Smart Speaker — Questions and answers

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Before smart speakers, what did people mostly use to interact with technology?

Choices

  1. Only their voices
  2. Screens, keyboards, and buttons ✓
  3. Magical commands
  4. Their thoughts alone

Answer: Screens, keyboards, and buttons

From page 1

What did Professor Ben Carter say was a critical problem for early voice control, besides just recognizing words?

Choices

  1. Having too many buttons
  2. Not enough screens
  3. Understanding what people mean and blocking out noise ✓
  4. Making computers talk

Answer: Understanding what people mean and blocking out noise

From page 2

What was the name of Amazon's secret project to make a smart, voice-activated device?

Choices

  1. Project A
  2. Project Z
  3. Project D ✓
  4. Project Magic

Answer: Project D

From page 3

What special system helps a smart speaker hear your voice from far away, even when there's other noise?

Choices

  1. A tiny speaker
  2. A far-field microphone array ✓
  3. A flashing light
  4. A giant screen

Answer: A far-field microphone array

From page 4

What does Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) do for a smart speaker?

Choices

  1. Makes the speaker louder
  2. Helps it choose music
  3. Removes the speaker's own sound so it can hear you better ✓
  4. Changes the speaker's color

Answer: Removes the speaker's own sound so it can hear you better

From page 5

What does a smart speaker listen for to fully activate its advanced systems?

Choices

  1. Any loud noise
  2. A specific 'wake word' like 'Alexa' ✓
  3. Silence
  4. Music playing

Answer: A specific 'wake word' like 'Alexa'

From page 6

After the wake word activates it, where does the smart speaker send your voice to be understood?

Choices

  1. To your neighbor's house
  2. To a tiny chip in the speaker
  3. To powerful cloud-based servers ✓
  4. To the nearest radio station

Answer: To powerful cloud-based servers

From page 7

What did Professor Carter say is most important about the voice a smart speaker uses to talk back to you?

Choices

  1. That it sounds like a robot
  2. That it is very quiet
  3. That it sounds natural and helpful ✓
  4. That it only speaks one language

Answer: That it sounds natural and helpful

From page 8

What did Dr. Sharma notice people doing easily with their smart speakers at home?

Choices

  1. Washing dishes
  2. Flying kites
  3. Checking the weather, setting timers, and playing music ✓
  4. Drawing pictures

Answer: Checking the weather, setting timers, and playing music

From page 9

What important talks does the smart speaker's success bring up for the future?

Choices

  1. What color smart speakers should be
  2. How to make them bigger
  3. How to keep our information private and use technology ethically ✓
  4. Where to buy smart speakers

Answer: How to keep our information private and use technology ethically

From page 10