Google smart speaker pilot tasks

How to test the Google smart speaker application

We have prepared a list of tasks and functions that we invite you to explore while testing the Smart Speaker app. Please try all or as many as possible.

If a command opens another set of sub options, you can click its name in this document to explore the list of new sub tasks that become available.  

This document will cover the following tasks that you can complete:

  1. Launching the app
  2. Link your CELA Account
  3. Explore start menu options
  4. Select a book from a list
  5. Select collection
  6. Playback of a book
  7. Help functions

Launching the app

When you are ready to begin using the CELA smart speaker skill, you can start by asking your smart speaker to launch the app. Simply say: Hey Google, talk to Accessible Reading Canada

You will need to link your CELA account so that the smart speaker app can speak to your CELA library account. To do this, you will need your account number and the password you use to log in to the CELA website. If you’re unsure of these, please call the Contact Centre at 1-888-655-2273 and stay on the line for assistance. Once you have this information, you can follow the steps required to link your account. You can also consult our detailed instructions on linking your CELA account with Google.

Once you have linked the app to your CELA library account, you will be given a menu with different options listed below. Select any of these functions in this document to go to their detailed description as well as to any available submenus. Note that availability of options as well as the order they are presented in might vary

You can issue your next voice command by waiting for the prompt to do so. However, you can also interrupt the spoken prompts by saying: "Ok Google" or "Hey Google" followed by your next command.

At any point feel free to invoke the Help command by saying "help" to get context specific instructions for what you can say. Note that currently help is not available during playback.

  1. Resume last book.
  2. Explore Recent books
  3. Check bookshelf
  4. Browse collections
  5. Search for a specific book

Resume last book

Say: "Resume". This will start the book you were last reading with this application, picking up where you left off. See “Playback options” for next step.

Recent books

Say: "Recent". This presents you with a list of recently read books using this application.

See “Selecting a book from a list” for next step.

Bookshelf

Say: "Bookshelf" to hear a list of books currently in your CELA Direct to Player bookshelf. You can add books to your bookshelf on the CELA website or by setting up an automatic selection profile.

See “Selecting a book from a list” for next step.

If possible, add a new book to your bookshelf, using whatever means you are most comfortable with and check back here to explore your options.

Browse collections

Say: "Browse Collections" to browse lists of books. You will be offered two types of collection groupings: theme and genre. "Theme" offers lists of popular books by age selected by CELA staff. "Genre" offers lists of recently added books in popular categories.

In each case, a list of subcategories will be presented.

See “Select collection” for next step.

Say: "Search" plus the title or author of the book you are looking for. Ideally try searching for a book by title, by author, or both. If you say both the title and author, do not add any extra words such as 'by'. For example, just say "Search The Hobbit Tolkein".

You will hear a list of books matching your search terms.

See “Selecting a book from a list” for next step.

Select a book from a list

Whenever you are presented with a list of books you have the following options:

  • Choose one by saying its number.
  • Ask to hear the next or previous set of books in the list by saying "next" or "previous".

After selecting a book, you have the following options:

  • Say: "Start reading" or "Resume reading". Both work interchangeably. You can then try out the playback options.
  • Hear the summary by saying "summary". You will hear more information about the selected book.
  • Say: "Back to list". This will return you to the list of books you were previously exploring.

See playback options for your next steps.

Browse collections

In Collections, you will be able to browse by theme or by genre by saying: "Theme" or "Genre".. In each case, a list of subcategories will be presented.

Theme

Say: "Theme" to hear a selection of popular titles among CELA readers by age category; lists are updated monthly. Select among the following choices by asking for their corresponding number:

  1. Top books for adults
  2. Top books for kids
  3. Top books for teens

After making your choice, go to Select book from a list for next steps.

Genre

Say: “Genre” to explore the following choices by selecting their corresponding number.

  1. Mysteries and crime stories
  2. General fiction
  3. Biography
  4. History
  5. Romance

After making your choice, go to Select book from a list for next steps.

Playback of a book

Once you have selected a book, it will begin to play. During playback, you can not currently return to the skill directly. You will have to invoke it again.

Note that any commands issued during playback will have to be preceded by the "Hey Google" or "ok Google" wake phrase.

The following commands are available for playback:

  • Say "Pause": Pauses playback.
  • Say "Resume": Picks up book where you left off.
  • Say "Next": Skips to next section in book.
  • Say "Previous": Skips back to previous section in book.
  • Say "Stop": Interrupts playback and exits the skill/app. You will have to invoke it again to resume interacting with it.
  • Adjust volume by saying: "Volume up", "volume down" or "volume [number between 1 and 10]". This works currently only if you have exited the skill.
  • Adjust speed by saying: "faster" or "slower".
  • Jumping by time index. Say: "Skip forward" or "skip back" followed by the amount of time. This currently only works within the same track of the book.

The help function

At any point feel free to invoke the Help command by saying "help"to get context specific instructions for what you can say.

Note that currently help is not available during playback.