Abstract: An apparatus and method for a wall clock AI voice assistant, such as a computing device, is provided herein. The wall-mountable electronic clock includes an optical sensor, a microphone, a digital display and a speaker. The optical sensor captures image data representing at least a portion of a user. The microphone receives an audio input from the user when certain criteria is met, such as when the image data representing at least a portion of the user is captured. The digital display provides visual information to the user provided in response to the captured image data or the audio input. The speaker provides audio information provides from a digital voice assistant in response to the captured image data or the audio input.

Abstract: A system and method include maintaining, by a computing device, a modifiable list of one or more actions available for activation by a user of the computing device, at least some of the actions executable by at least some applications operable on the computing device. A common access interface of the computing device presents a set of one or more representations corresponding to each of the available actions. A determination is made, by the computing device, that the user has provided via the common access interface an input with respect to a particular representation corresponding to a particular available action. In response to the input, the computing device instructs a corresponding application to execute the particular available action.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a wall clock AI voice assistant, such as a computing device, is provided herein. The wall-mountable electronic clock includes an optical sensor, a microphone, a digital display and a speaker. The optical sensor captures image data representing at least a portion of a user. The microphone receives an audio input from the user when certain criteria is met, such as when the image data representing at least a portion of the user is captured. The digital display provides visual information to the user provided in response to the captured image data or the audio input. The speaker provides audio information provides from a digital voice assistant in response to the captured image data or the audio input.

Abstract: A detection can be made that a device is in a power charging state. Responsive to detecting that the device is in the power charging state, a current device use context associated with the power charging state can be determined. A user interface that corresponds to the current device use context associated with the power charging state can be selected. While the device is in the power charging state, the selected user interface can be presented.

Abstract: A system and method include maintaining, by a computing device, a modifiable list of one or more actions available for activation by a user of the computing device, at least some of the actions executable by at least some applications operable on the computing device. A common access interface of the computing device presents a set of one or more representations corresponding to each of the available actions. A determination is made, by the computing device, that the user has provided via the common access interface an input with respect to a particular representation corresponding to a particular available action. In response to the input, the computing device instructs a corresponding application to execute the particular available action.

Abstract: A detection can be made that a device is in a power charging state. Responsive to detecting that the device is in the power charging state, a current device use context associated with the power charging state can be determined. A user interface that corresponds to the current device use context associated with the power charging state can be selected. While the device is in the power charging state, the selected user interface can be presented.

Abstract: In a speech-based system, a wake word or other trigger expression is used to preface user speech that is intended as a command. The system receives multiple directional audio signals, each of which emphasizes sound from a different direction. The signals are monitored and analyzed to detect the directions of interfering audio sources such as televisions or other types of electronic audio players. One of the directional signals having the strongest presence of speech is selected to be monitored for the trigger expression. If the directional signal corresponds to the direction of an interfering audio source, a more strict standard is used to detect the trigger expression. In addition, the directional audio signal having the second strongest presence of speech may also be monitored to detect the trigger expression.