The podcast highlights the impact and attachment people can have to certain voices in GPS systems and the online protest that led to bringing back a popular voice.
The story showcases how an Australian musician embraced her voice's popularity in GPS units, rebranded herself as the GPS girl, and started making a positive impact on people's lives.
Deep dives
The Voice Behind GPS Systems
Karen Jacobson and Yaroslav Yuskovich both became famous for their voices in GPS systems. Karen's voice became a source of frustration and comfort for users, while Yaroslav's voice gained popularity in Poland. Both recorded their voices for modest pay and didn't expect them to be used in such widespread ways. Karen's voice ended up in GPS units, elevators, movie theaters, and even Siri on iPhones. Yaroslav's voice became the Polish voice for Google Maps. However, both eventually faced being replaced by text-to-speech voices. Yaroslav's voice was actually replaced temporarily, but due to overwhelming user backlash, Google brought it back. This story highlights the attachment people can have to certain voices and the impact they can have on users' lives.
Karen's Journey
Karen Jacobson, the voice behind GPS units, began her career as a singer and musician in New York City. She was approached for voiceover work and recorded a massive script to capture every possible syllable combination for a voice system. Little did she know that her voice would end up in millions of GPS units, frustrating some users and providing comfort to others. Karen experienced financial struggles, but with her resilience and newfound confidence, she embraced her voice's popularity. She rebranded herself as the GPS girl, became a motivational speaker, and started making a positive impact on people's lives.
Yaroslav and the Polish Google Maps Voice
Yaroslav Yuskovich, a Polish radio personality, became the voice of Google Maps in Poland. While his voice system couldn't say street names, it gained popularity among users who found it more human and relatable than the newer text-to-speech voice. However, Yaroslav's voice was eventually replaced by the text-to-speech voice, which sparked a wave of protests and an online petition to bring him back. In a surprising move, Google reversed course and brought Yaroslav's voice back, illustrating the attachment and connection people have with certain voices.
The voices inside our navigation systems are with us nearly every day. They frustrate us when they lead us astray, and guide us through our most memorable adventures. But who are the people behind those voices? In this episode, an Australian musician discovers she is the voice inside millions of GPS units, and the Polish voice of Google Maps goes head to head with a robot. Featuring “The GPS Girl” Karen Jacobsen and “Głos Google Maps” Jarosław Juszkiewicz.