TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti Dec. 20 announced that NJDOT is the first department in the country to provide hands-free, real-time, statewide, traffic and traveler information using both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant devices.
According to a release, the use of voice assistants – where a user asks a question to a smart device such as a mobile phone or smart speaker – is the latest enhancement to the 511NJ Traveler Information Program and can be enabled on Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant devices.
The Skill (on Alexa), or Action (on Google), is called New Jersey Traffic. The department also is developing the New Jersey Traffic feature for Siri (Apple) and Cortana (Microsoft), which will be available in Spring 2020.
“Voice assistants are the latest technology that have a positive impact on our daily lives,” Gutierrez-Scaccetti stated. “New cars have built-in virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This innovative use of 511NJ allows drivers with this technology to ask for real-time New Jersey traffic information hands-free, without having to take their eyes off the road.”
The hands-free New Jersey Traffic feature for virtual assistants provides subscribers with the same valuable real-time traffic and traveler information that can be found in the other 511NJ Suite of Services without having to pick up a phone.
How to enable the New Jersey Traffic feature:
Amazon Alexa
- In order to use the New Jersey Traffic Skill on an Alexa device, a user must have an Amazon account. To create an account, go to the Amazon.com website and register.
- Once registered, go to the Alexa Skills Page and search for the New Jersey Traffic Skill.
- Click on the New Jersey Traffic Skill and on the right-hand side of the display, click “Enable.”
- The New Jersey Traffic Skill will be available on all Alexa devices.
- To use New Jersey Traffic say, “Alexa, open New Jersey Traffic.” Then follow the prompts as with any other Alexa Skill.
Google Assistant
- In order to use the New Jersey Traffic Action on a Google device, a user must have a Google account. To create one, go to the Google.com website.
- Once registered, download the Google Assistant from the Android Play Store or the Apple Store.
- On the Google Assistant, search for the New Jersey Traffic Action from the “Explore All Actions” page and click “Link.” The New Jersey Traffic Action is now available on all Google devices, including the Google Assistant.
- To use New Jersey Traffic say, “Hey Google, talk to New Jersey Traffic.” Then follow the prompts as with any other Google Assistant.
For more information on how the hands-free New Jersey Traffic feature works on these virtual assistant devices, visit the 511NJ.org Frequently Asked Questions page. There users can learn how to interact with the features to get the most relevant information, as well as helpful hints to navigate through the virtual assistants.
About the 511NJ Suite of Services — The 511NJ.org website, phone system, Personalized Travel Service, and New Jersey Traffic features provide valuable real-time traffic and traveler information about incidents, crashes, congestion, construction, special events, and travel times. The department updates this information 24 hours a day, seven days per week
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