Can you set a voice reminder?

What are voice reminders?

Voice reminders are a feature on smartphones and smart speakers that allow users to set reminders using their voice that will be read out loud at the requested date and time. On a smartphone, voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa can be used to create reminders by saying commands like “Remind me to take out the trash at 7pm.” The assistant will then confirm the reminder details and at the requested time, will speak the reminder out loud to the user.

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home also have built-in voice assistants that can set reminders. For example, saying “Alexa, remind me to call Mom at 3pm tomorrow” will cause Alexa to confirm the details and then speak the reminder at the requested time. According to Demandforce, voice reminders are useful for confirming appointments, meetings, and any other events where a person needs an automated voice prompt.

How to Set a Voice Reminder

Setting a voice reminder is easy on most major platforms. Here are step-by-step instructions for setting a voice reminder on iOS, Android, and Alexa:

iOS

To set a voice reminder on an iPhone or iPad running iOS:

1. Open the Reminders app.
2. Tap the + icon to create a new reminder.
3. Enter the reminder text.
4. Tap the megaphone icon next to the reminder text.
5. Record your voice reminder after the tone.
6. Tap Done to save the voice reminder.

Your voice reminder will play at the reminder time. You can also test it by tapping the megaphone icon.

Android

To set a voice reminder on Android:

1. Open the Google Assistant app.
2. Say “Hey Google, remind me to…” followed by your reminder.
3. After the tone, record your voice reminder.
4. Say “Save” when finished.

At the reminder time, your voice recording will play back.

Alexa

To set a voice reminder on an Alexa device like an Amazon Echo:

1. Say “Alexa, remind me [time] to [reminder]” (e.g. “Alexa, remind me at 3pm to call Mom”).
2. Alexa will confirm the time and reminder.
3. Say “Record” after Alexa’s confirmation tone.
4. Record your voice reminder after the tone.
5. Say “Save reminder” when finished.

Alexa will play back your voice recording at the specified reminder time.

Types of Voice Reminders

There are a few main types of voice reminders that offer different ways to trigger the reminders:

Time-Based Reminders

Time-based reminders are triggered at a certain time or date that you specify, like “Remind me to take out the trash at 5pm” or “Remind me to pay my bills on the 1st of the month”. These are helpful for remembering tasks and events that need to happen at a particular time.Reminder apps usually allow you to set time-based reminders easily.

Location-Based Reminders

Location-based reminders are triggered when you arrive at or leave a certain location, like “Remind me to buy milk when I leave work”. Your device’s GPS tracks your location and reminds you when you reach the specified place. This is useful for location-specific tasks.Voice reminder apps with geofencing capabilities enable location-based reminders.

Context-Aware Reminders

Context-aware reminders rely on environmental cues and other contextual information to determine the optimal time to remind you. For example, a reminder to take an umbrella could be triggered by weather alerts for rain in your area. Context-awareness allows reminders to be more adaptive and natural.

Voice reminder limitations

While voice reminders can be very useful, they do have some limitations to be aware of:

Voice reminders are only available on smartphones and smart speakers. You need a device with a voice assistant like Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa etc. installed to create and receive voice reminders. They will not work on regular cell phones or landlines. This limits their accessibility and availability ^[1].

Like any reminder, voice reminders rely on the user remembering to create them in the first place. If you forget to set a reminder, the voice assistant cannot alert you. The onus is on the user to remember to enable the feature when needed ^[2].

There are also some privacy concerns with voice assistants having access to your calendar and reminders. Users have to weigh convenience against potential risks of data collection by these services ^[1].

While useful in many cases, voice reminders have limitations to be aware of. Planning ahead and using them alongside other reminder tools can help mitigate the downsides.

Voice Reminder Best Practices

Here are some tips for getting the most out of voice reminders:

Speak clearly when setting up a voice reminder. Enunciate words and avoid mumbling so that the voice assistant can accurately transcribe your request. Say the reminder cue name slowly and clearly as well.

Choose the right voice assistant platform for your needs. Siri for iPhone, Google Assistant for Android, and Alexa for Amazon Echo devices all handle reminders slightly differently. Pick the one that fits best with your usage.

Pick a clear, concise cue name for your reminders that is easy to say and remember. “Take out the trash” or “Mom’s birthday gift” are better cues than vague names like “Thing to do” or “Important task.”

Set reminders for the most useful times and locations. Linking a reminder to a time of day, date, or location where you’ll need it can make voice reminders more effective.

Use voice reminders judiciously and thoughtfully. They work best for quick, simple reminders you’ll need throughout your day. For complex multi-step tasks, traditional written checklists may be better.

Voice reminders vs other reminders

Voice reminders have some advantages compared to other common reminder methods like visual reminders, calendar alerts, and notes.

Compared to visual reminders, voice reminders don’t require you to look at your phone to be notified. The audio cue can remind you even if your phone is in your pocket or bag. Voice reminders are also more accessible for visually impaired users.¹

Voice reminders differ from calendar alerts in that they are action-based instead of scheduled events. You would set a calendar alert for an appointment or meeting at a specific time. Voice reminders are better suited for general to-do items you want to complete within a certain timeframe.²

Compared to taking notes, voice reminders provide the added benefit of an audio cue to notify you. Written notes rely on you checking and reading regularly to be effective reminders. Voice reminders actively notify you when it’s time to complete a task.

So in summary, voice reminders can provide unique advantages over other common reminder methods due to their hands-free audio cues.

Fun uses for voice reminders

Voice reminders can be useful for more than just basic task reminders. They provide a fun and personalized way to help you remember things throughout your day. Here are some creative ways to use voice reminders:

Grocery lists: Record a voice reminder listing out items you need from the grocery store. Hearing a list spoken out loud makes it easier to recall while shopping. You can record reminders for different grocery categories like produce, dairy, etc. Voice Memo Reminder for Android allows creating categorized lists.

Daily affirmations: Start your day on a positive note by setting voice reminder affirmations to go off in the morning. Hearing encouraging words in a familiar voice is more meaningful. Reminders with Voice for iOS lets you record custom affirmations.

Medication alerts: Voice reminders are helpful for remembering to take medications on time. Record details like dosage and frequency to inform which med to take. Reminder Rosie talking clock is designed for medication reminders.

Voice reminders allow you to add personality and fun to typical everyday reminders. Get creative with recording voice notes to help remember tasks, lists, affirmations and more.

Problems setting voice reminders

Sometimes users run into issues when trying to set up voice reminders. Two common problems involve microphone access and using incorrect voice commands.

For voice reminders to work properly, the device or app needs permission to access the microphone. On smartphones, you may need to check the app permissions in your device settings. Make sure the assistant app has microphone access enabled. On smart speakers, check the device settings to ensure the microphone is not muted.

Using the wrong phrases or commands when setting a reminder is another frequent mistake. Each voice assistant platform has its own syntax for creating reminders. For example, with Google Assistant you would say “Okay Google, remind me to take out the trash at 7pm.” But Apple’s Siri uses slightly different phrasing like “Hey Siri, remind me take out the trash at 7pm.” Check the documentation for your specific voice assistant to ensure you’re using the proper command structure.

If you’re still having issues, try rebooting your device and make sure the assistant app is up-to-date. You can also check the app or device settings for an option to rebuild voice models, which will reset and retrain the speech recognition. Troubleshooting microphone and speech recognition problems can help get voice reminders working properly again.

Voice reminders for accessibility

Voice reminders can be extremely helpful for blind users or those with difficulties reading. VoiceOver and TalkBack are screen reader features built into iOS and Android that allow devices to speak text aloud. This enables users to hear notifications, emails, messages and other text read out loud.

There are also various mobile apps designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired that integrate voice reminders. Apps like Be My Eyes, Seeing AI, and BlindSquare make use of voice reminders to assist users. These apps allow users to set reminders, location alerts, and other notifications that are read out loud by the device (AFB).

Voice reminders provide greater accessibility and independence for those unable to easily read text. They allow users to set and receive alerts without needing to look at the screen. As voice control continues to advance, reminders and other features will likely become even more useful for enhancing accessibility.

The future of voice reminders

Voice reminders are likely to become even more sophisticated in the future thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence and natural language processing. As noted in this article, voice assistants will likely become more personalized and contextual in the years ahead.

AI will enable voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant to understand user preferences and habits over time. This means they’ll be able to offer reminders tailored to your unique needs and schedule, without you having to manually set them. The assistants may even start pushing certain reminders to you proactively based on what they’ve learned about your behavior.

We’re also likely to see voice assistants get integrated into more and more devices beyond smart speakers and phones. Voice command capabilities will become a common feature in cars, appliances, wearables and other items. This expanded integration will enable users to set reminders through voice on more platforms.

As the underlying AI advances, voice assistants will get better at understanding natural language requests. Users will be able to set reminders using more flexible, conversational phrasing as opposed to rigid command structures. The assistants may also become capable of clarifying reminder details through back-and-forth dialogue.

In summary, voice reminders are poised to become smarter, more personalized and accessible across platforms as AI and natural language processing continue to progress.