Explore Performance Task Analysis

Explore Performance Task Written Responses

(a) The computing innovation that is represented by my computational artifact is an intelligent personal assistant. The purpose of an intelligent personal assistant is to aid a user by performing tasks such as reading and sending text and email messages, placing phone calls, setting reminders and events, opening applications, answering basic questions, searching information online, performing calculations, engaging in conversations, and other basic tasks, usually through voice commands. My computational artifact represents this computing innovation since it gives a brief description of what an intelligent personal assistant is, examples of it and a few of its functions.

(b) I used an infographic

Before intelligent personal assistants, hands-free operations with smartphone devices were rare and limited to certain tasks such as responding phone calls. With the introduction of intelligent personal assistants, the number of tasks able to be done hands-free increased substantially. This has led to being able to multitask much more efficiently and it has potentially helped reduce car crashes since drivers are less likely to use their hands to operate their phone while driving. Another beneficial effect is that people can do things at a much quicker pace due to not having to manually do certain tasks. Intelligent personal assistants have also allowed people to stay up to date with current events. There are also downsides to intelligent personal assistants. One harmful effect that intelligent personal assistants have had on society is that people have increasingly become more dependent on them which has led to complications when the technology fails or is unavailable. Another harmful effect of intelligent personal assistances is the amount of information that they collect from you in order to perform certain tasks. The information collected may include personal conversations since microphones are typically always on to hear for cues. How the information is used and where it goes troubles many and has led to some

Personal data concerning things like names and location is often needed to complete certain tasks. The innovation consumes analog data with a microphone which is then converted into compact digital form. The device sends a signal to a neighboring cell tower which allows it to connect to an Internet Service Provider where it loads models used by a local recognizer. The digital data is evaluated by the software where it is compared to other sounds using the local recognizer. A server then estimates what was said and a list of interpretations is created. The one with the highest probability is chosen and the device performs the task. One data privacy concern related to intelligent personal assistants is the analog data that is always received from the microphone. The data is usually saved and where it goes worries many.

(e) Rodrigues, Ryan. Here's How Intelligent Personal Assistants Work. 11 Jan. 2017, www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-here-s-how-intelligent-personal-assistants-work-2291360. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

The Dawn of Intelligent Personal Assistants. 14 Oct. 2016, blog.venturepact.com/the-dawn-of-intelligent-personal-assistants/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2017.

Beal, Vangie. What Is Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA)? www.webopedia.com/TERM/I/intelligent-personal-assistant.html. Accessed 21 Feb. 2017.

Nusca, Andrew. How Apple's Siri Really Works.