Test drive the voice assistant "Alice" from "Yandex"
Technologies / / December 19, 2019
Virtual voice assistant designed to simplify our interaction with devices and services. Instead of wandering around the graphical interface to find the right menu item, you can just command the natural language "play music" or "Prompt the weather forecast." Perfect assistant should correctly understand the command and execute it.
Technologies which underlie these assistants, while far from perfect, but capable of impressing. You can watch them in action, if used assistants Google Assistant, Cortana and Siri. Now let's see what we can please "Alice", Which recently settled in the application" Yandex ".
Synthesis and speech recognition
Unlike other voice assistants developers, "Yandex" has focused on the Russian market. Therefore, it is logical to expect from "Alice" to better support the Russian language.
Although the voice assistant, you can easily hear the artificial notes, it sounds more natural in the order of its nearest rival - the Russian version of Siri. For scoring of "Alice" drew actress Tatiana Shitov. By the way, it was her voice tells the operating system in the movie "It".
In terms of Russian speech recognition for the assistant "Yandex" while also second to none, the errors are relatively rare. In addition, the assistant does not just recognize the phrase, but also learn to interpret them correctly. Therefore, you can use different wording, and to ask follow-up questions in the context of the previous - most likely, the service you will understand:
But mistakes in interpreting requests until there are all voice assistant, and "Alice" is no exception:
Integration with services, "Yandex"
Another important feature of "Alice", which emphasize the creators, it's easy integration with other services, "Yandex".
For example, ask the assistant to turn on a song and it will play in the "Yandex. Music. " Request a translation of the phrase in the other language - Assistant opens "Yandex. Interpreter":
"Alice" is also able to display the weather forecast and build routes thanks meteoservisu and cards "Yandex". And if you need to find something on the web, will help "Yandex. Search".
Interaction with third-party programs
With regard to the integration with third party applications and services on mobile devices, here in "Alice" is not so good.
Assistant can be installed on Android and iOS, but as long as "Alice" poorly uses the capabilities of these platforms. So, with its help, you will not even be able to quickly start the alarm, add a reminder or note. But Siri can easily cope with these tasks.
Although "Alice" can open at the request of the program installed on the device, this function does not always work. For example, without problems Assistant launches "VKontakte" and Telegram, but if you ask him to open Viber, the application instead of the assistant will guide you to the site of the messenger. On the command "open calculator" assistant reacts oddly.
In addition, to address the "Alice", you must first enter into the application "Yandex" and click the Assistant button (or use the shortcut for quick access if you have Android). It's not very convenient, because one of the main tasks of the voice assistant - allow you to control the device hands-free. Siri is the same at the expense of deep integration with the iOS can receive commands, even when the screen is locked.
"Alice" on a computer
Assistant "Yandex" is also available for computers running Windows as a separate program. After installation appears on the taskbar search string and a button for voice interaction with the assistant.
In addition to the functions provided in the mobile version, "Alice" for Windows is able to search for files on your hard drive, run the desktop software, turn off the computer or put it into sleep mode.
Total
While "Alice" makes an ambiguous impression. On the one hand, the assistant is integrated with the service of "Yandex", that just like their users. In addition, although he makes mistakes, but still in the lead in terms of working with the Russian language. On the other, I would like to actively cooperate with the assistant platforms and applications.
Still, it is worth considering that "Alice" at the very beginning of his career and the absence of some functions at the start is quite understandable.
Download "Alice" for Windows →
Price: Free
Price: Free