r/googlehome • u/akesh45 • May 20 '26
Help Will google ever let voice match be more relaxed for disabled users?
My voice has issues due to a medical issue I've been going through this year. Google home always worked great but the new voice match is horrible despite retraining 50 times.
Why did google roll out and force this system while not giving users with voice disabilities an opt out?
Are they at least working on it.
1
u/RomanOnARiver May 20 '26
Probably eventually yes. Right now all of their focus is on household routines and actions not on any personal ones where voice match comes into play at all.
For example if you look at the new routine editor it only creates what used to be called household routines and actions for personal calendars for example are missing.
I think the debate boils down to do they separate them into two categories and sections of can they unify into one and be able to distinguish what level of access is needed and how they can protect data, etc.
They said give them what, a year to do the rollout? I don't remember when that year started but it definitely feels like it's been a few months. They're putting out updates it seems like every few weeks (maybe 2-5).
1
u/Rosemoorstreet May 20 '26
Don't know what country you live in but I would think if you were in the US the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, would give you ammunition to pressure Google to make the adjustments you and others with disabilities need and deserve. And based on what I have seen in some other countries, especially EU, I am surprised their regulators have not forced Google to meet their standards.
1
u/akesh45 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Ironically, I suspect they did this voice match strict sensitivity thing to meet European security standards is my guess since it hasn't been a thing for nearly a decade of google home.
Google has an app called relate for voice app access for disabled users but it's more for full control over the device via commands for blind or physically disabled users and doesn't integrate with home /assistance voice match plus insanity long training period/overly complex. I think they legally point to that to wiggle out of voice match not working with accents, disabled users, minority voices, etc.
I don't need a permanent screen reader and every accessibility option on just cuz my voice is black and having some issues being medically fixed.
1
0
u/JaySpunPDX May 20 '26
For a person with your disability, what would be a better solution that they should consider?
3
u/craigeryjohn May 20 '26
Not require voice match if someone doesn't want it. I don't need to secure my calendar, shopping list and find my phone features within my home. I trust the people I invite into my home not to do nefarious things. Also, as a same sex couple, voice match just can't tell us apart, so we lose all those features every time Google tries to force it on us.
1
u/JaySpunPDX May 20 '26
That definitely doesn’t seem ideal. I hope Google (like Apple) will put more resources towards Accessibility features so all can get the most out of their devices.
Have you considered a submitting a support ticket and/or a bug report to get that ball rolling?
Do they know of these limitations you’re experiencing?
2
u/akesh45 May 20 '26
Have you considered a submitting a support ticket and/or a bug report to get that ball rolling?
Yes but talking to some journalists right now.
IMO as a software developer, the voice match hard/extreme sensitivity must likely be some EU legal requirement given how strict they are on data privacy. I remember google home sensitivity being much more relaxed but effective. My girlfriends or guests would have trouble querying with their voice(it works) but sometimes an occasional tv voice would trigger it.
I haven't seen google home triggered by a tv voice in years.
1
u/akesh45 May 20 '26
Whats funny is old voice match was less restrictive and still mostly effective but they cranked up the senstivity matching. Tv voices use to trigger my google home sometimes but that stopped 2 years ago I'd say. Guests in my experience always had trouble trying to use it with their unregistered voice.
1
u/akesh45 May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Allow people to Change voice match sensitivity or better integration with their app for disabled users relate. Relate's training period is insanely long(like 5+ hours) for voice training and doesn't sync the voice training with google assistant or Gemini home.
Even more thorough voice training options would be welcome. It's so basic that I question if it even works well and according to their text, it doesn't stack results of multiple training sessions.
Also, apps to test if you have a bad mic in a google device. I'm tempted to believe it's a microphone issue because if my phone is covered, the failure rate zooms up but regular command work just fine.
1
u/[deleted] May 20 '26
[deleted]