She understands and knows all. She helps Northwood students and people all around the world do things everyday. Apple’s newest iPhone, the 4S, takes dictation.
Who is “she”? “She” is Siri, a program on the iPhone 4S that will listen to a voice command, know what is being asked of her and find out the information needed. She can be used to send text messages, make phone calls, set reminders and find nearby restaurants just by recognizing a directive order.
“She is basically this robot in my phone. I can ask her questions and she will pull up the answer; she does whatever I ask her to do,” senior Angelica Del Corro, a frequent Siri user, explained.
This virtual assistant can also be used to help students get through their day.
“If you have a reminder on your calendar you can ask, ‘What am I doing today?’ and she will tell you what you’re doing based on what is scheduled,” said freshman Peyton Hill, who doesn’t have a 4S.
As more states ban texting while driving, more comparable inventions, like Siri, are being used to send messages while behind the wheel.
“I use her to text while I’m driving. I’ll be like, ‘Send my mom a text message’ and then I will tell her what I want it to say and she will send it for me,” Del Corro said.
On the other hand, not all owners of Siri are that impressed with her.
“People make her seem way better than she really is,” junior Allison Stokely said. “You can ask her something and she will think you said something else. For example, I asked her to call someone and she said, ‘Did you mean “this person?”’ and she automatically called, but I didn’t ask to call them. She has a ton of flaws. Anytime you ask her something most of the time she doesn’t detect what you say 100 percent.”
Many Northwood students have iPhones but only a few have the iPhone 4S. Some know of Siri only because of the media attention she has been getting or through their friends.
Hill has the regular iPhone 4 and wishes she had Siri.
“I think it would be a lot easier to tap your phone and say something; having a 4 is okay, but having a 4S would be so much easier.”
Siri has made an impression, good and bad, on many iPhone 4S owners. Some students feel she is more than just a robot that caters to every wish and command.
“She has a personality and she has a name. She’s not just an App, I think that’s cool to think about,” sophomore Emma Korynta said.
Siri is sometimes explained to be more logical than other similar devices, and at times, is used more for entertainment.
“She has an attitude sometimes. You can ask her certain things and she will be like, ‘I don’t have to tell you that,’” sophomore Ryan Millis said.
Siri’s humor is another factor for fans.
“The most funny and common question people ask Siri is where to hide a body, and she will tell you swamps and reservoirs. I love her,” Del Corro said.
–Ally DeJong