Complete Siri handsfree interaction?

That was a BIG concern for us also, we knew it had to be realistic to be usable:

http://handsfreesiri.com/FAQ.html

We want to show Apple that it can be done!

I'm not that familiar with Cyndia- isn't it a site just for jailbroken iphones??? Is this an app that will be available at the Apple App Store?

Unfortunately Apple would never let us install a service on the phone. So until Apple tries to figure out what we did and implement it natively on the phone, this will be the only option for jailbroken devices through Cydia.

Battery life is already an issue with the 4S, for some at least. Siri doesn't just listen; it processes. So it's not just a microphone taking in sound, its the processor evaluating every signal. That sucking sound is the battery draining . . .

And, having a device constantly listening could be a problem, as Jack Donaghy found out with his voice activated television.

Once Siri is activated you just press the mic button once and she's listening; not hard to do, even in traffic, especially if you have a iPhone mount in your car.

But that is the beauty of audio processing! There are ways of avoiding cpu use, ignoring noise, and ignoring speech that isn't the keyword.

The trick is not processing every sound, and not using a massive audio processing for something where you are only listening for a keyword. Use a different lightweight engine to look for a keyword than you use to analyze a complete sentence and its meaning.

It only takes looking away from where you are driving for a moment to get in an accident, and looking for that home button could be all it would take.

It only takes looking away from where you are driving for a moment to get in an accident, and looking for that home button could be all it would take.

In 3+ years, I've never had to "look" for my iPhone's Home button. It can easily be felt with your hands... most do it without even thinking. That's why Apple uses it to activate Siri.

Still, "feeling" for your home button is taking your concentration off driving. And how often do you drive steering with your left hand and holding your iPhone in your right? At some point you have to look to where you placed down your phone and pick it up.

You're unnecessarily complicating a simple issue... using the iPhone and pressing the home button once is no more dangerous than changing the radio station, turning on the windshield wipers, turning on lights, blinkers etc... all can be done without losing your concentration or taking your eyes off the road. If you can't you shouldn't be driving at all.

PaulCB,

Unfortunately, using a Home Button, while a simple issue, will get you a hefty traffic ticket here in most California areas....So, it's not just a matter of simplicity- it's a matter of making the phones work for those who live in states where totally hands-free phone use is a necessity and required by law.

I have not tried this yet, but I have a Bimmernav bluetooth kit in my car, so I can answer a call and carry on a conversation without touching the phone. Pressing the button on the steering wheel may activate Siri. We'll see.

That said, I have found that even a totally hands-free conversation is distracting, so I do it only when absolutely necessary and keep converastion very short. If I need to talk longer I pull over and stop.

But a bluetooth car kit with a steering wheel button might be good for those who can use it safely and need it. Of course, touching a button on a bluetooth earpiece doesn't seem like that big a deal.

DrDocument,

I applaud you for your good and civil use of the phone while driving. I see far too many people who think that a part of driving IS being on the phone.

I actually can't claim any "high ground" on that as I had a scary moment when a dog ran out in front of my car while I was talking hands-free. Fortunately, the dog was paying more attention and avoided injury, but it was a wake-up "call."

I remember reading somewhere that the most important safety feature in a car is an attentive driver.

There is a solution, even if Apple won't provide it. It's "Hands-Free", but you have to JB your phone to get it. You can even customize the keyword that activates siri.

Now, even when my phone is locked, I say:

"Computer?"

and the phone activates Siri and replies "Yes, Master?"

It's great. I think it was $2.99

Great customized keyword and reply.

Not yet prepared to JB my iPhone, though.

I'm working on figuring out how to get my after-market BT car kit to unlock the phone for answering when it rings. But I just don't have that many incoming calls while driving.