Google Home Voice Experience

Open House serves as a retail lab where guests can discover new products and experience how they work. I've worked on two major projects that demonstrate interesting use cases for Google Home, the most recent of which was in 2018. This experience, designed after Google Home had been on the market for over a year, focused on advanced features that one could do using their voice. Our experience lets guests try and learn about routines, turn on/off connected devices, play media, and more. I led the voiceover work and worked closely with the team to implement the experience. Head over to Open House to try it for yourself!

Experience Overview

The experience has three key parts:

1. Listening to a demo of Google Home.

2. Using your voice to control devices.

3. Learning about Routines and how to create them.

Home Screen Prototype | Credit: Braylan Gray, Sr Interaction Designer

Actions Screen Prototype | Credit: Braylan Gray, Sr Interaction Designer

Voiceovers for the routines

A large part of the experience focused on more advanced Google Home features. I chose three routines to highlight. They are shown here - from easiest (Good Morning) to custom (Broadcast).

Voiceover and Google Home app recording showing how to set up a default "Google morning" routine

Voiceover and Google Home app recording showing how to set up a customized "Commute to work" routine

Voiceover and Google Home app recording showing how to set up a highly custom and fun "Broadcast" routine

Voice Recordings

These voice recordings were played through the loudspeakers as part of the UI. The first two queries were tied to the demo, and the last one was to reset the experience automatically.

"Hey Google, tell me a fun fact." was played on the loudspeakers, and Google Home would reply with a different answer each time.

"Hey Google, tell me a joke."

"Hey Google, start the experience over." We quickly learned during implementation that, in order to ensure each guest has a seamless experience, all voice-controlled devices and the iPad had to be returned to their original state after a user was done. This particular query initiated after 60 seconds or when a user pressed the "Start over" button on the UI.

See it in situ

Google Home Voice Experience

Home Screen Prototype | Credit: Braylan Gray, Sr Interaction Designer

Actions Screen Prototype | Credit: Braylan Gray, Sr Interaction Designer

The guest stands close to and speaks directly Google Home. The sign helps orient guests to the expected interactions.

Items that can be controlled by voice include the TV, the lights and the fan

You may also like