iPhone, iPad, Mac, and HomePod users are familiar with Apple’s Siri.

Siri (/ˈsɪri/ SIRR-ee) is a virtual assistant that is part of Apple Inc.’s iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS operating systems. The assistant uses voice queries, gesture based control, focus-tracking and a natural-language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Internet services. The software adapts to users’ individual language usages, searches, and preferences, with continuing use. Returned results are individualized.

I use Siri a number of ways.

Hey, Siri. Tell me a knock-knock joke.

Siri has an endless supply of knock-knock jokes but can be useful in many other ways. I use an application on my iPhone and iPad called Speech Assistant. I can type what I want to say, tap a button, and Siri speaks for me.

Words and phrases can be added and saved and used with little more than a category selection and a tap.

I still have a voice though it is more of a whisper these days, thanks to 22 or more hours a day on the ventilator. Siri is my new voice. I use the app to communicate with my wife.

My favorite phrase?

Please jump up and down.

Siri says please and my wife still won’t jump up and down.