The Value of Voice in a Pandemic

In China and South Korea we have amp8203already seenamp8203 voice take hold as a primary channel in assisting in the fight against Coronavirus Use cases for voice are beginning to emerge throughout the US along with amp8203new perspectivesamp8203 on how voice can provide the most value during this timeHere are three core emerging areas where voice offers humancentered solutions to this emergencyProviding Information and Preventing MisinformationSince the onset of COVID19 we39ve seen a spike in amp8203resources published amp8203on voice app platforms designed to arm people with critical information they need We have also seen big tech companies who power these voice assistants step up by amp8203combating misinformationamp8203 and amp8203directing voice trafficamp8203 to official CDC guidelines This oversight is particularly crucial given the singular and authoritative nature of voice searchBeyond informing the public on outbreak status we39ll begin to see greater usage of assistants for information on both a functional level assisting with workfromhome tasks calendar scheduling supplies coordination and an emotional one guidance on managing isolation grief and mental wellness throughout this periodCombating the VirusRecognizing an imminent need to support healthcare professionals on the front lines voicefirst healthcare companies have quickly implemented new infrastructure to help screen for and detect infections Likewise health technology groups are amp8203extending digital toolkitsamp8203 to be accessible across new platforms including voice assistantsamp8203 Critically these services will begin to help healthcare providers better manage the flow of inquiries and triage those who need to be treated urgentlyWe are also seeing advancements in the AI technology to meet the needs of this health crisis While it39s still early days for voice health forensics there are researchers working on using voice patterns to detect and diagnose illness which could have outsized impact when you consider respiratory illnesses like the one we39re facing These advancements lay the foundation for new voice applications in healthcareProductivity at HomeAs a byproduct of the COVID19 crisis a majority of the population is now spending time quarantining at home where smart speakers live With consumers increasing both time and spend on media during this time smart speakers and voice assistants have an opportunity to bring tools and utilities to market that can afford real value in our new homebound realityamp160amp160From recipes to home workouts to children39s edutainment amp8203Googleamp8203 and Amazon have already begun curating resources to engage and entertain families at home Likewise voice will no doubt have a prevalent role to play in the new work from home dynamic as technology becomes vital to collaboration and productivity from home In today39s sudden work life imbalance voice offers a natural and touchfree interface to access content and connect with othersFrom turbulence comes innovation The temporary shifts we39re seeing to consumer behavior today will have staying power in the future Companies can either embrace these shifts or be mired by them There has never been a greater opportunity than right now to discover and serve new consumer needsClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNetamp160

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The Value of Voice in a Pandemic

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Nithya Thadani

Don’t’ Back Down; Double Down on DEI Investments - By Jack Myers

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The Value of Voice in a Pandemic

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Nithya Thadani

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