Alexa, Is This the Right Time to Talk About Voice UI?
Gone are the days (well, almost) when communicating with machines meant clicking a mouse or typing on a keyboard. Soon, it will be all about talking to the computers through voice recognition — and hearing them talk back!
Statistics show that 41% of adults use voice search at least once per day. Many studies have further predicted, more than half of all smartphone users will engage with voice technology on their device. Juniper Research estimates 4.2 billion devices used voice assistants this year, which will grow to 8.4 billion by 2024, with much of the interactions on smartphones.
Think it this way, how many times have you tried asking a question, or set the alarm using Google voice search or asked Alexa to play your favorite song without having to type or click. Multiple times, right? Even if not multiple times a day, you must have tried once so far, at least I try it every once in a while, just to see how accurately it works.
This PwC survey shows what devices people have used to try their hands on voice assistants technology-
As people are becoming more accustomed to interacting with voice-activated/responsive devices, the rise in this use of voice search will increase accordingly. As a result, voice search technology will only improve further. It already has become better and more accurate as compared to what it was a few years back.
Here are the numbers, the Big Five tech giants, (FAAMG) Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Google — are currently developing or have developed voice-enabled AI assistants. According to research, Siri, Apple’s AI assistant, is helping more than 40 million users per month. Moreover, one in 10 households in the US already owns a smart speaker today.
To be honest, voice searches are not just another fad that will die out in time, they are here to stay, and it is high time we start talking about the Voice UIs. Whether we’re talking about Voice User Interfaces for mobile or smart home speakers, voice interactions are becoming more common, especially when users are more aware and concerned about screen fatigue.
What do users use the voice search for?
People mostly use voice search when they aren’t able to touch a screen (e.g., exercising, driving, or cooking). For professionals this could be while multitasking at work, taking notes or even as voice transcribers. I usually ask Google to “wake me up at 9 am” or “call a client for a quick chat”. To test this I have tried doing a search in a few different accents, American English, something in heavy Indian accent and even asking for the time in Hindi, and the search and results were almost accurate each time!
A PwC survey conducted on American citizens indicated three out of every four consumers (74%) are using their mobile voice assistants at home (See below)
If we take a bird’s eye view, search behaviours, will be seeing a big change in future.
ComScore data even revealed that 50% of all search would be via voice tech by 2020. Well, I know that due to the pandemic, the year 2020 so far has been a washout for many, but the year will be a catalyst for the voice technology. As more people are working and studying remotely, the usage of gadgets like mobile and desktop has gone up. All these sudden changes in the circumstances has given a fresh momentum to digital voice technology. For the broader market of voice assistants, Juniper Research estimates 4.2 billion devices in use this year, growing to 8.4 billion by 2024, with much of the interactions on smartphones.
Though there are no concrete data available yet, if you see around yourself, you’ll realize that voice assistant usage is way up as a result of lockdowns. At least, my mother who’s in her 50s, has learned how to use the voice search to Google some delicious recipes and has even found her way around asking Alexa to play her favorite songs! How cool is that!
Furthermore, brands are now experiencing a shift where they are transforming their touchpoints to listening points, and organic search will be the main way in which brands have visibility.
As voice search grows in popularity, marketers are expecting more platforms will be available for additional forms of paid advertisings. In fact, according to Juniper Research, voice-based ad revenue could reach $19 billion by 2022, thanks in large part to the growth of voice search apps on mobile devices.
So, Why Voice UI Matters Now?
If you haven’t figured out already, there is plenty of reason to believe that voice is the interaction model of the future. Here are our top three reasons -
- Talking is natural
When we compare to click-and-touch interfaces, speech is so far the most natural way we’ve ever interacted with computers yet. Since we are “talking” to the device, the personality, intelligence, tone and usability of the VUI will play a role in how natural this experience feels. So, one of the critical design considerations while designing the VUI is to create a personality of the voice assistant depending on the audience it is meant for.
- Speakers are everywhere
There was a time when it was fun to ask Alexa and Google, silly questions like what’s my name and what time is it just to see how “she” would respond. But the voice technologies have drastically improved in the past few years and devices like Apple HomePod and Google Home. The brands are now pushing the devices into the marketplace, with other tech giants rushing to release their own smart speaker technology and integrations to keep pace with increasing consumer demand.
52% of smart speakers, according to Google, are kept in a common space, such as the living room. 22% keep a smart speaker assistant in their kitchen while 25% of these people keep them in their bedroom. Among smart speaker owners who regularly use them, 62% will make a purchase using voice technology.
- Inclusivity is a concern
Developing a high-quality VUI is not merely related to preference or convenience, but one of inclusivity. For socially isolated and elderly people, an effective Voice User Interface represents a meaningful opportunity for comfort and company. In contrast, differently-abled people such as those with mobility issues or impairments in vision, this technology represents a more personalized way to communicate and control both their physical and digital lives.
Conclusion
With such advancements in VUIs, companies need to start experimenting on how they can leverage voice to interact with their customers better. However, before jumping on the bandwagon, I would say that it’s important to understand the value that adding voice will bring to your business. It may not be necessary for every brand to adapt to the change; it completely depends on the niche and the audience you are targeting.
Ask yourself — how can you provide value to your customers? How are you solving their pain points with voice? Will voice enhance the user experience or frustrate the user?
