- Image by philcampbell via Flickr
Thanks to advances in mobile technology, smart-phone gadgets are now more like portable mobile super-computing devices that combine the functionalities of a handheld computer, music player, notepad, GPS navigation unit and more. As if the above features are not confusing enough for consumers, Google launched Voice Actions for the Android operating system which unsurprisingly some users might find difficult to understand.
This post has therefore been put together in a bid to help users who fall into the above category understand how to use Android Voice Actions commands. Fortunately, the steps are quite straight forward as shown below. Click here to read the first steps you need to take.
To use Voice Actions (if present on your Android phone):
- Tap the microphone button on the Google search box on your device’s home screen, or press down for a few seconds on the physical search button on your phone to activate the “Speak Now” screen.
- Then speak any of the following commands (to perform a Voice Action on your phone):
-
- send text to [contact] [message]
- listen to [artist/song/album]
- call [business]
- call [contact]
- send email to [contact] [message]
- go to [website]
- note to self [note]
- navigate to [location/business name]
- directions to [location/business name]
- map of [location]
Examples of Android Voice Action Commands
Send text messages
Say “send text to [recipient] [message]*”
e.g. “send text to Sam Pepper Running late. I will be home around 9”
Get directions
Say “navigate to [address/city/business name]”
e.g. “navigate to the Forth Road Bridge Edinburgh” or “navigate to 14 Chamber St.”
Listen to music
Say “listen to [artist/song/album]”
e.g. “listen to take that and robbie williams”
Call businesses
Say “call [business name] [location]*”
e.g. “call Amani restaurant Leith”
Call contacts
Say “call [contact name] [phone type]*”
e.g. “call James Corden home”
View a map
Say “map of [address/city]”
e.g. “map of New York”
Write a note
Say “note to self [message]”
e.g. “note to self grocery list bread milk eggs coffee”
Search Google
Say “[your query]”
e.g. “pictures of the niagara falls at sunset”
Go to websites
Say “go to [website]
e.g. “go to Twitter”
Send email
Say “send email to [recipient] [subject]* [body]*”
e.g. “send email to Cesc Fabregas How’s life in London treating you? The weather’s beautiful in Barcelona!”
* optional