Apple Settings - Do Not Disturb

Settings for “Do not Disturb”:

If they don’t want to be disturbed at a certain time, they can set a schedule. Tap Settings > Do Not Disturb and turn on Scheduled. Then set a time.

They can also choose when they want to receive alerts, calls, and notifications:

·      Bedtime: When Bedtime is enabled, the Lock screen will dim, calls will be silenced, and notifications will appear under During Bedtime in the Notification Center until the scheduled Do Not Disturb ends.

·      Silence: Choose to silence calls and notifications always or only when the device is locked.

·      Allow Calls From:  Allow calls from everyone, no one, the favorites, or specific contact groups stored on the device or iCloud.

·      Repeated Calls: If someone calls they twice within three minutes, the second call isn’t silenced.

Siri an Intelligent Assistant: In iOS 12, Siri wants to help make the digital life a little bit less stressful. There’s a ton of new shortcuts that they can configure, even more coming with in-apps allowing Siri to do even more than she’s ever been able to do. Right within the settings app, there are a ton of Siri suggestions or shortcuts that make sense based on how they use the device. For instance, I am always reading news.com.au so I can create a shortcut that takes me directly to AI’s website. I can also make ones that jump right into a card in my wallet that I use, or complex actions including starting a FaceTime call with Jan and John, so they want to make that a shortcut so I can jump ring to call with them anytime without having to open the FaceTime app, find both of them and add everything and then get it started. I can simply say “start a FaceTime call” and Siri will know what to do, grab both those guys and get them on the phone.

Within these Siri, settings are also where they can allow or disallow the “Hey Siri” command, as well as view Siri Shortcuts, and decide if they want to allow Siri when the device is locked.

In the future, there’s going to be a whole Siri shortcuts app that allows they to create the programming across the entire OS. Apps can also build this functionality in, so finding lost items with GPS style tags.

Additional Information:

Let's break down how to effectively manage interruptions and leverage Siri's capabilities on your iOS device, expanding on the provided information.

Managing Interruptions with Do Not Disturb:

• Scheduled Do Not Disturb:

  • Imagine you have a recurring meeting every Monday at 2 PM. Instead of manually enabling Do Not Disturb each time, you can schedule it.

  • Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb.

  • Toggle Scheduled to ON.

  • Set the From and To times to match your meeting schedule (e.g., 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM).

  • Now, every Monday, your device will automatically enter Do Not Disturb mode during that time.

• Bedtime Mode:

  • For a more restful sleep, utilize Bedtime mode.

  • When enabled, your Lock screen will dim to minimize bright light exposure, which can disrupt sleep patterns.

  • All calls and notifications will be silenced, preventing unwanted disturbances.

  • These notifications will be neatly collected and displayed in the Notification Center under "During Bedtime," allowing you to review them at your convenience after the scheduled Do Not Disturb period ends.

  • This helps prevent the temptation of looking at notifications during the night.

• Silence Options:

  • You have granular control over when calls and notifications are silenced.

  • Always: All calls and notifications are silenced, regardless of whether your device is locked or unlocked. This is ideal for situations where you need complete focus.

  • Only while iPhone is locked: Calls and notifications are silenced only when your device's screen is locked. This allows you to receive alerts when actively using your device, but avoids interruptions when it's idle.

• Allowing Calls from Specific Contacts:

  • In case of emergencies, you may want to allow calls from certain individuals.

  • The Allow Calls From option lets you choose:

    • Everyone: All calls are allowed.

    • No One: All calls are silenced.

    • Favourites: Only calls from contacts marked as favorites in your Contacts app are allowed.

    • Contact Groups: You can create custom contact groups (e.g., "Family," "Work") in your Contacts app and allow calls from those specific groups. This allows very specific control.

• Repeated Calls:

  • The Repeated Calls feature recognizes that urgent situations may require multiple attempts.

  • If the same person calls you twice within three minutes, the second call will bypass Do Not Disturb and ring through. This ensures that you don't miss critical calls.

Enhancing Productivity with Siri Shortcuts:

• Siri Suggestions:

  • iOS intelligently analyzes your usage patterns and provides relevant Siri suggestions.

  • For example, if you frequently visit a specific website, Siri will suggest a shortcut to quickly access it.

  • These suggestions appear in Settings > Siri & Search.

• Creating Custom Shortcuts:

  • You can create custom shortcuts for complex or frequently performed actions.

  • Imagine you need to regularly initiate a group FaceTime call with two colleagues.

  • Instead of manually adding them to the call each time, you can create a Siri shortcut:

    • Go to Settings > Siri & Search > All Shortcuts.

    • Tap the "+" button to add a new shortcut.

    • Then set up the shortcut to call the desired contacts.

    • Assign a custom phrase, such as "Start team call."

    • Now, simply saying "Start team call" to Siri will automatically initiate the group FaceTime call.

• Siri Settings:

  • "Hey Siri" Activation: You can enable or disable the "Hey Siri" voice activation command.

  • Siri Shortcuts: View and manage your created Siri shortcuts.

  • Siri on Lock Screen: Choose whether to allow Siri access when your device is locked. This offers a trade-off between convenience and security.

• The Future of Siri Shortcuts:

  • Apple is continuously expanding Siri's capabilities.

  • A dedicated Siri Shortcuts app is expected to provide more advanced automation and customization options.

  • App developers can integrate Siri Shortcuts into their apps, enabling seamless automation across various tasks.

  • This will allow for more complex and useful shortcuts. For example, a shortcut to locate a lost item using a tracking tag.

  • This will allow for far greater integration with IOT devices.

By mastering these features, you can effectively manage interruptions, streamline your workflows, and maximize the potential of your iOS device.