Android by Google (Photo : REUTERS/BECK DIEFENBACH/FILES)
Smartphone users may now use Google Open Mic to voice command Android to send a message through WhatsApp and WeChat.
After amazing its users with its previous advancement which allowed users to tell Android "Send message to honey: I love you", the company even expanded its innovation by allowing Open Mic to access not just the phone's messaging tool but also external communication apps, Engadget reported.
To voice command, a user may say "Send a WhatsApp message to Bob: Hello".
For those who are not familiar with Google Open Mic, this application, which is downloadable in the Playstore, allows users to direct the OS using their voices. When the app is activated, users may say the hot phrase to trigger voice command. The default hot phrase is "Okay Google" but the user may change it.
A user may say, "Okay Google." Then pause and wait for the acknowledgement beep. Then say "Send message to Paul: Go Home"
Google Open Mic can also run other tools such as Google search, weather forecast, Spotify, and call. Internet access is needed to activate advanced apps. A user may say "Okay Google: what is the weather today?"
The feature is just the start of Google Inc.'s aim to begin a touchless technology. In the future, the company aims to create phones and OS that can be commanded in more ways than just navigating the screen.
Because Open Mic is relatively new, the technology is still imperfect. For instance, having a noisy surrounding may affect the performance of the app as it cannot distinguish the user's voice. The company, however, is serious in making it more diverse and efficient. In the future, it may access a wider array of apps.
