iPhone 4S is "Female"
Ever since the new iPhone came out just last week, Siri has become the newest technological innovation on the market. Siri acts as an assistant: “someone” iPhone users can talk to, who can book reservations, and who can even schedule appointments. It seems like the first step toward electronic friends!
Before Siri was purchased by Apple it spoke in a “gender neutral” voice: a voice that was neither male nor female. However, Apple changed that setting. In five of the seven countries that offer the iPhone 4S the voice is female. GPS devices also default to a female voice- except in Germany where a BMW GPS was recalled because men refused to “take directions from a woman.”
But did you ever wonder why your Siri and GPS systems speak in a female voice?
Studies have shown that female voices are preferred over male voices. This preference starts before birth. Fetuses react when they hear their mother’s voice. However, fetuses do not react when they hear other female voices or their father’s voices.
Furthermore, stereotypes play a role. In American history, female voices have been the radio operators. It was women who gave directions to pilots in World War II. Similarly, women have conventionally taken on the role of secretaries and communicators. As a result, GPS systems and Siri systems are taking on a female voice for roles that have been traditionally female. Furthermore, in American movies woman usually take on the role of the “good witch” or other positive character, while evil characters often have a deeper, more masculine voice. However, when the culture is different the stereotypes change, the voice gender may change too: as exemplified by the masculine GPS default language in Germany.
Main CNN Article: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/female-computer-voices/index.html
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tenz1225/6233448503/sizes/s/in/photostream/
12whiteal
This is so cool K212, I was wondering why siri and GPS systems are female voices rather than male voice, and now I know why! Did you know that there was a study done that proved that women who are career driven lower their voices in order to get ahead? Although the voice of authority may be a female voice to some, women believe that in order to do well in a job they must lower their voices in order to sound more masculine. If you want more information click this link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-389130/Why-women-want-ahead-husky-voice.html
sar418
Wow! That’s so weird, I never realized it, but that is completely true! When asked about what Siri is wearing, she even answers by saying she is wearing a red dress, a clothing item that is both feminine and sexy. Perhaps sexy women have a certain allure on men that makes them listen and obey. A dainty voice with sweet language can create an image of a woman behind the voice. Here’s an article about how various men have fallen for their GPS’s voice. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/fashion/27FamilyMatters.html?pagewanted=all
ps.I never knew that fetuses only react to thier mother’s voice.