Windows 10 allows the user to access a “personal digitalized assistant” called Cortana.  Cortana can perform tasks such as set reminders, recognize natural voice without the requirement for keyboard input, and answer questions using information from Bing (search engine).

Cortana first shows up as a search box on the Windows 10 desktop screen, the “Ask me anything” bar that is one of the most visible new features to the Windows 10.

When the user first opens Windows 10, Cortana can be set to listen for the user to say “Hey Cortana.” To use Cortana with voice activation (computer must be equipped with a microphone):

• Click on the Search Bar for Cortana by the Start menu

• Click the menu icon in the upper right corner of Cortana’s window. It has three stripes.

   

•  Select Notebook from the options
•  

  Select Settings from the options

• 

  Switch “Let Cortana respond to ‘Hey Cortana.'” to On.

  

• Now Cortana will respond to the user when prompted with “Hey Cortana”.