ALS definition added to Siri

By: ABC6 News Staff

Email: News@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Modern technology makes it easier than ever for people to get information, but Siri wasn’t quite caught up when it came to ALS. Instead of defining the disease, the voice recognition program previously answered with information about Albania.

“It kind of seemed a little strange that given how many people might ask ‘What is ALS’ that Siri didn’t have an answer for that,” said Brian Frederick, Executive Vice President of Communications and Development with the ALS Association.

Thousands of caregivers, families and followers signed a petition that called on Apple to teach the digital assistant app about Lou Gehrig’s disease. The company was quick to respond.

“To be honest Apple changed ‘What is ALS’ before even letting us know. It just suddenly happened. Somebody said, hey they changed it. So we were all very excited,” said Frederick.

The ALS Association calls it a symbolic victory, and hopes that having a quick answer right at people’s finger tips will help them better understand the deadly disease. Frederick notes that the update will also better link people to resources for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

For more information on ALS you can visit: http://webri.alsa.org

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