Quick question to ask why Siri turns off when I take a breath?

By steven carey, 4 April, 2014

Forum
iOS and iPadOS
Hi all, Just a quick question concerning Siri? When I dictate an email or a text message using Siri, if I take a too long breath at the end of a sentence or quickly stop at the same place to think about what I am going to say next, Siri switches off and I am asked if I want to send. I understand that if I leave it too long between what I am saying then Siri thinks I have finished but this is only a short break just like taking a breth before starting a new sentence. Are there any fixes like turning down the sensativity in settings? Thanks, Steve.

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Comments

By Jakob Rosin on Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 04:05

Hello. Unfortunately, you can't tune siri's sensitivity. If you are using iOs 7.1, keeping your finger on the home button untill you are done speeking won't stop siri. So, while you hold your finger on the button, siri keeps listening, and the automatic silence detector is bypassed. I find it most useful while dictating longer messages, where you would sometimes want to paus to think what to say.

By Khalfan Bin Dhaher on Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 04:05

Hello. Unfortunately, Siri has the ability to smell people's breath, especially after you get up early in the morning and talk to her. :) As mentioned above, you can't tune Siri's sensitivity. This has been happening only after the update.

By steven carey on Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 04:05

Thank you both, I thought that might be the restriction but it would be worth Apple thinking about this a little more, especially as it must affect everyone, not just blind and partially sighted people. Does the addition of a full stop or comma make a difference? Does Siri think, oh I've just added a full stop, I need to wait a while before I hear the voice again? If not, it should and there should also be a short delay built in so that we can continue on with a text or more often when the problem usually happens, when I'm compiling an email. Yes, I am using 7.1 on an iPhone 5s. Steve.

By Michael Hansen on Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 04:05

Member of the AppleVis Editorial Team
Hello Steve, Beginning with iOS 7.1, you can now hold down the home button while talking to Siri and it will stay listening to you for as long as the home button is held. It's like talking to Siri on a walkie-talkie...as long as the home button is held down, Siri stays listening. If you are in a text field and use the dictate button, usually it listens for a longer time without switching off.

By steven carey on Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 04:05

Hi Michael, Ah! I was under the impression that Siri was in control when dictating an iMessage, text or email. So, as I go through the process of dictating an iMessage for example, where I say "send a message to dad" and Siri says "what do you want to say to dad" the dictate comes on automatically for me to talk, I can also hold the home key down and dictate for as long as I want? If I then take my finger off the home key again, does Siri say "do you want to send the message to dad" or words to that effect? If not, what is the process or message once I've taken my finger off the home button? Thank you, Steve.

By Bahzad on Thursday, April 24, 2014 - 04:05

Hey, Steven. Yes, the home button will ensure that your message goes through successfully, provided that it's held while you're speaking. If you tell Siri to "send a message to dad," it will do so and still give you the opportunity to speak your message when your finger is on the home button. I've done this as a test and will list the steps below. 1. Hold down the home button and tell Siri to send a message to anyone, be it your father or a friend. 2. When you release the button, Siri will ask you for the message. At this time, it'll beep automatically. However, you can press and hold the home button and still speak your message, even while it's active. When finished, simply release the home button and it'll repeat it to you. When it's done, it'll ask you if you'd like to send it. Although I use Siri, I also like dictation and Fleksy. Dictation can be activated by doing a two finger double-tap or by way of the dictate button, which is to the left of space. Because you can move to a certain word or sentence and correct it via the rotor, dictation gives you more room to edit. With Siri, you'll need to repeat the message if it were not to your liking. I hope this helps. Good luck.