What Is a Smart Speaker and What Does It Do?

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Smart speakers have proven to be an indispensable device for many smart technology enthusiasts by blending convenience, connectivity and control into a single compact speaker. From streaming music and managing schedules to controlling smart home devices and searching the web, these voice-activated assistants have evolved well beyond their initial functionalities.
Smart speakers have reshaped the way we live, work and interact with technology by unraveling a world of boundless potential and unmatched convenience. We will go through the transformative automation of these innovative devices and unravel exactly what smart speakers are capable of.
What is a smart speaker?
A voice-controlled device that combines the functionality of a traditional speaker with the capabilities of a virtual assistant, the smart speaker is so much more than just an output for audio. Smart speakers utilize both natural language processing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to understand and respond to questions, perform various tasks and provide entertainment.
You can access information and control various aspects of your digital life by simply speaking commands or asking questions to a smart speaker. Because of this and with continuous advancements in technology, smart speakers are increasingly becoming central hubs for managing and automating tasks in modern homes.
What does a smart speaker do?
If you are looking into how to choose a wireless Bluetooth speaker, understanding the various possibilities that portable smart speakers offer should be seriously considered. More than just playing back audio, common functions and features of smart speakers include:
- Voice commands. Built-in microphones let you ask questions, give commands or initiate actions using natural language that is internally processed to provide relevant responses or perform requested tasks.
- Calls and communication. Sending voice text messages or making phone calls without even touching your smartphone makes communication more convenient than ever.
- Smart home control. Most smart speakers integrate with other smart home devices, allowing you to control various aspects of your home just by speaking.
- Music playback and streaming. The best smart speakers for music have access to all of the popular streaming services, letting you request specific songs, playlists, artists or genres.
- Entertainment and media control. Podcasts, audiobooks and radio stations can all be easily streamed. Televisions can also be voice controlled if the speaker is integrated with a smart TV.
- Personal organization. Managing schedules and calendars, setting reminders and alarms, creating to-do lists, setting up appointments and jotting down notes all help keep things organized.
In addition to any aforementioned functions and features, smart speakers can also provide general voice assistance. This includes translating languages, calculating math problems, offering suggestions to common problems, telling jokes, providing daily news and weather briefings and more.
How does a smart speaker work?
Regular Bluetooth speakers use wireless technology to stream audio from a source device, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer, without relying on physical cables. A smart speaker takes this Bluetooth pairing technology and integrates it with voice recognition and smart technology, turning the device into a home assistant speaker. A smart speaker is capable of so much thanks to utilizing the following mechanics:
- Built-in microphones. Capturing sound from the surrounding environment, microphones pickup both voice commands and other sounds.
- Wake word detection and voice processing. Specific wake words, such as “Alexa,” “Hey Siri” or “OK Google,” are easily detected by the smart speaker, prompting it to start recording and send the information to a cloud-based service for processing.
- AI assistance. The processed information from the cloud uses AI algorithms to generate the appropriate responses based on the question or command.
- Speaker output. Every response generated is converted back into speech by using text-to-speech technology, playing back the audio through the smart speaker.
Additionally, smart speakers can conveniently communicate with other compatible smart home devices, letting you control more than just the speaker with voice commands.
Smart home speakers and other smart home tech
Are there different types of smart speakers?
Whether you are an audiophile seeking out the best sounding smart speaker or if you spend most of your time out on the patio and need an outdoor smart speaker, there are slight variations of what specific devices are capable of. Features and capabilities can vary depending on the brand, model and the virtual assistant that is used. However, Amazon Echo devices with Alexa and Google Home devices with Google Assistant are among the most well-known smart speakers.
Acting as both virtual assistant and the center for smart home entertainment, smart speakers offer an efficient hands-free experience that makes everyday tasks that much easier. They have changed the way we interact with technology in our daily lives by combining powerful voice recognition, AI and wireless connectivity. And, as technology continues to advance, so will smart speakers and what they are capable of, expanding the landscape of possibilities and new conveniences.