The Amazon Echo, with its “Alexa” voice personality is one of the most popular smart speakers available. Google has “Google Assistant,” Apple “Siri,” and Microsoft “Cortana.” These voice-controlled systems can do many things, such as play music, audiobooks, radio stations, podcasts, answer factual questions, tell stories, and control devices in your home (thermostats, lights, and more). This technology is improving quickly and will be included in many more devices in the near future — at home, at work, and in your car.
These voice-controlled products enable better access for people in a variety of situations, such as people with vision problems, mobility problems, and situations where hands-free computing is useful.

Public, school, and academic libraries are experimenting with voice computing technologies
by offering smart speakers for loan, creating “Alexa skills” about library programs, hosting
workshops about smart speakers, and more.
We’ll cover the following:
1. What is a voice computing?
2. How does it work?
3. Examples of use
4. Why it matters
5. Where is it in the Hype Cycle?
6. Is it likely to be passing fad or an important trend?
7. Who are some of the key players? (organizations, companies)
8. What are some ethical concerns?
9. How might it help individuals?
10. How might it help people with disabilities?
11. Can it help bridge the digital divide?
12. How are libraries currently using voice computing and how might they use it in the future?
13. How might we experiment with it in library settings?
14. Which time frame applies?

• It’s a bit far off in the future, but good to understand.
• It’s coming soon, important to learn more now.
• It’s already here, and worth experimenting with in libraries.

15. Resources for learning more

OUTCOMES
• Become familiar with the basics of voice computing platforms.
• Understand why voice computing is positioned to become an important paradigm
change for more user-friendly and accessible computing.
• Get inspired to include voice computing in library services and events.
• Continue your learning with a bibliography of best sources for learning more.

Note:  This webinar s an updated version of a previous webinar called “Smart Digital Assistants: An Introduction to Voice Computing.” This one contains new material about this rapidly changing topic.  It is part of a series about specific emerging technologies and their implications for libraries by Nicole Hennig, author of Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies: Best Practices for Information Professionals.

Presented by:  Nicole Henning

Nicole Hennig is an expert in mobile technologies for libraries. In her 14 years of experience at the MIT Libraries, she won awards for innovation, and worked to keep academics up to date with the best mobile technologies. Now she has her own business helping librarians stay current with new technologies. She is the author of several books, including Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies, Apps for Librarians and Siri, Alexa, and Other Digital Assistants: The Librarian’s Quick Guide, published by Libraries Unlimited in 2018.  Like most librarians, she is passionate about access to information for all. Mobile apps are empowering for all ages and abilities — and librarians who take her courses are becoming technology experts for their communities. 

To stay current with the best technologies for education and productivity, sign up for her email newsletter, Mobile Apps News, on nicolehennig.com.