26th January 2022

Sounding human

We give names to the GPS navigations systems in our car. The system already installed when we my husband and I bought it, second-hand, gives directions in a medium-pitch, gentle and polite female voice. 'Please take the second exit at the roundabout....;'   A teacher, perhaps? We call her Enid.
Google-Maps directions are more up-to-date and include traffic information so we sometimes use our smartphones.
The Google-Maps voice on my husband’s smartphone gives directions - unprefaced by 'please' -  in a young, crisp  female voice. It’s how I imagine a busy CEO’s assistant might sound.  We call her Jackie. 
My smart-phone navigation system has a calm, eager-to-please male voice. I imagine an estate agent, or shop manager. We call him Graham. 
I expect all drivers have names for their satnav voices. The urge to humanise is strong.
Just ask Alexa.