The Popularity of Smart Speakers and Voice Assistance in the UK
The recent report from the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation reflects that most of the households in the UK region use smart speakers or voice assistance for their daily purpose. Such includes different activities like getting weather information, keeping records of important dates and meetings as well as monitoring health statistics (Crow, Luxton-Reilly and Wuensche, 2018). As per the industry data available, the most used smart speakers are Alexa (offered by Amazon) and Google Home as they offer better services through effective use of advanced technology including AI and machine learning.
It can be reflected that the product with technologically advanced features comes in small packages and can perform a variety of functions just after hearing a specific command or the voice. The developed product i.e., the smart speaker allows the individual to engage with the software or the technology device and get a response like real humans. However, companies can be identified to be investing heavily in the present scenario so that more innovative and advanced approaches can be developed which can ensure improvement of the service being provided as well as fulfil the customer’s needs and expectations. Companies like Amazon and Google are making substantial efforts to make necessary change as this help in providing better opportunity to achieve desire results (Pridmore, Zimmer, Vitak, Mols, Trottier, Kumar, and Liao, 2019).
In order to deliver smart assistance solutions, it is vital to develop a successful and user-friendly interface. The convenience of the algorithm used in voice assistance depends upon different layers of natural language and deep learning technology, as such helps the software installed in such smart devices to understand the voice command and to perform the required function (Coronado et al., 2020).
Besides this, the engineers need to ensure the development of an artificial intelligence personal assistance programme. Such would be focused towards conducting research and analysis with respect to the understanding of machine language/learning and based on such the changes or improvements in the existing services can be ensured. It can be reflected that to contribute towards innovativeness and user-friendly nature of such device it is required that a proper alignment is ensured between the natural or human language with the machine language so that the gaps existing can be identified and changes can be made accordingly. However, the design of the product should differ on the basis of its purpose as well as how people use the product accordingly (Kaushik, 2022).
Furthermore, it has been identified that Alexa can control the smart device at home by connecting with Amazon and offering better service. On the other hand, Google Assistance can perform the above functions same as that Alexa and can also perform some of the additional functions including reservations at the restaurant, as well as tracking appointments. Further, it can be identified that there is a need for the introduction of certain new features like managing finances, and recommending fancy restaurants and shops as such features will help in adding value to the customers (Terzopoulos and Satratzemi, 2020).
The Role of Advanced Technology in Smart Speakers
The industry researchers define that to ensure continually development of innovative smart assistance, it is vital for the company to evaluate the changing market needs and demand and to further adapt required skills that can help in developing such innovative and advanced approaches in the industry. Also, there is a need for the establishment of scenarios where the organization or the product developers can interact with the customers and accordingly the product can be developed considering the need of the consumers. For instance, Amazon has announced recently its new voice app which has the ability to understand customers’ behaviour and can offer functionality based on the behaviour to improve users’ experience. Based on such it can be reflected that it is important for the organisation to ensure the creation of utility for the customers or the target audience and to fulfil their expectations in the changing environment (Lee, Lee and Sheehan, 2020).
In the process of designing a smart speaker, a focus on the effective use of Artificial Intelligence tends to improve the overall functionality and can offer value to customers through its services. Along with this, the use of customer/user feedback is important as it provides the company with crucial information with respect to the service gaps and ineffectiveness, based on which further changes can be made in the product or service to offer better services (Ioana-Alexandra, Camelia and Laura, 2021). Such companies need to use open source or interact with the customers in the marketplace as such helps in order to procure the required and detailed information which can be utilised to ensure improvement of the services or the features being provided. Such open-source data or the market data can effectively be evaluated through the use of Artificial intelligence as such an approach will help to identify key market factors and to identify better opportunities to explore new opportunities to cater to a large audience.
Focusing towards that of the ethical aspect involved in the process, it can be identified that many households’ major concern is privacy, hence it is vital for the company to ensure implementation of required changes that can upgrade the features and services being provided by smart assistance and can improve the user experiences. However, AI is increasing constantly and offering better services like this help in providing new product to customers. Some people are concerned about privacy invasion done by the companies as Google and Amazon need to build trust by offering better security.
Hence, it will improve the current market position and develop a positive brand image in the market. Generally, voice assistance is created by advanced machine learning algorithms. It is used for better customer interaction and adds value for the people which makes life easier. In the last few years, the advancement of technology is becoming a key component in people’s lives. This is important to have a personalised experience with a different type of technology and offer better outcomes. Customers need to have a personalized experience while dealing with a different type of technology as this increase overall outcomes and technology to offer better product and services (Sutanto et al., 2013).
Investments in Innovations for Improved Services
Ethical issues are mainly related to the privacy of individuals which occurs with a given decision, scenario and activity with the moral principle. The ethical issues that have been faced by the customers are that it uses the personal data of the customers without their concern where the primary ethical issues which are associated with speakers and voice assistants such as privacy and data collection, suggestive language, child users and cultural biases (Stephens, 2021). The voice of the person is also used for the unethical approach which is considered the primary ethical issue.
There are some ethical issues that are faced by the customers are that companies are collecting personal information and manipulating the audience to increase sales. The voice used in smart speakers has become more realistic and pleasant as this help in achieving desired outcomes and provide better opportunity and offer a better product and provide better results to achieve desired outcomes (Kim and Choudhury, 2021).
This is essential for the management to implement wireless speakers as this creates a better experience for customers. Along with this, concern for individual freedom is even more vital as some people fear that, present organizations are selling the personal information of the people. For example, the voice assistance comes with microphones that are capable of listening and recording every single word spoken in the house. Hence, it is vital for the organization to make changes and make the product more secure as this help in achieving desired aims and objective (Lavorgna, 2020).
Nowadays with the implication of the technology, most the speakers and voice assistants are developed with the recognition of artificial intelligence and voice recognition for accurately and efficient delivery of the result which has been searched by the user. Most of the smart speakers are equipped with extended storage which is used to record the audio. Along with this, it is used to run on the cloud which directly saves all recording on the company serves as this affects the desired outcomes. It has been identified that the rise of technology has increased the number of cases like ransomware and cyber harassment (Huang, Obada-Obieh, and Beznosov, 2020).
A hacked smart speaker tends to record every and increase the risk of privacy. Hence it is vital for the company to be more ethical and offer additional antivirus as this helps in reducing the risk of getting a smart speaker hacked. Along with this, companies need to become more transparent and make their respective customer aware of the laws and privacy conditions. Using a better approach and being responsible towards loyal clients help in creating a better brand and offering high-quality service (Lavorgna, 2020).
However, the use of voice assistance and other AI technology is raising the concern for the customers as a company is using information for their personal gain. For example, Facebook has been accused of a data breach as they sell the information of the users to a third party to earn more profit. Apart from this, Chinese technology giant Huawei as blacklisted due to selling the personal information of customers to governments. Hence, it is important for a technology organization to make a product that is under the moral code of conduct (Brause and Blank, 2020).
Developing User-Friendly Interfaces for Effective Voice Assistance Solutions
Apart from this, the company are offering a default setting for voice recording as this is an issue for violation of the code of ethics. The government laws need to be made as this helps in reducing such unethical practise done by the companies. Cyber-criminal uses a different method to hack smart speakers and listen to every activity and take advantage. Technical feasibility while offering smart speakers is to improve Artificial Intelligence through machine learning. Another issue that often comes in Voice assistance Wake word false rejection rate as this determines the product command to instantly respond to the users (Lavorgna, 2020).
However, it has been identified that the response rate is often delayed which creates a negative experience in the minds of customers. Along with this, another technical issue like word detection delay is crucial as people across the world have a different accent. Such problems lead to incorrect responses which reduce the efficiency of the product and create a negative impact on the mind of users (Feng, Fawaz and Shin, 2017). Poor sound quality and connection with different devices need to be changed and make it easier and more useable to the users.
The limitation of voice assistance is that it only offers limited services like playing songs and offering news. Companies are focusing to improve the device with the assistance of Artificial learning and this complying with human behaviour. Voice assistance also has different types of limitations such as that it is costly and it does not work with different types of the operating system because it is not compatible. A noisy environment, accents and multiple speakers also create degraded results. The technical limitation of the implication of voice assistance is that voice recognition is not perfect and regular voice recognition can lack integration with another key service (Kienzle, 2019).
Machine learning has become advanced as this helps to understand the minds of people and offer services accordingly. This is crucial for the organization to have better machine learning and software as this help in providing better opportunity to achieve desired outcomes. The security error in the Google home device records all the user’s voices and collected information without prompt. However, the statement from the company was that problem was fixed. Furthermore, voice assistance has limitations as it does not provide an instant response to the person as well as it does not multitask. Hence, experts need to improve the performance and make it more connected with the user (Cioffi et al., 2020).
The intended solution is to develop new smart speakers to add new features like managing day to day activities, tracking finances and helping in selecting restaurants. Along with this, the device has the option to connect easily with phones, tablets and computers as this makes it more convenient for people to make use of voice assistance in life. Most people are health-conscious, as it can play a vital role in helping and offering information about individual health and also remembering the appointment for the health check-up (Gupta, Jain and Jajodia, 2021). All these additional features need to add with fast voice recognition as this improves customers’ experience with smart speakers. The company needs to invest more in research and take feedback from the customers as this helps in providing better insight about making changes and offers better services that help in achieving desired aims and objectives. This increases overall results and offers. Furthermore, optimising search engine operation as per the need of users makes it more convenient for users to have a better approach towards development (Lee, Lee and Sheehan, 2020).
Additional Features and Benefits Offered by Smart Speakers
Based on the overall discussion it can be reflected that considering both the social as well as the economic impact of the product and ensuring improved services often comes at a high price. In order to overcome the problem, it is vital for Henry to ensure effective resource utilization and monitoring cost-effectiveness in the process by targeting a larger audience. The voice assistance needs to have complete autonomy and more features to provide information about new shows and films for entertainment. One of the important factors is to offer privacy security as it needs to be safe from hacking as this helps in creating trust with the users. The improved technology and reliability are the key factor for making successful smart speaker and also provide a competitive advantage in the market. Social factor such as fear of anxiety reduces the use of voice assistance as it is important to evaluate the use and offer to improve technology. Hence, using advanced technology and intelligent solution is vital as this help in achieving the desired outcome. There is another approach that needs to be achieved for development and growth.
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