Description: Do you remember the first time you saw the iPhone?
Chances are someone was showing off an application — perhaps using Shazam to identify a song or shaking his phone to serve up restaurant recommendations on UrbanSpoon.
Now, here’s another question. When is the last time someone showed off an app to you?
Source: NYTimes.com
Date: Oct 5, 2011
Apple has long cultivated a devoted following of fans who are obsessed with its products. But as Google and its Android operating system nip at the company’s heels, it becomes ever more crucial that Apple still be able to dazzle consumers — and a new hardware design may no longer be sufficient.
Siri, analysts say, may be the answer. Siri acts as a virtual personal assistant that uses a combination of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to perform tasks like scheduling appointments and helping users figure out whether or not they need an umbrella.. READ THE REST OF THE STORY
Questions for discussion:
- Is Siri a disruptive technology for Apple? Explain?
2. What is Siri?
Lindsay G
2. What is Siri?
Siri is an Apple application for iPhones that acts as the equivalent of a virtual personal assistant. It operates by using language processing software and artificial intelligence to perform tasks. Siri is capable of everything from scheduling appointments to looking up the weather forecast. This software was available as an application on its own, but has since been integrated into the iPhone 4S’ operating system – changing how its users interact with the phone itself. It makes use of voice recognition technology so that they user can simply request the information that they are looking for or perform a desired task, rather than having the user manually input the correct commands to complete a task. In addition to simply obeying commands, Siri is actually able to learn about the habits of its user. This can help the device become more efficient in providing the service that the users desire. Currently this technology comes standard with iPhone 4S smartphones, helping them stand out in a saturated market where there are many alternatives available.
Andrew Douglas
I think that Siri will be a disruptive technology for Apple, at least initially. Siri is a virtual assistant integrated into the phone’s operating system that handles many aspects of the phones operation (as well as learns the users habits) and changes the way that the user interacts with his or her phone. This seems like the type of flashy novelty that gained the iPhone its initial fame when it was originally released to the public, so I foresee it shaking things up and bringing a larger market share Apple’s way; but, only for the first little while. If Siri is as successful as Apple’s App Store was, then it will not be long before Android and BlackBerry operating systems have their own version of Siri, just as they have their own version of Apple’s App Store. When something is successful and companies see that there is a demand for it, they will offer it. This technology seems easy to imitate and it will not be long before this is just another standard feature of today’s modern smart phones. If Apple really wants to regain market share, it will take a whole lot more than a few flashy tricks or a cheap gimmick.
D. Kozak
Siri becoming integrated into the iphone or apple systems is taking away from users personal space. I believe that its invaded personal privacy. When any system can track your habits and then gain knowledge from your usage it learning to much information about the user, and you have no control over it. The question becomes who has access to the information it is creating? Is it just being used for the user, or is the information being sent to apple and then based on apples system, then updating the phone or device of the specific user. What if someone else gets a hold of the information that it creates on you, your habits, things you buy, where do we draw the line. Any system that comes into effect that can gain knowledge about a user has to be watched and carefully evaluated.
Thomas Davies
2. Siri is, in essence, a computer that you can interact with for answers, kind of like a search engine that runs on your phone. She isn’t intelligent, but if she has access to enough data, she can certainly appear intelligent. Siri’s data sources are open APIs, like Wikipedia or Wolfram Alpha, and in theory there’s no limit to the number of sources that can be added (though it does require significant developer time to add a new data set). For now you can ask Siri about the weather or the definition of a word, but in the future, if Apple links Siri up to United Airlines, you’ll be able to book a plane ticket, just by talking. Because Siri runs locally, she can also send SMSes or set reminders, or anything else that Apple (or app developers) allow her to do.
1. I don’t think this application however is a disruptive technology. I think that because Apple needs to keep its customers coming back, they need to have something new being introduced to the market every generation of phone.
adam smith
I think Siri is a step in a good directing being integrated into the iphones operating system itself but I don’t know if it will have the same Wow factor that apple is thinking it will, it thinks it’s going to have the same impact as it did when the iphone first came out, but that was evolutionary, and unique . Yes it’s new and it’s great it’s a new way to use your phone, it over time leans your habits and becomes more personal. but like it says there is apps for it that have been out for awhile. I have one for my android that leans my habits and is my personal assistant and yes its cool but I don’t know if having it integrated into the operating system itself will be the deciding factor to lead people to choosing apples Iphone over googles android when there’s already apps that can do it so the technology is out there already and people are using it for their phones already. Not to say it that apple intergrading it into its iphone operating system won’t have an impact on people’s decisions but not to the extent they feel, not being the wow I need that, because they can get it elsewhere.
Kristin Schneider
Siri is a computer that you can interrogate for answers, kind of like a search engine that runs locally on your phone. Because Siri runs locally, she can not only do research from the web, she can also send ext messages, and set reminders, and potentially do anything else that Apple allows her to do. Siri is essentially a glorified voice control search engine. Voice commands have existed since 2000, and most any smartphone has the ability to voice dial The question is, is anyone going to use it? It has become normal to walk down the street and hear people talking into their phone saying “Call Mom”. But it’s not every day that you walk down the street and head someone talking into their phone saying “I want a hot dog”. From my experience Siri is not a fast acting app, it takes her a while to retrieve the information you want. And she is also not quiet. You cannot use her in the library and whisper “What is the capital of Japan” because everyone within 15 metres is going to hear both you and Siri. I am wondering if Siri is practical enough to bring back the “wow” factor, or is it just another one of those apps that iPhone users won’t use?
Jian Li
Siri is a virtual personal assistant that uses a combination of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to perform tasks.
In my opinion, I don’t think Siri as a disruptive technology for Apple. It is undebatable that Apple is the top of the electronic product field since it always brings us revolutionary innovations. Their design always breaks the tradition, so it will take some time for people to accept a new idea. An ordinary product follows the old rules; a fantastic product changes the rules. It leads people to a new world. In the modern time with people having more open mind, we can’t deny a new thing that quickly. However, so far siri can only benefit English speaker (it doesn’t respond people has a strong accent). If Apple wants to bring this to world wide, there will be a long way to go. Take Chinese as an example, the language is totally different from English. There are so many different accents, irregular grammars. Those all add more difficulties to the Siri development team. Human’s brain and thoughts are more complicated after all. But artificial intelligence is the trends; therefore siri is a great step on the way to a new era of technology.
Blair Watkins
I think that apple was smart to integrate siri into the actual phone. It just shows that they are always concerned about keeping the lead that they have in the technology world. I have a lot of apps on my phone. I don’t have an app that will act as personal assistant because I always have doubts about apps like that. For some reason I never think that they’re going to work the way that they say they will. I don’t know who made them, I don’t know if it’ll be a waste of time to put it on phone, and I don’t want to waste the memory on the phone itself. However, I do believe that if siri was part of the phone itself that I would use it. First and foremost because it’s now no longer just siri; it’s part of apple, and i trust apple. I know that if apple thought that it was a good enough technology to buy out and integrate into the phone, that it must be something pretty special. Even though I’ve never personally used the technology before, I now trust it.
Taylor Elderton
Siri is something that cannot really be read about and fully understood. When I first heard about Siri, and how excited everybody was, it was confusing because voice control had been around for a while. On any Android or iPhone, you could get a free app that would text or call somebody, look something up, etc. using only your voice. What makes Siri so special? Then you actually try it, and see its functionality, and I saw how much more it was. You can ask it any question, and Siri will find the answer. It’s more then just google searches. Asking Siri where to hide a dead body will bring up a list of the closest forests (allegedly). Siri is the closest thing to a computer that can “learn” that is available to the consumer market. She is literally a personal assistant, and although may not be a completely finished product, is a huge stepping stone in the world of voice activated assistance on smart phones. Apple creating this product first gives them a huge edge, and we can probably expect to see a more advanced version of Siri come out with every new iPhone, which will continually keep them ahead of the competition.
patricia ojuderi
In reference to the Wiley IS Weekly Update article “Will Siri Bring Back the iPhone’s WOW Factor?” Siri acts as a __________________ assistant that uses a combination of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to perform tasks like scheduling appointments and helping users figure out whether or not they need an umbrella.
a) virtual personal
b) technical
c) support
d) personal
In reference to the Wiley IS Weekly Update article “Will Siri Bring Back the iPhone’s WOW Factor?Siri was available as a ______________ app before Apple acquired it last year.
a) freelance
b) interactive
c) stand-alone
d) web access
patricia ojuderi
In reference to the Wiley IS Weekly Update article “Will Siri Bring Back the iPhone’s WOW Factor?” Siri acts as a __________________ assistant that uses a combination of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to perform tasks like scheduling appointments and helping users figure out whether or not they need an umbrella.
a) virtual personal
b) technical
c) support
d) personal
In reference to the Wiley IS Weekly Update article “Will Siri Bring Back the iPhone’s WOW Factor?Siri was available as a ______________ app before Apple acquired it last year.
a) freelance
b) interactive
c) stand-alone
d) web access
answer: a & c