What is Siri?

Siri is a software program from Apple that responds to voice commands to perform a variety of tasks on an iPhone or iPad. Apple describes Siri as an “intelligent personal assistant.” The most common way to use Siri is to ask questions and wait for Siri to respond with an answer. 

How to activate Siri

Siri isn't an app but is a function built into iPhones and iPads. To activate Siri, press and hold down the Home button. After holding the Home button for a short time, a message will appear on the screen asking “What can I help you with?” After the message appears, Siri is ready to listen to your voice and respond. iPhones with iOS 9 or later will vibrate when Siri is ready to respond.

There are other ways to activate Siri. The first is when your iPhone or iPad is plugged in and charging, and you can say “Hey Siri” to activate Siri without pressing and holding the Home button.

A second way is to change the Settings for Siri in the Settings app and turn on the feature that allows you to use “Hey Siri” without plugging into power. You'll need to use the Settings app, select General, then Siri and Allow “Hey Siri.” You can also disable “Hey Siri” by turning your device face down to avoid it accidentally responding.

You can use Siri with a headset that has a remote, such as Apple's headsets supplied with iPhones and iPads. Press and hold down on the center button of the remote until you hear the chime, then you can talk to Siri. If you're in a vehicle that supports Apple's new CarPlay feature, which connects your car to your iPhone or iPad, you can activate Siri by holding down on the voice-command button on your steering wheel.

Siri is also available on the Apple Watch and is activated by using the “Hey Siri” voice command or by pressing on the Crown of the watch.

Internet

To use Siri, you'll need to have an active Internet connection since Siri uses a program located on Apple's computers on the Internet.

What can Siri do for you?

Siri can access and use all of the Apple-supplied apps on your iPhone or iPad. As a result, Siri is capable of performing many tasks using apps such as searching the Web (Safari), creating an appointment (Calendar), sending an email (Email), or setting a reminder (Reminders). Siri also can use the location feature of your device to help you with tasks related to your current location.

Some examples of what Siri can do for you are easy to find by asking Siri what she can do for you. Try this if you've never done it by activating Siri and asking Siri “Siri, what can you do for me?” You'll see a list of ideas for things that Siri can do for you on your iPhone or iPad.

Some commonly used examples of what Siri can do include:

• Calling a contact by telling Siri to call a person
• Sending an email to a contact
• Finding places near your current location
• Asking Siri to search the Internet for information
• Opening an app
• Playing a song in your Music library
• Getting directions to a location or contact address

Your relationship with Siri

While Siri is intelligent, Siri can't do everything or recognize every type of command. I like to relate it to dog training. It's about training the owner on how to issue the right commands as much as about training the dog. Siri can be frustrating when you issue a command and Siri doesn't interpret it clearly and does something else. Don't get frustrated, just try a different way of asking.

For example, if you asked Siri to locate the closest gas station to your current location, Siri would probably give you a list. If you wanted directions to the gas station closest to you, you'd have to ask Siri to get directions. In this case, state your first question as “Siri, get directions to the nearest gas station” and you'll save yourself a few steps.

Siri works best without long pauses between words since Siri will often think you've stopped talking and try to respond. So when you ask Siri to do something for you, speak clearly and don't pause during your question. In fact, speaking a little faster than normal is often OK, unless you have a fast-talking voice, and then speak normally.

iPhone, iPad. iPod touch and Apple Watch models

To use Siri your Apple device needs to have the Siri feature capability in the hardware. Models of Apple devices that use Siri include:

• Apple iPhone 4s and newer
• iPad Pro
• iPad Air or newer
• iPad 3rd generation or newer
• iPad mini or newer
• iPod touch 5th generation or newer
• Newer Mac OS versions 

To my way of thinking

Using voice commands offers a new way of using a computer, and can make it faster and easier to get things done. If you learn a little about how to use Siri, your investment in an Apple mobile device pays off for you in many ways you never thought possible.

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