Microcopy matters -- Siri should be Apple and Alexa should be Amazon
tl;dr Apple please rename “Siri” to “Apple” and Amazon please rename “Alexa” to “Amazon”!
Pontifications
- I learned a new word today “microcopy” - “The small bits of text/copy that help instruct and alleviate the concerns of your users.”
- The microcopy reference was in Niamh Redmond’s tweet: “I’ve learned throughout my career that the most significant UX performance gains often come down to microcopy.”
- The following quote is from a fabulous article by Johna Paolino “Google Home vs Alexa Two Simple User Experience Design Gestures that Delighted a Female User”:
QUOTE
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Alexa responds to her name only. Google’s product must be triggered with a “hey Google” or “ok Google”. By requiring these introductory words as triggers, Google has forced an element of conversation. The experience difference here is huge! When I return to Alexa now I feel authoritative.
"
END QUOTE
- From that article I reach my thrilling conclusion: why should robots or assistants be gendered? In fact they shouldn’t! So Apple please rename “Siri” to “Apple” and Amazon please rename “Alexa” to “Amazon”!