Using a Digital Assistant From a Distance

Almost everyone has a digital assistant in their smartphone and/or their smartwatch.

A smartphone digital assistant helps users perform tasks using voice commands. They can perform routine tasks like making phone calls, setting reminders and sending messages. There are many other fun and useful ways to interact and use your smartphone digital assistant. Such as, asking/answering questions, weather facts, sports scores and to tell you a joke.

It can also save your life.

What most phone manufacturers don't tell you is that you can summon your smartphone digital assistant from a surprisingly far distance from the device. Many of us routinely have our phones in very close proximity, like in our pockets, in a car cup holder or on the table at a restaurant.

We want to show seniors that they can command their smartphones from an astonishingly far distance. We recommend that seniors keep their smartphone nearby, but if they find themselves across the room and need help, their smartphone is at the ready.

Setting Up a Digital Assistant on Android and iPhone for Seniors

Both Android and iPhone have microphones that are super powerful and always listening for the hotword phrase. For most Android phones, the hotword phrase is "OK Google" and/or "Hey Google". With an iPhone the hotword phrase is "Hey Siri".

Let's make sure your digital assistant is set up and ready to go.

Android

Below are steps that should work on most Android phones:

• Tap on Settings icon
• In the Search Settings bubble, type assistant
• Choose Voice Match
• Toggle Hey Google to On

iPhone

Below are steps that should work on most iPhones:

• Tap on Settings icon
• In the Search Settings bubble, type Talk to Siri
• Toggle Listen for Hey Siri to On

Try Something Simple

Confirm that your digital assistant is working. Try saying:

"Hey Google what is the current temperature?"

or

"Hey Siri what is the current temperature?"

Talking to Your Assistant From Across the Room

This is where things get very interesting. The microphone in most smartphones is so sensitive that it can hear you when you are across the room, even without shouting or yelling.

Let's try it.

• Lock your phone, place it face up and leave it on one side of a room
• Walk to the far side of the room
• Try saying "Hey Google, what is the current forecast?" or "Hey Siri, what is the current time?"

Can Seniors Use a Digital Assistant From Another Room?

OK, prepare to be amazed, we were. One day with a normal voice we called out to our digital assistant from another room. It worked! Our digital assistant heard our request and offered answers to our questions.

We've experimented with going to a second or third bedroom and our voice traveled down the hall and into another room. Occasionally, it was necessary to move a little our left or right so that our voice would bounce of a wall and into another room. All in a normal voice. Imagine how far your voice travels when you are shouting or yelling.

Let's try it.

• Lock your phone, place it face up and leave it on one side of a room
• Walk to another room
• Try saying "Hey Google, will it rain today?" or "Hey Siri, tell me a joke"