Mobile Computing

Voice Processing:
Recognition, Command and Response

Users are going to have a dilemma with mobile devices. Over recent years there has been a tremendous reduction in the size and weight of mobile phones to the point where size (or lack of it) has become an essential attribute and even a status symbol amongst users. Yet soon, with the new generation WAP phones, users are going to have to decide whether to trade size for increase functionality. These phones will handle applications from simple stock market information, needing little screen space (e.g. "IBM 1574p") to full internet surfing, requiring a display probably no smaller than the size of 2 credit cards. However, in the long run, voice processing will reduce the need to manually enter and visually receive information.

Voice recognition

Many mobile phones now have voice activate phone books and dial commands. They are particularly recommended for in-car use. Natural language voice recognition for typing text is well established on PCs allowing users, after some initial training of the software, to speak continuously in their natural voice. As the processors within mobile devices become more powerful and yet even smaller, it will be possible to have the same functionality and degree of accuracy with mobile devices. However, the natural language voice recognition software does not have to be resident in the mobile device, it can be a service run from the mobile operator's server. This method of using 'voice portals' is likely to appear first.

Nuance, a Californian company, is a leader in the field of voice recognition. It's customers include American Airlines, Odeon Cinemas and Charles Schwab. With Unisys it has developed a voice activated and speaking yellow pages system in the Minneapolis area. Users can say commands like "give me a list of pizza restaurants". Video recorder commands like back, re-wind can be given. Having selected an entry, the user can then command the system to dial the number.

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