Yandex voice call. All about Alice: what is the Yandex voice assistant capable of? Voice control doesn't work

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Friends, in October it will be 3 years since the official Windows release 10, and integrated into the operating system voice assistant Cortana still won’t learn to speak Russian. Until now, a full-time virtual assistant is available only for 15 countries of the world, which do not include the states of the post-Soviet space. Fortunately, a response to Western IT developments is ripe in Russia. Now, guys, we have a domestic voice assistant that can be implemented not only in mobile devices, but also in Windows computers, and her name is Alice. Well, friends, let's get to know her.

“Okay, Yandex” instead of Cortana

2 years ago, the first Runet search engine, Yandex, decided to solve the Cortana problem and offered it to the Russian-speaking audience free utility Yandex.String, integrating into the panel Windows tasks an analogue of Cortana - a search engine with the ability to enter voice commands. Yandex.String was created primarily to support Yandex services. Its capabilities included in-wall search, Internet search, and receiving answers to questions directly in the search bar. simple questions weather type or value conversion. The utility could be activated by voice request “Listen, Yandex” or “Okay, Yandex”.

Yandex.Strok did not make a particular impression on the Russian-speaking audience, and its creators came to the conclusion that the problem lies in the facelessness of the voice assistant. After analyzing the errors, Yandex recently brought the utility to a new format: it has improved functionality and a virtual character named Alice has appeared. The updated Yandex.String itself was renamed, calling it simply and unpretentiously - “Voice Assistant for Windows.” Alice is available not only for Windows, but also for mobile devices based on iOS and Android. Soon it is planned to introduce Alice into Yandex.Browser and other products of the first Runet search engine.

How Alice works

Alice is embedded in the Windows taskbar and replaces the standard in-system search. When you click on search bar in the taskbar after implementing the utility we will see a selection of icons of favorite sites extracted from the browser history, popular search queries, as well as buttons for interacting with Alice.

You can activate the virtual assistant by clicking on the microphone icon, as well as phrases - both old ones that were used for Yandex.Strings and new ones - “Okay, Alice”, “Hello, Alice”, “Listen, Alice”. The button with a question mark will display background information about its capabilities.

Just like the standard in-system Windows search 10, the search tool from Yandex is structured into sections. In the section below we will find some analogue of the Start menu with a selection staff programs Windows.

And in last section We will gain access to the user profile folders.

Well, now about the essence - what is Alice capable of? The Yandex voice assistant can:

Visit famous sites;

Run some Windows programs;

Open the requested music on the Yandex.Music and Yandex.Radio services;

Provide answers to precise questions directly in the chat based on the capabilities of the Yandex smart line;

Turn off, restart and put the computer to sleep;

Provide weather, time, date, news, converted money and other values, information about city traffic jams and public institutions directly in the chat;

Get directions;

Generate search queries and redirect them to the browser.

Of course, a serious conversation with Alice will not work.

With any advantage in her capabilities, the virtual assistant will immediately send us to a web search engine. She still doesn’t know how to do much that Cortana has already learned - set an alarm and timer, plan something and create notes in notebook and so on.

Plus, the brainchild of Yandex does not always correctly recognize voice requests, does not launch all programs, and does not detect the user’s location on Windows devices without GPS. Nevertheless, the developers are making grandiose plans for the new voice assistant. Her project is so serious that Yandex employees demonstrated it among the key IT developments to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to the company. During testing, Vladimir Vladimirovich, traditionally for his role, asked his assistant: “Are you being offended here?”

Who is Alice?

Alice was voiced by the famous actress Tatyana Shitova. It was her voice that was used in voice engine, through which the virtual assistant communicates with users. Alice is a character with her own character. Initially, the Yandex company planned to make her a noble maiden by loading literary terminology into her vocabulary. But when they realized that in this way they made the assistant too boring, the vocabulary system was taken from Twitter. As a result, Alice turned out to be a witty teenager: she knows how to be insolent and even rude on topics she doesn’t like, is endowed with a sense of humor and improvises, taking into account the context of the questions asked.

Alice Settings

Alice is not much, but it is a customizable tool. Website icons on the panel quick access can be changed to others from among Yandex services, frequently visited or recently visited sites. Also for the utility you can:

Configure operations with files - opening them in a program or in an Explorer folder;

Separate the Yandex search tool and chat communication with Alice into two separate buttons on the Windows taskbar;

Select a browser to open search results.

Since mid-May, the feeds of portals dedicated to mobile electronics have been full of news that Yandex is testing its own voice assistant - an analogue of the Apple assistant Siri. The voice assistant from Yandex was given the name “Alice” - the developers claim that in honor of Alisa Selezneva, the heroine of Soviet films. Now “Alice” is already available to all owners mobile application"Yandex".

There are very eloquent statistics (collected by the SEO-Auditor portal) stating that over 90% of domestic users are looking for information in one of 2 search engines– Google or Yandex. The Mail.ru and Rambler systems are left with pitiful crumbs of user attention, and many Russian users are not even aware of the existence of Bing and Yahoo.

At the same time, according to the SEO-Auditor rating, one can understand that Yandex, which was significantly ahead of Google in mid-2016, is close to giving the “palm of championship” in 2017. Why is Yandex becoming weaker? The answer is simple: because everything more people They access the Internet from mobile devices, and less and less from PCs. How many gadgets have the default browser running Yandex? No - any Android smartphone immediately goes to Google.

In order to prevent a monopoly on Russian market search engines and not lose outright to Google, Yandex is trying to offer users something that the “overseas giant” has not yet given them. This “something” should be an intelligent voice assistant that understands Russian. Google Assistant is good, but it still struggles with Russian; Google Now very primitive compared to, say, Siri and Alexa from Amazon. Yandex needs Alice to maintain its popularity.

The Russian company managed to release its voice assistant to the mass market before Google Assistant spoke Russian - and this is a significant victory.

When was the Alice voice assistant released?

Yandex officially introduced Alice on October 10, 2017. Owners of all devices with iOS and Android can use Alice’s services. On a PC with an operating system Windows Assistant continues to work in beta. The search giant is in no hurry to launch the intelligent assistant on other operating systems.

"Alice" recognizes speech well - moreover, it understands the user perfectly. According to Yandex, the assistant is trained on a huge array of texts, and therefore is a real erudite - she is able to recognize even unfinished questions, taking into account the context of what was said earlier. Unlike the beta version, the official "Alice" has no problems with intonation - she speaks in the voice of Tatyana Shitova, the actress who voices Scarlett Johansson. Yandex likes to involve stars in the voice acting of services - the navigator of this company, for example, is able to speak in the voice of rapper Basta.

What can the Alice assistant from Yandex do?

Plots routes, finds addresses. The program also reports traffic jams.
Performs a traditional search in the Yandex system.
Gives weather forecasts.
Provides addresses of establishments - cafes, business centers, hostels.
Performs mathematical operations, converts currencies.
Launches third-party applications - for example, Instagram and VKontakte.
He maintains a dialogue, and sometimes even demonstrates musical erudition, quoting songs by various performers - from the Aquarium group to Oxxxymiron.

It is expected that over time, many other large companies will also give Alice access to their applications.

The developers did a great job to “humanize” “Alice” as much as possible - that’s why voice assistant from Yandex is capable of humor no worse than Siri, some of whose pearls have become popular memes. Here's how "Alice" explains why she's called that:

“Alice’s” answers are really extremely funny, and the assistant’s voice sounds quite natural (much better than in the beta version) - thanks to technology machine learning the gluing is almost invisible. Those who are annoyed by small “speech defects” can turn off Alice’s voice and read the answers.

How to install Alice on a smartphone?

You can download “Alice” to your smartphone by downloading and installing official application"Yandex" from Google Play or AppStore. You should launch the application and click on blue key with an image of a microphone located exactly in the middle of the screen.

A correspondence window will appear, where old requests and answers given to them by “Alice” will be displayed. By clicking on the button with the microphone icon again, the user will be able to make a new voice request.

Conclusion

According to statistics, in 2016, 3.5 billion various devices with voice assistants. According to experts, by 2021 the number of such devices may double. Statistics convince us that we are at the stage of formation of a powerful global brand - soon a company that has not given the world an intelligent assistant created by itself will be considered an outsider.

All major software developers have already acquired voice assistants that work to varying degrees effectively: for example, Apple pleases its fans with the “clever” Siri, while Samsung, on the contrary, upsets users with the stupid (for now) Bixby. The Yandex company also did not stand aside - its assistant “Alice”, in terms of functionality, is comparable to the current hit Google Assistant.

You can interact with your computer using more than just a keyboard and mouse. Voice command control is also available. Exist special utilities that allow you to do this. Their functions include not only recording text under dictation or transcribing audio recordings. Through them you can launch applications, use them, and generally do anything. Voice control of your computer makes working with your PC easier. Commands are transmitted quickly and without unnecessary effort. Of course, if you have a microphone.

We will introduce you to applications with similar functionality

This function is built into the English language Windows version. To use it you must have an Enterprise or Ultimate license. But also in Russified operating systems You can set up voice control and text dictation. Use one of the following applications.

The application is easy to understand

Popular program. Although it has its drawbacks. The essence of its work is simple: you set a command and choose what action it should perform. Let's look at setting up this application using a specific example.

Download and install it. There is a free and Premiun version. You have to buy the second one to try it on your computer.
Launch the utility. It will appear information window with tips.
There are many things on her control panel. various functions. Some have the same names. You need to navigate by the picture, not by the inscription. Click the "Add" button - it shows a face.
Set your profile name and keyword, which will represent the command. For example, write “open” if you are going to configure the launch of an application by voice. Or “go to” to instantly go to a site without entering its address.
Now we need to record this very command in the form of an audio image. Click on the button with the red circle. And clearly, distinctly pronounce the desired phrase into the microphone.
Confirm the changes. The specified option appears in the list in the Type window. The program will remember what you recorded on its “dictaphone”.
After that, specify what, in fact, it should run to execute the command. Click the "Add" button, which looks like a hand with a "+" (plus) symbol.
Select the data format: files/utilities, Internet pages, some internal OS services. Check the boxes where you need them.
Find the app you want to launch with your voice. Let it be, for example, Microsoft Word. This way you can very quickly start editing some text or writing an article.
In the same window, write down the second part of the command. So that in total it turns out to be “open Word”. The first word will activate Typle, the second will enable the associated utility.
Click Add.
Several applications can be attached to one “open” function. This way you will control their launch without touching the mouse and other peripheral devices installed on the computer.
If necessary, edit additional parameters.
To check whether it worked or not, click on “Start speaking” and say the command.

The program works with the Russian language. But it doesn’t always recognize it correctly. You must speak loudly, clearly, in a mechanical voice.

No knowledge of English required.
Quickly create teams.

No text recognition.
Limited functionality. You can only open utilities and pages on the Internet.
The program sometimes perceives extraneous noise as teams. Because of this, strange things happen on PC.
You cannot work with the player.

Speechka

Another application for managing your computer

When you launch it for the first time, a window will open asking you to select a category: PC or Internet.
There is also an explanation of what key combination you need to activate the utility. This can be changed in the settings.
Click, for example, on “Internet”. A window will open with several input fields: for the command text and for the site URL. You can write the word “Yandex” and the address of this page.
Click "Add".
Press and hold the keys indicated on the main window.
Say the command so that the utility “remembers” it.

Activation by both keys and sound volume.
At startup, you can calibrate the microphone.

Limited functionality.

Speaker

The interface is designed in a minimalist manner

Commands in the app are set using printed words rather than dictation. There is an internal text recognition mechanism. Main functions:

Taking screenshots on command.
Changing the keyboard layout on your computer.
Opening applications and files.
Shutdown.

You don't have to make an audio recording with the team. The utility recognizes the inscriptions.

To control you need to use the keyboard. If a given button is used for other purposes, it will be inconvenient.
You need a stable Internet connection.

Gorynych

Hero of the Russians folk tales will help you

The program for controlling a computer with voice “Gorynych” is a domestic product. Therefore, there is a “native” speech recognition module. It “adapts” to the user’s timbre and intonation. With the utility you can fully work in the system, and not just open files and web pages.

There is support for Russian and English languages.
Text recognising, voice input in any editors.
Advanced functionality.

You need to create commands for each process yourself. Literally, you will have to write down the dictionary.

Windows Speech Recognition

Program built into the English OS. To use it, you must have the appropriate language pack. Russian teams will not work with her. To control a PC with its help, you will have to speak its language. To access it in the Panel Windows settings Open the “Region and Language” menu (located in the “Clock, Language, Region” category) and set “English” in all tabs. If everything is correct and you have the required language pack installed, Windows will “turn” into English and the utility will become available. It is better not to try this method if you do not know a foreign language well.

The the method will work if you speak English

Other utilities

There are a number of other applications for managing such commands:

Browser extensions. Makes surfing the net easier. IN Google Chrome A similar function has already been built in - voice input into search forms. Some online maps have this option. It allows you to find an address faster.
VoiceType.
RealSpeaker.
Web Speech.

List of programs for text recognition and dictation recording

Voice control is, of course, good. But text recognition and dictation typing utilities may be useful. When compiling lengthy reports and diplomas, it is easier to record your thoughts by voicing them into a microphone on a computer. Here are a few such utilities:

Dictograph.
Dragon Naturally Speaking.
Perpetuum Mobile.

A product that allows you to dictate text to a computer

You can configure voice commands in the OS. To do this, the appropriate program must be installed on the computer. With it you can work on a PC while lying on the sofa or lounging in a chair. Your hands will be free. If the microphone is good and picks up even distant or quiet sounds, you won't need to sit next to him. You can simultaneously “talk” to the computer and write notes in a notebook, draw, or hold something. Yes, even sewing and knitting. It's much easier to interact with commands on a PC. To activate some similar utilities you need to press buttons on the keyboard, which is not very convenient.

But there are also negative aspects. If you accidentally say a command word, an application that is completely unnecessary now will open or the browser will inappropriately go to some site. What to use and whether to use it at all is up to you to decide.

Alice is an application released by Yandex on October 10, 2017. This is a voice assistant for your computer and iOS smartphones, Android, and I’ll tell you later whether it’s possible to enable Alice in Yandex Browser. The Assistant has all the functions of a full-fledged search from Yandex, but is supplemented with a large set of functions, including:

According to Yandex, Alice is the first application of its kind that does not use “learned words and phrases” in advance. The application interprets the user's voice, virtually searches for an answer in Yandex search and, by reading the text, answers the question posed. In this regard, it can be trained by choosing whether you liked Alice's answer to asked question, whether helpful information. So, with the help of adjustments, each time the Alice voice assistant will become smarter and more convenient for you.

Due to the huge interest in the application, users are ready to install it in their browser today. The question of how to activate Alice in Yandex Browser can be answered like this. After recent updates to Yandex Browser, the Alice assistant is built into it and there is no need to enable the assistant. Install a browser from Alice https://browser.yandex.ru/alice/1.

Version of the Alice voice assistant for PC and smartphone

Alice cannot yet be built into Yandex.Browser, but she can live in your smartphone or phone. To use the assistant on your Android smartphone or iPhone, you need to install one of the Yandex services: weather, maps. According to the developers, in the future the application will be able to work and interact with various applications. To use the Alice application for Android:

Open Google Play on your smartphone.
Install search on your phone.
You can install other Yandex applications listed above.

To try the application on a PC running Windows system, you need to go to the page with the application https://alice.yandex.ru/windows, download the installation package and run it on your computer. By downloading this application, you get not only a voice assistant, but also a convenient assistant for working on your PC.

The program window is a full-fledged search from Yandex, with the ability to open any files and programs on your computer. Alisa has a pleasant voice as an understudy for Tatyana Shitova. Answers your questions quite relevantly, and sometimes even funny. Like her English-speaking sister, Siri has a good sense of humor and can tell you jokes on different topics, and also quote lines from Shakespeare's poems.

The application is also available for operating rooms in the online store iOS systems. To try the application, you also need to download one of the Yandex services. Voice assistant Alice is built into the proprietary application, install separate application, there is no possibility.

How to use assistant Alice

The process of “communicating” with Alice on all platforms is the same. The developers claim that Alice is not needed special approach as it happened with others similar applications in past. You don’t need to search and formulate your requests; you can talk to her like a real person. For example, you don’t need to combine the main words from a sentence to create a query: “pizzeria, Gogol street”, just say in simple words: “Okay, Alice, where can I have a cup of coffee and eat pizza,” and you will receive a clear, and equally “human” answer.

For the assistant's work it was used neural network, which studies a huge array of texts. In this regard, Alice can quite understand even unfinished phrases and questions and, taking into account the context, formulate an answer to the question, and sometimes even tries to improvise. When developing the assistant, programmers focused on recognizing any speech, and not just a clearly pronounced phrase. So Alice appears today best app on the perception of Russian speech.

Differentiating the application from other similar voice assistants

Alice has some advantages over her competitor, the English-speaking Siri. The Yandex voice assistant always works in a group with another application. For example, Alice in the Windows PC version operates Yandex search, and in the case when a more voluminous answer to a question is required, Alice opens the Yandex browser, if it is installed in the system by default, and shows the user a page with his request. Alice also works well with music and maps, fulfilling user requests exactly, and in the future she will also be able to recommend movies and even call a taxi. Third Party Applications may in the future provide Alice with their services and access to them, and today she can already open Instagram and Vkontakte.