One of the most frequently asked questions we get is why someone wouldn’t choose a voice assistant like Siri or Alexa over our adaptable smart switch, Sofii.

So here are seven reasons why voice assistants aren’t always the answer to solving accessibility in the home.

1. Limitations of Vocal Communication: Not everyone can effectively use their voice, making a voice assistant impractical or impossible for some.
2. Speech Recognition Challenges: Even among those who can speak, many with less common accents or atypical speech patterns can pose challenges for assistants like Alexa.
3. Frequent Misinterpretations: Voice assistants often get commands wrong, leading to frustration due to misunderstood requests or incorrect responses.
4. Inconvenience at Odd Hours: In situations like needing to use the bathroom at 3 AM, voice commands can be impractical and disruptive to others.
5. Privacy Concerns: Voice assistants can be seen as intrusive, as they continuously listen, causing discomfort for some users. While most offer microphone muting, this disables voice control.
6. Reliance on an Internet Connection: Many voice assistants depend on a stable internet connection, making them unreliable when connectivity falters.
7. Sofii: An Alternative, Not a Replacement: Sofii provides an alternative without replacing voice assistants, offering users more control choices.