What can one say? An etherial representation of a non existant entity that Apple users like to communicate with as if she were a real person. Like HAL in 2001. Actually, the visual representation accompanying this story reminds me of The Mummy movies from circa 2000, where the creature reanimated via some nice CGI effects. So it's all about the software, I guess.
I like your HAL analogy, Alex. I definitely think Apple users tend to give Siri that deference.
As far as the bigger takeway for the engineering audience, special effects software aside, it's really more about the now accessible 3D design software and 3D print services that allows the average lay person or professional designer, in this case, to put their idea to "3D paper," so to speak, and see a tangible representation of what they envisioned. I grant you Siri is pretty etherial, but lots of ideas are until you see a physical representation. This is just a fun example of what's possible as 3D print services and 3D design and modeling software become more mainstream.
This reminds me, too, of some CGI effects in more recent sci-fi movies, or even in Twin Peaks, when Josie dies and her spirit--or maybe the spirit of evil Bob but looking like her, we're not sure which--gets caught in the dresser drawer knob--the shape of her face trying to break out of the knob's material looks kind of like this.
I find it interesting that Siri -- as with so many computer generated voices -- is female. One explanation I've heard for choosing a woman's voice for instruction and interaction is that people generally take instruction more easily from mom than dad.
That's a curious thing to consider, Rob. Frankly I hate those voices. I have an annoying one on my GPS in my car and it's all I can bare to stand her directing me for too long. I haven't experienced Siri yet, but I'm told by those who have that's she's amazing. I suppose if someone talks to you that long, you tend to conjure up an image.
Yes, I agree the voices are annoying. I haven't experienced Siri yet either, but I've heard tons of automated voices. I can't recall any male voices used. So maybe there is something to the notion that we respond more positively to a femaile voice.
At the supermarket that I frequent the English self-checkout voice is female, the Spanish voice is male. Perhaps it is a Spanish cultural thing that they don't like to take instructions from women ?
Now that's interesting Glenn. I can imagine why the voice would be switched to male for Spanish. I can understand the preference for a female voice. I can't understand a preference for a male voice. You're right, it's probably cultural. I'm would guess it's not arbitrary.
To me, it seems like phone-based systems are increasingly switching from male to female voices. For years, United Airlines Mileage Plus had a male voice. Same for my credit card company. But I noticed yesterday that the Mileage Plus starts with a male, who then hands it off to a female voice, who walks you through all the menu choices.
I would guess the switch from a male voice to a female voice is not arbitrary, Chuck. I would imagine it's been tested. The practice is prerecorded voices is well developed. I would expect the voice choices have been tested to determine which are the most effective.
Actually, I am kind of surprised about that based on the science. I thought that there was a study done quite a while ago that suggested that male voices are easier to understand by the majority of people due to the lesser high frequency components. Of course, maybe there is are new studies based on the psychological component rather than purely auditory.
Beth: If you own a GM car and have OnStar, then the virtual voice's name is Veronica. GM engineers called her Veronica for years. Don't know if they still use that name.
UK-based Plastic Logic and French company ISORG have created what the pair tout as a first in flexible printed electronics: a large area, conformable, organic image sensor printed on plastic.
For 3D printing to make the jump from rapid prototyping to manufacturing, engineers will need to find easier ways to move products from their CAD screens to their printers.
Gigabit and PoE are two networking technologies moving ahead in tandem as industrial users power remote Ethernet devices such as IP security cameras at 1,000 Mbps over existing CAT5 cable.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
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For industrial control applications, or even a simple assembly line, that machine can go almost 24/7 without a break. But what happens when the task is a little more complex? That’s where the “smart” machine would come in. The smart machine is one that has some simple (or complex in some cases) processing capability to be able to adapt to changing conditions. Such machines are suited for a host of applications, including automotive, aerospace, defense, medical, computers and electronics, telecommunications, consumer goods, and so on. This radio show will show what’s possible with smart machines, and what tradeoffs need to be made to implement such a solution.
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