A Test: Use only Voice Recognition to Control a Car

Aug 27 2014

This week I conduct an experiment:

Automakers are touting, “control the car using just Voice Recognition, so it’s hands on always!”

So for 1 week, try to drive without removing my hands from the steering wheel, ever.

Rely solely on the wheel’s buttons to operate the cabin controls, and infotainment system.

(Conclusion: can’t)

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

Regardless of how you’re operating the infotainment system, your focus and attention are still taken elsewhere.

Test conducted in a 2015 Chrysler 200.

About pairing my phone to a car for the 1st time – here

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Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

Testing Giant GM Pickup Trucks in Arizona

Jan 30 2014

Returned home tonight from AZ with GM.

Definitely not in Canada anymore.

You can open carry a gun in Arizona. Walk around with a 9mm on your hip if you like, old ladies do.

I was there to test their new 2015 Heavy Duty pickup trucks, both the GMC Sierra, and Chevy’s Silverado. This is the latter.

Because there’s no reference point, it’s tough to tell in this photo, but these trucks are massive. Like, four rear tires huge. Loved it.

If I could, I’d drive something that massive always.

Beautiful hotel; GM hosts class events.

Yesterday we drove up up up to 5,000 feet elevation, where I was shocked to see snow, in Arizona?!

See? Massive.

Easy to drive though. Not long in, and I was zooming around tight corners, maneouvering all veteran-esque.

Made a video.

Ate dinner outside, twice.

I learned so much about trucks. Their engines, transmissions (Allison!), who buys them and why. Really, it’s a whole new segment of the auto industry I’d not yet been exposed to. And I liked it, do work son!

My review is due tomorrow actually, it’s a new system at the paper now (used to have a week). So gotta run, because also due is next week’s column, “About Car Camouflage”.

Oh and clearly, I can access KeriBlog.com again. When that happened last night, woah, top 3 worst feelings ever.

New moon tonight, and Chinese New Year tomorrow. Here’s a post about how to prepare for that. It’s an old post, but the instructions remain the same.

May you get exactly what you wish for this year.

xo TTYT

I’m all Deer-in-the-Headlights to Film

Jan 7 2014

I have 300 videos online, 8 pages of topics ready to go, and still I’m freezing up. Dumb eh.

So back to 2007 where this all started – me by myself, talking to a camera on a tripod.

I’ve been making garbage videos:

film review delete, film review delete.

First, I reminded myself of the physical actions of making a video.

Painting my toes red.

Move to the next level: speaking, blablablaing to the camera.

In real life, I speak very little. Here I am talking about how I don’t like talking.

I really don’t.

The irony is, I’m pretty good at it.

Best way I can describe this feeling…

… as soon as you’re done reading this paragraph… hold up your phone, video on. State your name, location, speak passionately for 1 minute about anything, and upload it to YouTube. Then, Facebook & Tweet the link with this text, “I made this video, go watch it”.

That anxious feeling that’s now in your stomach, it’s that.

I’m too animated, talk too much with my hands, speak too quickly.

Reviewing the footage yeah, I can see it, but I’ll only slow my speech down a little. Because I figure: if you can’t absorb at that speed, you’re probably not going to like my stuff anyway.

Also noted while reviewing, wow, that is not the face that started 7 years ago. Sigh. I can’t get away with it anymore, I’m going to have to learn to use makeup.

Last summer I bought my first eyeliner, world’s oldest tomboy here. No dramatics, there’s 12 year olds better at makeup than me.

Pro tip – everyone looks good at this angle.

You know though, making and editing video of yourself is a strange but rewarding experience. I’m more self aware because of it.

If you ever want to take a good, cold look at yourself, make a video of you interviewing someone. I have a whole theory about this, it’s on my Mega Video List.