Privacy Mode Detection And Response Over Voice Activated Interface

A method for controlling a mode of a portable electronic communication device comprising:

• receiving input at the device;
• determining whether the input is indicative of an intent for the device to enter a private mode;
• entering the private mode at the device if the user input indicates an intent for the device to enter the private mode;
• and
• while in the private mode, altering a manner in which the device communicates, wherein altering a manner in which the device communicates comprises one of reducing a volume at which the device plays an audible communication and conveying an otherwise audible communication via a visible user interface instead.

A method of communicating from a portable electronic device to a user of the device comprising:

• detecting an utterance;
• determining whether the utterance is a whispered utterance;
• and
• altering communications from the device if the utterance is a whispered utterance, such that otherwise audible communications from the device are played at reduced volume or are displayed and not audibly played.