Smart speakers have quickly become a key segment for companies looking to tap into the voice search market. These devices make it simple for users to find the information they need, and with the update of Google Assistant, smart speakers are becoming more and more powerful. Users can get access to local businesses, learn about the weather, control their smart home and so much more with just their voice. Smart speakers have also impacted the market in several ways. Smart speaker usage has increased rapidly since their launch in 2015. In fact, as of Q1 2018, roughly 21% of U.S homes own at least one high-quality smart speaker device. Together with Amazon Echo and Google Home they have become an essential part of our lives – especially when you consider how many different uses they’ve had since launch day! Let’s take a look at some impactful trends that smart speakers have created…
Smart Speakers Have Increased Popularity of Voice Search
Voice search has been a significant trend throughout the life of smart speakers, but it really took off when these devices were introduced. In the early days of smart speakers, the feature of voice search was present but was considered to be less natural than text-based search. However, as more people started using these devices and began to rely on them more, they became more comfortable with accessing information through voice. This resulted in a surge in voice search and a direct correlation between smart speaker usage and the popularity of this feature. As people became more comfortable with using smart speakers for voice search, they also started to discover other, more intimate ways to interact with them – like by using the device’s microphone to trigger virtual assistants. This led to another major trend – the rise of virtual assistants as a popular, cross-platform technology. People started to incorporate virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa into their daily lives, using them to track their schedules, find information and control other devices in their homes. This also led to another trend – virtual assistants becoming an important way to interact with smart speakers.
Smart Speaker Usage Has Increased Cross-Platform Compatibility
One major impact of smart speakers was the increase in cross-platform compatibility. The ability to connect speakers from different brands and manufacturers allowed people to expand their smart speaker ecosystem and connect with devices that were beyond the initial offerings from their favorite brands. Thus, smart speakers not only increased popularity for voice search, but also enabled users to explore new voice technologies and brands. This enabled other brands to enter the market and compete for users’ attention, which resulted in a more competitive market.
Smart Speakers Have Created New Ways to Find Information
As people started to incorporate smart speakers into their everyday lives, they began to discover new ways to use them. For example, smart speakers were quick to become a tool for virtual socializing. This allowed users to stay connected with friends and family using the device – such as by checking if they were online, initiating video chats and so much more. Since users don’t need to open a separate app to use these functions, there’s no need to interrupt what they’re doing when they want to stay connected. Smart speakers also gave rise to new ways to find information. For example, people began to incorporate smart speakers into their daily commute, using them to discover information about the area they were in or to find local businesses. This also led to another major trend – smart speakers becoming an essential part of the home security market. Consumers are able to use their smart speakers to find out if there’s an intruder in their house, identify their location and create a security alarm.
Smart Speakers Helped Create the Market for Video Interfaces
One impactful trend that smart speakers have created is the rise in demand for video interfaces. As people began to incorporate smart speakers into their daily lives, they started to notice that they were even more effective when used alongside virtual assistants like Google Assistant or Alexa. This led to the creation of a new market – the creation of custom virtual assistants that provide specific, customized functions. This was especially important for smart speakers, which do not provide a large amount of functionality on their own. With the potential for voice assistants to help people navigate the world and access information, the market for customized assistants grew quickly.
Smart Speakers Have Spawned Other Voice Technology Products
Voice interfaces have become an essential technology for smart speakers, and have also inspired a host of other products. For example, smart speakers have led to a rise in demand for home security systems. Consumers are able to use their smart speakers to identify when an intruder is in their house and create a security alarm. Together with smart speaker usage, people are also able to enjoy improved sound quality with the addition of smart speakers to their home entertainment systems. This helps to improve the sound quality of everything from music to TV shows, which is especially important for people who use their smart speakers to listen to audio while they’re at home.
Conclusion
Voice interfaces have become an essential technology for smart speakers, and have been particularly impactful for smart speakers that don’t provide their own large amount of functionality. This has led to the creation of custom voice assistants that give specific, customized functions, which has grown the market for home security systems, and has led to an improvement in sound quality for home systems.
