Adobe Launches Adobe XD Google Assistant Preview Plugin

Adobe has launched a Google Assistant Preview plugin for Adobe XD, letting designers export and preview Adobe XD voice prototypes to devices with Google Assistant, which include mobile phones, smart speakers, smart TVs, and more.

"By testing voice experiences on real devices, you can incorporate voice considerations earlier on in the design process, allowing you to gather feedback and improve your designs without going through development for every incremental change," explained Mark Webster, director of product at Adobe, focusing on voice integration for Adobe XD, in a recent blog post.

"From any Google Assistant device, simply say, 'Hey Google, talk to Adobe XD.' Your device will then ask you to log in using your Creative Cloud account and enable you to interact with your Adobe XD prototypes from any device where your Google account is logged in. Then, using the invocation name you set earlier, you can open the prototype and interact with it on your Google Assistant device," Webster stated.

"Designing for voice is becoming more and more critical for all experience designers. According to our recent survey of voice technology users in the U.S., 39 percent of respondents started using voice technology in the past year, and 77 percent indicated that they would increase their use of voice in the coming months, citing more frequent use since the beginning of 2020.

Other findings from Adobe's research include the following:

• In additional to personal use, 86 percent of users say voice technology could make visiting businesses or attending events feel more sanitary.
• Around half of respondents want to see voice technology at businesses or events for tasks like opening a door (56 percent), choosing a floor on the elevator (55 percent) or using a vending machine (49 percent).
• Thinking about situations where they previously might not have considered using voice technology, respondents would now be open to using it for tasks requiring an element of touch like checking a bank balance (37 percent), booking a medical appointment (29 percent) or requesting grocery delivery (28 percent).
• Only one in four users leverage voice technology every day for tasks beyond simple searches.
• The most popular uses of voice technology involve apps for maps or driving (52 percent), texting or chat (51 percent) and music (46 percent). Growth areas include ordering food (17 percent) and online shopping (18 percent).

"We are so excited to see all the different ways designers use this new integration to bring voice into more and more user experience designs," Webster concluded.