pn81

Q: Why are there no apps that will automatically speak incoming iMessages or SMS messages?

For any activity that would see a person check iMessage/SMS message while moving (driving, cycling, etc) and the obvious fact that users don't care what laws are passed (they can and will text while driving)

 

You would think there would be a wide variety of apps in the app store that would speak your messages to you. I know of one, called drivesafe.ly that did/does that, but no longer supports Apple.

 

Now I know, Apple doesn't open up it's iMessage API to third party apps, and I know that you can try some tricks to do that in Accessibility - however these aren't true replacements for an app that would simply speak a text message you receive. From what I hear, Apple will in iOS10 allow third party apps to interact with iMessage, I hope for one we see more of these kinds of apps. Wouldn't you think that would be a proactive and life-saving feature Apple might want to push for development? I just know it would be safer and even more convenient.

 

What are your thoughts?

iPhone 6s, Other OS, iOS 10 Public Beta Preview

Posted on Sep 13, 2016 9:57 AM

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Q: Why are there no apps that will automatically speak incoming iMessages or SMS messages?

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  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 13, 2016 10:00 AM in response to pn81
    Level 9 (55,588 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 13, 2016 10:00 AM in response to pn81

    Siri can read you your new messages.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Sep 13, 2016 10:09 AM in response to pn81
    Level 9 (58,969 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 13, 2016 10:09 AM in response to pn81

    pn81 wrote:

     

    Wouldn't you think that would be a proactive and life-saving feature Apple might want to push for development? I just know it would be safer and even more convenient.

     

    What are your thoughts?

    I think it would be another excuse for people to use to do something other than pay attention to the road. Like using a headset, people would have the false sense that they were somehow being "safer".

  • by pn81,

    pn81 pn81 Sep 13, 2016 12:09 PM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 13, 2016 12:09 PM in response to KiltedTim

    Yes she can, but not without interaction. You can ask her to read them, or use a speak selection option, but I'm looking more for a solution that will read them automatically as they arrive - no input needed, just a voice that comes over your speakers or headphones and reads a message without the user having to tap anything.

  • by pn81,

    pn81 pn81 Sep 13, 2016 12:11 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 13, 2016 12:11 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    You have a point, but even a slight mitigation in the risk would be worth it. Will those users still look at / interact with their phone? Yes some, but a good many of us wouldn't. So it seems like a reduction in risk that would be worth the time using it.

    I'm also thinking of it for running or cycling in inclement weather, where my phone is tucked away in a pocket or case - being able to just hear a quick message through headphones would be a lot easier and not require me to stop my ride or run to get my phone out and interact with it just for a message that is potentially trivial.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Sep 13, 2016 12:54 PM in response to pn81
    Level 9 (58,969 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 13, 2016 12:54 PM in response to pn81

    pn81 wrote:

     

    You have a point, but even a slight mitigation in the risk would be worth it.

    Except it wouldn't mitigate the risk. It would increase it. People would believe it was some how now safe to interact extensively with their phone, to listen to all of their text messages because they are "handsfree". So, instead of stealing a single glance here or there, which is bad enough, they'd spend minutes with their brains occupied by the voice reading their messages, with formulating replies, with editing them when the speech-to-text failed.

     

    We saw this problem with headphones. People thought the problem was their hands off the wheel, so they bought headphones. Unfortunately, the problem is their minds off the road but, because they believed they were safe, they talked more.