-market, and that's a way off yet.

You're right, and you're wrong. Obviously, everybody has to have one, before the game has changed. But this UI advance has changed how people use the device.

You can get an iPhone 3gs with plan for free now. So everybody who skimps out for the free phone with the plan can have a smartphone. (obviously, it has the higher cost of required data plan). In 2 years time, the 4s will occupy that free phone slot.

Since most of Siri is software, and every fw release adds new features, that free phone will be better than my wife's new 4s on the exact same hardware.

Now, let's look at this as a software dev. I accept that the concepts of Siri are not new (as I indicated I had comparable ideas on the topic 20 years ago, they simply worked it all out). Siri sets the bar for natural language usage and practical application. Writing an email with Siri is no fancier than using Dragon Dictation. Using Siri to book tickets, set reminders, compile grocery lists and remind you by location are where the usefulness is.

From the application dev point of view, to make an app, I consider doing a installed client app, a mobile device app, or a web app. Following the 3-tier application model or SOA practices, the UI tier can be detached from the architecture, so I can build for multiple platforms. Siri is a new UI. Assuming Android gets just as fancy, I will want to enable my app to hook into voice commands if applicable.

Obviously for regular games, voice control may not be useful. But helpful apps are where Siri's power really is.

It would be trivial to add Siri to iTV3 or iPad3. I would expect google to try to replicate the concept.

Once its in our hands as a consumer, and we get it into it has a lot of potential to change how we use computers again.

 

[Aeolius]

Talking to my house would require a substantial computer integrations into the electrical and heating systems - more money

Actually, talking to your house is free. It's getting it to listen that's the kicker.

INSTEON-Compatible Thermostat - $160

INSTEON-Compatible Light Switch - $35

Indigo - $90 (Indigo Touch app for iOS = Free)

True, it's not cheap. But for less than $300, once you have an iOS device, you can control your HVAC and a light... assuming Apple let's Perceptive Automation have a crack at Siri.... until then it'll take the use of one finger. Until that point, there are always other options .

 

[Kzach]

The barrier is Apple making agreements with different outlets and organisations to be able to do that.

This just made me realise something.

Apple + Amazon = World Domination.

 

[Morrus]

This just made me realise something.

Apple + Amazon = World Domination.

See, what Apple could do (no idea if they will) is create a dedicated integration procedure. Your online store, or concert tickets service, or train company, etc. could choose to allow purchases with Siri. They apply to Apple and set up the required systems, and can then advertise themselves as working with Siri.

Apple would need to do quality control to ensure that from the user end it's all seamless and works perfectly. So it'd probably have to be an application and acceptance process. Each would have to tailor it to ensure that Siri could ask the right questions if it didn't have enough info from your initial request.

Like you say, Amazon would be a massive coup if Apple can get them on board with it. It'd be a big boost to making the above appear attractive to businesses.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

This just made me realise something.

Apple + Amazon = World Domination.

It could also be a way for Apple to put a knife to the source of Google's income. Google gives Android away for free because they can afford to, they can afford to because Google makes King Midas amounts money from ads.

Siri ties in with Yelp and Wolfram Alpha right now, but imagine Apple creating even more partnerships with ever more companies. Soon people are asking Siri to find things and are served up ad-free results from those partners.

Yeah, when Siri can't figure out what you asked you get a pure web search, but that is stripped of the ads.

 

[IronWolf]

See, what Apple could do (no idea if they will) is create a dedicated integration procedure. Your online store, or concert tickets service, or train company, etc. could choose to allow purchases with Siri. They apply to Apple and set up the required systems, and can then advertise themselves as working with Siri.

Apple would need to do quality control to ensure that from the user end it's all seamless and works perfectly. So it'd probably have to be an application and acceptance process. Each would have to tailor it to ensure that Siri could ask the right questions if it didn't have enough info from your initial request.

It isn't that big of a stretch for Apple to go this direction either. Just look at their app store.

Integrating sales via Siri, Apple takes a cut off the top and off they go!