Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
The computer that always listens for voice commands used to be the stuff of science fiction. Google has already initiated Ok Google as a code word to listen for further commands on Android devices, and now iPhone users have the jailbreak tweak OkSiri. Normally, Siri requires a long press of the home button to start listening. With OkSiri installed, an Activator gesture tells Siri to be ready for a custom code word.
Once installed, the first step is to define the code word that will invoke the main Siri screen. By default, this word is set to Ok Siri under Settings -> OkSiri. To change the work or phrase, enter the text and then activate and deactivate Siri the traditional way. With the code word configured, the next procedure requires assigning an Activator gesture to OkSiri. This makes it possible to switch the listening mode on or off.
The reason for this is that constantly listening is likely to have an impact on battery life. Switching the tweak on or off is as simple as performing the selected Activator action. For example, a tap and hold on the status bar can keep Siri listening for the code word in the background.
Finally, Activator must be told what to do when it hears the code word. This means setting up an action under Settings -> Activator -> OKSIRI -> Heard Keyword. In order to open Siri, the correct action is Virtual Assistant. Since the tweak depends on Activator, this also means it can be configured to do almost anything when it hears the keyword. For example, the iPhone can now be configured to listen for the words Play Chess to automatically open the app Social Chess.
OkSiri is available from the BigBoss repo on Cydia for free. Check here for instructions on how to jailbreak iOS 7.x with evasi0n 7. You can also find out how to purchase and install Cydia tweaks with this guide.