October 15, 2011

"I'm not aware of any meetings about 'the antiwar march hare in Madison.'"

My new iPhone's Siri program just got closer than ever before to understanding a question I asked, which was: "When is the anti-war march here in Madison?" I know there's an anti-war march today, and I'm trying to find out when. To be fair, Googling my question doesn't pull up the answer either.

But I love the robotic intelligence that substitutes — for "march here" — March Hare:



Hey! It's a tea party!

UPDATE: I just asked "What time is the Badger game today?" and was understood exactly and the phone immediately brought up the official UWBadgers site. So... go iPhone. And... go Badgers!

UPDATE 2: The phone seems to have figured out how to understand me. I asked "What's the best blog written by a law professor?" and it got it word for word. It wouldn't express an opinion however, but asked if I'd like it to "search the web" for the answer. That is, want me to Google that for you? I tested it with "Who's the best Republican Party candidate for President?" and, again, it offered to search the web. The iPhone is opinion neutral. And it's not cruel neutrality. You need a human being to get cruel neutrality. The robot provides bland neutrality.

21 comments:

Curious George said...

Welcome to the Android world of 2010!

ndspinelli said...

But, can it tell a horny guy[I'm too old to be horny] where he can get laid? Or, where to score some weed? That baby would really sell

ricpic said...

The lefties of Madison are marching against Obama's "incursion" into Africa already?.....I thought not.

edutcher said...

Maybe it was programmed by a Conservative and won't let you attend such Leftist folderol.

(has Meade been playing with it?)

Wince said...

When is the anti-war march here in Madison?"

At this point, one must ask: which war? We have several to choose from.

But I love the robotic intelligence that substitutes — for "march here" — March Hare:

I wonder if peterironrails' iPhone 4s would have read that as "crotch hair"?

Ann Althouse said...

"The lefties of Madison are marching against Obama's "incursion" into Africa already?.....I thought not."

Who knew there'd be another war to march against by the time the date of the march arrived?

Lincolntf said...

Which war? Anyone else get the feeling that Obama has never read Joseph Conrad?

edutcher said...

GodZero probably thinks he's Kent Conrad's brother.

Ann Althouse said...

It wouldn't express an opinion however, but asked if I'd like it to "search the web" for the answer. That is, want me to Google that for you? I tested it with "Who's the best Republican Party candidate for President?" and, again, it offered to search the web. The iPhone is opinion neutral.

Maybe it's just wishy-washy.

DaveW said...

Verizon is begging me to accept one of these things because my contract is up in December. They're offering me a 4GS 16GB for under $100 (just SIGN THAT CONTRACT). So far I'm resisting their entreaties as I suspect the offer will sweeten considerably as December approaches.

But I do kinda want one.

Is the program supposed to learn your voice over time?

Fred4Pres said...

You need a human being to get cruel neutrality.

Yes. That is true.

DaveW said...

From what I just read they claim that it works right out of the box - and - that it gets better at recognizing your speech over time.

I think I'm going to get one but I do think I'll wait until December gets closer and see how desperate they get.

Fred4Pres said...

ndspinnelli, some demonstrations of the new iphone had it directing people to escort services for exactly that question you posed.

Tyrone Slothrop said...

Calling Chip Ahoy! Your presence is required in Althouseland!

Curious George said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Curious George said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Curious George said...

Curious George said...
"The iPhone is opinion neutral. And it's not cruel neutrality. You need a human being to get cruel neutrality. The robot provides bland neutrality."

"cruel neutrality" was available on the Althouse iBullshit that came out in 2008. The 2.0 version is scheduled for release in 2012.

Alex said...

So many Obama wars to march against and no protesters to be found...

MadisonMan said...

What if you ask: For whom should I vote?

Chip S. said...

IPhone, IPhone, in my hand, what's the best blog in the land?

Carnifex said...

Ask it who the SCFOAFM is, and I bet it gives a bitter answer.

Carnifex said...

@ Lincolntf

Somethings Obama has not read

1) a map of the "57" states
2) "Navy Corpseman"
3) the Transcontinental Railway
4) Prospectus for success of Solyndra
5) Obamacare bill
6) Obamajobs bill
7) the Constitution

Somethings Obama HAS read

1) Tee Time with J. Boehner
2) Departure time for flight to see Broadway show
3) Calender for next vacation
4) Tee time with anybody
5) People Magazine
6) his own books (out loud, to children)
7) Das Kapital

I think I made the list "fair and balanced".

Did I mention Tee times?