Wake Word

A specific word or phrase that activates a voice-controlled device, such as "Hey Google," "Alexa," or "Hey Siri." The wake word must be spoken before any command for the device to begin listening. Wake words present accessibility barriers for people with speech disfluencies, as they often contain sounds that are difficult to produce fluently — particularly words starting with hard consonants or specific vowel combinations. Since every interaction with a voice assistant begins with the wake word, difficulties at this initial stage can cascade into negative experiences that discourage further use of the device.