Voice recognition or voice activated applications have become an increasingly popular concept in recent years. The idea that a person is able to speak into a microphone attached to a computing device and have those words typed out used to be the stuff of science fiction. It however, is now reality.
Everyone from doctors, writers and the disabled are making use of voice recognition software and voice activated applications. What used to have to be dictated to secretaries or took hours to write out by hand can be submitted directly through the use of voice activated software to a word processing program. A small amount of editing and the document is ready to go.
The key behind voice recognition software is the ability for technology to covert a person’s voice into a recognizable data pattern. Everyone speaks slightly differently, an accent or simply the way a phrase is put together. This makes it impossible for the computer to translate without first being trained. All voice activated software applications and programs that are compatible with voice recognition are going to require some kind of user specific training.
The training allows the computer to create a template matching a set of words on screen with those same words as spoken and converted inputted user data. When the program is later used outside of the training function, the spoken words are matched with the original input data from the training program, which is matched to the typed word.
Originally, speech or voice recognition software was limited to a specific program or a specific piece of equipment. However, advances in technology have made it possible for voice activated protocols to be placed in almost every program allowing not only programs but also large portions of computer systems to run off voice recognition.
There are a number of non-business based benefits to the use of voice recognition software applications. For example, it gives those individuals who are blind or who cannot manipulate a keyboard due to a physical disability the opportunity to make use of a computer and in many cases gain a level of independence. Voice activated programs can allow people with disabilities to be able to work and in some cases obtain an unknown level of self sufficiency.
These are just some of the outside of business benefits. Inside the office the benefits of voice recognition and voice activated applications are numerous. Creating documents, memos, and reports can easily be spoken leaving hands free to complete other tasks. Phone calls can be made via voice over IP software applications, which rely on the ability of the computer to convert voice into data.
In many cases, it breaks down to a simple case of mathematics. The average office worker types between 50-70 words per minute. However, speech recognition programs can handle 120 words per minute at 98% accuracy with proper training, even editing can be accomplished through the use of voice activated programming. This makes the use of these types of software applications a way to increase productivity as well as giving individuals with disabilities new ways to interact and work.
Saudi Telecom (STC) recently launched its new gem of a product – Same3ni poetic passages. Same3ni is the first of its kind, following the same voice recognition technology that made Same3ni Tadawul so popular. Same3ni allows subscribers to listen to famous poems right on their mobile phones or telephones. All you need to do is dial 1401 and you can follow the latest releases from your favorite poets in the Gulf region.
In a world of fast-paced technology, it is good to know that STC also values the arts, and lets their clientele know that there is more than one way of appreciating literature. When you feel the need to touch base with the humanities side of your mind and soul, you do not have to go to the library and pour over dusty old books. Poetry now has the ability to become accessible to anyone who wishes for it at any given time. When you feel that you are in the mood for a bit of relaxing art, dial 1401 and Same3ni voice recognition technology lets you listen to your favorite passages right on your mobile phone or land phone.
Same3ni does not only give you the opportunity to know about the latest poetic passages, you also get to listen to the voice of the poets themselves, making the readings more memorable and emotional. For example, hear the passages of “Shaer Al Million” wherever you may be and share it with your special someone right away. A lot of people are grateful for the chance to feed their souls with a good poem or two.
STC’s aim to provide their clientele with the best services has been proven successful yet again with this latest launch. By dialing 1401 on your mobile phone or telephone, you get to listen to the newest poetic passages in the author’s voice anytime, anywhere. You also get first hand information on the most recent poetry competitions all over the Arab region. Not only that, you are sure to hear the passages in high quality as STC continues to explore the many advantages of voice recognition technology.
Same3ni (1400) allows callers to get the latest information in various areas of interest like Islamic studies, the news, religion, culture, sports, and lifestyle. STC’s latest Same3ni falls under the recreational category, allowing clients to access the artistic world of poetry. STC proves itself worthy of being the leader in providing the latest and most innovative technologies; voice recognition being one of them, the first of its kind in the Middle East.
Same3ni (1402) also known as Same3ni Tadawul, lets callers gain valuable information on the stock market and the capital market. This includes share prices, market summaries, company announcements, trends in value, quantity, and closing prices as well as other market indicators such as traded shares and other transactions.
The beauty of Same3ni voice recognition technology is that it caters to all segments of the market. STC provides information on women’s stories, fashion, and various other subjects 24/7. This latest addition – poetry and songs – lets those who enjoy a little bit of romance be accustomed to having immediate access to the latest developments in that area.
Never has the world of poetry been given so much importance in the modern world; it almost seems as if this artistry has been relegated to those who are more inclined to research in the traditional manner. With Same3ni, STC leads the way to taking a radical approach to open up the way for new and old poets to get their passages into the mainstream and for more people to be aware of them. Same3ni is designed to invite this generation to try a way that can get them out of a stress-filled environment into a world where they can find fodder for their souls.
The “Same3ni” service has been designed, developed and implemented by Emerging Technologies, the first United Arab Emirates software application developer of Arabic (also available in English and Hindi) voice recognition solutions, using its Simply Speak! innovative technology.
A leading provider in navigation systems, Garmin recently released the first portable fully equipped voice recognition GPS device. The Garmin nuvi 880 features a widescreen navigator display with an array of pre-installed maps, an FM transmitter and hands-free capability. There is also real-time traffic, local weather, gas prices, movie times, stock market prices and much more.
Voice Recognition GPS
The voice recognition GPS feature of the nuvi 880 allows drivers to safely control the interface while keeping their hands on the wheel. Voice recognition can be activated by pushing a button on the remote control which conveniently attaches to the steering wheel.
MSN Direct
Aside from voice recognition GPS capabilities, the Garmin nuvi 880 also serves as a great personal travel assistant, as it allows you to access content from MSN Direct. Included with the package is a receiver and free trial to the MSN Direct service, which gives you the ability to check the traffic, weather, compare gas prices, obtain movie listings and stock details, along with local and national news events.
Widescreen Display
Garmin’s new voice recognition GPS device features a 4.3 inch display for easy viewing. The screen is designed with reflective technology which allows you to read directions despite sun glare.
Pre-installed Maps
The nuvi 880 comes loaded with street maps by City Navigator NT, along with tons of points of interests, including gas stations, restaurants, hotels, ATM machines and more. This voice recognition GPS device goes one step further by announcing the names of streets and exits, allowing you to drive safely while keeping your eyes on the road. Additionally, the nuvi 880 supports custom points of interests, giving you the ability to add school zones and other areas.
Where am I?
Integrated into the nuvi 880 is a handy application called Where Am I, a feature that offers the best of voice recognition GPS. Simply speak the phrase “Where Am I” to locate the nearest gas station, police precinct, hospital, address or intersection.
Hands-free Calling
The nuvi 880 enables safe hands-free calls by utilizing Bluetooth technology, which is integrated into the speaker and microphone. When pairing the device with a compatible mobile phone, all you have to do is dial or speak the phone number into the system’s touch screen keypad and the call is made.
Convenient Design
The nuvi 880 features a thin design and built-in antenna, making this voice recognition GPS device easy to slide into your purse or pocket.
Extra Features
Garmin’s new device comes packed with several tools for traveling and entertainment. This includes an MP3 player, a JPEG image viewer, an audio book player, video games, an alarm clock, games and much more. With the FM transmitter, you can listen to a wide range of audio such as voice prompts, MP3 files and audio books through the vehicle’s stereo speakers. This voice recognition GPS unit also includes attractive features such as FM traffic alerts as well as an anti-theft feature called Garmin Lock. Furthermore, the nuvi 880 offers slots for microSD cards, which can be used to install Garmin Travel Guides for more detailed information on various attractions.
*We are conducting a work shop nearby to demonstrate our products
Workshop Date: 27th January
Timing: from 9 am to 6 pm
Location: Dubai – UAE
Venue: Palm 9 - Fairmont Hotel /Sheikh Zayed Road
*In case you would like to visit the Exhibition (we’re not participating in Exhibition)
Exhibition Date: 26th – 29th January
Show Timings:Monday 26th January 10:30 am to 6:00 pm
Tuesday 27th January 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Wednesday 28th January 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday 29th January 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: Dubai – UAE
Venue: Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center
The CEO of Emerging Technologies, Sassine Mazraani, explains how his company’s Simply Speak approach to voice recognition technology can help businesses overcome the challenges of this global economic meltdown.
Search engines are always hungry for high quality and unique content on the web. Having original, relevant and optimized content is crucial to attract quality traffic to your blog. It is also your best chance to convert traffic into paying customers and generate inbound links from authority websites.
However, the process of regularly writing and posting new content to your blog can be somewhat cumbersome. You may not have the time, energy or ideas to create good content that people want to read and more importantly share.
Why not try to simply speak out your blog using voice recognition?
You may find that ideas flow alot quicker when you’re speaking your content instead of writing it. Afterall, speaking is usually spontaneous and that’s what you need to quickly come up with original content. If you think too much or too long about it, you’ll get stuck. You can always go back to correct it, so don’t worry.
Simply speak out your thoughts and let the voice recognition software (your virtual secretary) write it down for you. How about that!
All you need is a good microphone headset (very important) and a voice recognition software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking from Nuance. Of course, you need to familiarise yourself with the software by learning the main commands. You will also need to run the wizard to teach the software your talking style. It will then automatically adjust to your speech patterns. The more you use it the more accurate it gets.
Now, just sit back, relax and start dictating and posting to your blog. It’s that simple!
STC is one of the largest Telecommunications providers in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. STC decided in 2008 to implement Emerging Technologies’ Hello Telco voice portal solution which succeeded in handling tens of thousands of incoming calls every day and created a new revenue stream for the company.
Industry: Telecommunications
Project Type: Voice Portal
Challenge
The Saudi public had a need to access a wide variety of information on a daily basis and the Internet could not be the answer due to its limited penetration and use in the Saudi market. Additionally, STC had a need to boost landline calls, attract new customers, retain older ones and differentiate itself from other major competitors.
Solution
Emerging Technologies, through its Riyadh offices, worked closely with STC to develop, localize, test and implement the state-of-the-art Hello Telco voice portal solution which uses Nuance’s voice recognition platform and Emerging Technologies’ Arabic voice recognition application. The portal was designed specifically to meet the requirements of the Telecommunications giant.
The human-like service offers callers a 24/7 access to a variety of information such as news, sports and entertainment. Callers would dial a dedicated telephone number and request information of interest using their own voice, accent and dialect.
STC was the first to introduce this unique and exciting voice recognition service to the Saudi market and in fact the entire Arab world.
Results
Launched on 29 July 2008, the user friendly service which receives over 40,000 calls a day on average was an instant hit with STC’s customers. Thanks to the system’s human-like interface, callers could not believe that they were actually conversing with a computer system and not a live agent.
Customer Feedback
“The project was a major success. Thanks to Emerging Technologies and their unique expertise in successfully developing and implementing voice recognition solutions, we were able to offer our customers an innovative telephone service in Arabic that is unmatched in accuracy and human-like interaction.”
Eng. Sami Mohammed Thobali - Voice Services Management Section Manager
In April of this year, AT&T revealed its voice recognition GPS navigation service known as AT&T Navigator. The new service is designed to provide drivers with visual and audible turn-by-turn directions. AT&T Navigator delivers moving maps in full color, enabling users to find their way much easier.
Voice Recognition GPS
This is far more convenient than using traditional or printed maps, as well as standalone navigation devices. Instead, drivers can pull up accurate directions right on their voice recognition GPS-enabled phones. This is an ideal solution for anyone, whether you are looking to get directions to a new restaurant, an important business meeting, or the family reunion out of town. According to Mark Collins, vice president of the company’s Consumer Data wireless unit, the AT&T Navigator service is personal mobilization at its best.
How AT&T’s Voice Recognition GPS Works
AT&T’s new voice recognition GPS service provides integrated speech capabilities for address entry, as well as points of interest search. All drivers have to do is press a button on their handset and speak the address or name of the business they want to find. From there, the AT&T navigator provides both on-screen and voice powered turn-by-turn directions to the spoken destination.
Another quality feature of the AT&T voice recognition GPS service is updated route information and real-time traffic updates. Users can gather an estimated time of arrival on each route, along with constant updates as they drive, allowing them to be more precise with daily commutes. The AT&T Navigator provides information on the speed of traffic along a particular route and incident details, such as highway construction and automobile accidents. With this voice recognition GPS solution, you can save a considerable amount of time by navigating around any problems on the road.
Features of Voice Recognition GPS
One of the biggest attributes of the AT&T Navigator is that it helps to steer you the right direction. This unique feature allows you to do the following:
- Obtain directions and compare fuel prices for the nearest gas station. Known as “Gas By Price,” this feature sorts the price of fuel from lowest to highest.
- Search the current route and find the nearest ATM machines, restaurants, Wi-Fi hot spots and more. This feature is powered by the YellowPages.com database, which offers millions of commercial locations.
- Plan trips in advance before even getting into the vehicle. This can be done by using a computer, entering an address online, and then syncing the information to a voice recognition GPS-enabled phone.
The AT&T Navigator voice recognition GPS service is currently available on a number of mobile handsets, including the AT&T Tilt, Motorola Z9, Motorola Q and BlackJackII, along with the BlackBerry 8310, 8800 and 8820. The service is also available to AT&T subscribers with compatible mobile phones as part of a free 30-day trial. Those who want to continue receiving the voice recognition GPS service can pay for it on a monthly subscription basis, which offers unlimited routes. Motorola Z9 users can enjoy the service with a daily pass option.
AT&T has plans to incorporate voice recognition GPS along with other features and services into more handsets in the very near future.
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