Talk to Me, Siri

Do I like Apple (the computer giant, not the fruit)? Apple is great, but I am not a big fan. Don’t misunderstand me: Apple builds excellent products, and they are the best choice for many users… but not for me, as I live immersed in a Windows world where Apple is sort of an alien: odd, not always compatible. Beyond the Microsoft Windows vs. Apple Mac cliché and their fanatics on both sides, It is more of a matter of convenience: Most of the time, I use Windows machines that play nice with my files, easily connect to network resources I use and other machines at home, and seamlessly share information with my phone, just like any Apple-inclined user would tell you about his/her Apple gadgets. Good for them, good for me. Alas, I am a Windows Phone user, and I don't use Siri, the voice activated assistant available to iPhone users, but I’ve seen multiple times friends explaining Siri what they want; frequently, I overhear Siri-user conversations during my long daily commute on the train an subway, braking the tranquility of a quiet car to inform the user of something I am not really interested to know… However, what I always find interesting is how much the interaction resembles a conversation, with all and those misunderstandings resembling human to human situations that are familiar to anyone. And then, from the voice inflections, gestures and body language, I’ve wondered what is impact on the users of this more personalized, natural way of interacting with the machine... like there is some sort of ‘emotional’ connection that doesn’t seem possible, or at least easily recognizable it the communication between the cybernetic lady and the user if the interaction were keyboard or touchscreen mediated. Do we love objects? (I mean love, like we love other people). I don’t think so, but these Siri-user interactions sometimes make me doubt, and now I know I am not alone, as last weekend I listened on npr’s show On The Media this interview with Genevieve Bell, an anthropologist and the Director of User Experience and Research at Intel, who says that humans aren’t just interacting with their devices these days, they’re forming relationships with them:

I find particularly interesting the discussion around the role of reciprocity in developing a relation with our objects, and from what I hear on my way to work or coming back home, Siri is good at that.

Those who know me can tell how much I like electronic gadgets. I do. However, I don’t love them. Not yet. In my case, of the few objects that are precious to me, my guitar is the closest to my heart.  Playing it gives me so much pleasure! However, I don’t love my guitar like a love my family or my friends. I guess that reciprocity is not always enough.

Now, to stay on the safe side, I am happy that my Windows Phone voice-assisted capabilities are extremely limited. This way, there is no risk that I fall in love with my phone. That would be pathetic. However, I might find myself updating this post with the next version of Windows Phone.

In a more positive note (!?), here is a gift for movie lovers: the classic scene in 2001, Space Odyssey when Dave, the astronaut, deactivates Hal 9000, the supercomputer that killed all other humans in the spacecraft. First, Hal 9000 tries logic, then it (or should I say he) begs... and finally gives up and descends into a vegetative state. It is an amazing take on human-machine relationships, even more brilliant when you think that it was done 45 years ago!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8N72t7aScY