http://www.sensoryinc.com/company/pr10_02.html
otal handsfree control now possible for new, popular voice search applications
Sunnyvale, CA, - Oct. 26, 2010 ...Today Sensory announced the availability of Android™ and iPhone® software development kits (SDK’s) that enable smart phones and smart pads to be used in a completely handsfree fashion without ever touching the device. With these SDKs, application developers can tap into Sensory’s Truly Handsfree Trigger™, a unique and industry-proven voice technology that makes devices and applications come alive with a spoken magic word that wakes the device up for voice control and voice search functions.
Voice search has become increasingly important in mobile devices such as smart phones to simplify access to data and increase handsfree capabilities for safety and convenience. Google recently released data that 25 percent of all Android-based searches are now done by voice and Apple has increased its investment in voice search through the recent acquisition of SIRI, a voice recognition-based iPhone concierge service.
The Truly Handsfree Trigger was first brought to market in Bluetooth car kits like the BlueAnt S4 True Handsfree Speakerphone. This month, Vlingo became the first smartphone application provider to incorporate the feature into their Vlingo In-Car application. “We’ve known for some time that consumers don’t want to always have to hit buttons to call up voice search applications,” said Dave Grannan, CEO of Vlingo, “Now with Sensory’s Truly Handsfree voice triggers it’s possible to create a voice user interface that allows users to talk to devices and get back information without relying on touch.”
Truly Handsfree Trigger enables a device to be placed into “listening” mode and await a designated key word or phrase. When the user says the key phrase, the device and app wake up and await the next voice command. This feature is particularly useful for in-car scenarios such as voice-controlled navigation and search, where it is important to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Device manufacturers can use the magic word wakeup feature for branding their company or product name. For example, to speak to Vlingo InCar, you just say “Hey Vlingo…” followed by your search command. In the home, Truly Handsfree Triggers make any smart pad application – be it alarm clock, recipe app or camera application - accessible remotely by voice. The SDK also allows the integration of speech recognition and synthesis technology so developers can add command sets and speech prompts to any applications they create.
Application developers can now access cloud based speech recognition technology from Google, Microsoft and others. However, a gap has emerged in these applications where there is a need for local voice control without requiring a connection, and a desire for Truly Handsfree usage without pressing buttons to call up the cloud based features. Sensory’s new SDK’s fills this gap by allowing developers the ability to implement Truly Handsfree voice control on the client and without a connection, through a client-server approach that yields faster access to data and higher accuracy performance in a Truly Handsfree fashion.
“Consumers love accessing data and information faster, safer and more conveniently,” said Todd Mozer, Sensory’s CEO. “The application markets for iPhone and Android are exploding with creativity and we’re anxious to see what innovative features developers will create with the exciting Truly Handsfree voice trigger and speech user interface capabilities.”
The Sensory Truly Handsfree Trigger SDK costs $2500 and includes five hours of development support. Before shipping products a per unit royalty or license fee buyout would need to be negotiated.