Thanks to Barbara and Tom for taking notes today.
Renaissance iPhone Seminar Notes 03/17/21
Tom discussed Fall class 2021 will have a different format. Each class will have a theme (scenario) or two. Eg: using your iPhone when walking, using your iPhone when cooking, using your iPhone when gardening. A current class member indicated interest in an Apple Watch class and Tom suggested that watch applications could be included.
SIRI & DICTATION - The things you can do without typing. And works on iPad too!
According to Wikipedia - Siri is a speech recognition and intelligent personal assistant application developed by Apple Inc. for its mobile and computer platforms.
Checkout the official Siri website or how to Dictate Text on iPhone
Siri helps bypass the (tiny) keyboard, prevents typing errors
2 forms: voice/voice response and textural form
Tom reviewed how to set up. Settings > Siri & Search > toggle it ON. The first time you will be asked to say various statements so Siri can learn your voice. Toggle on Press Side Button or Home Button for Siri (depending on your model). Toggle on Allow Siri When Locked.
Siri is a computer service that translates/interprets the sounds (words, commands) that you input. You can ask things in different ways (Will it rain tomorrow? Will I need an umbrella tomorrow?) and the Siri will interpret your request and report back.
Siri works only when you are connected to the internet.
Tom's ten-page list of things Siri Commands & Questions will help you with and suggested some as follows: set an alarm or timer, open a rarely used app from the app library, make phone calls, reminders, location based commands (when I get home remind me to ____, when I leave this place ask "How long until I get to home?"), open Maps (give me directions to the nearest _____), invoke Siri to send a Message to _____ .
So, don’t be embarrassed to talk to your phone in public. If dictation is not working be sure Enable Dictation is toggled on. Settings > General > Keyboard > Enable Dictation.
Privacy issues: none; info transmitted is encrypted.
Productivity: Tom showed a calendar example of an upcoming museum program. He used Siri’s contextual awareness in the event to bring up options: create event, create reminder, calendar, copy event. We will delve deeper into productivity in the upcoming iPad class - “meet and greet” next Wednesday.
PS The Pocket-lint website has 61 funny things to ask Siri for a good giggle or you can invoke Siri and just say ... repeatedly "Tell me a joke."