Voice recognition has become an integral part of our everyday lives. From tech professionals to children, almost everyone has come into contact with these devices at some point. Mega corporations like Apple & Google are credited with inventing and spreading this phenomenon around the world. There are some industries where voice command is making a big splash, and one of them is the automotive industry. In-car speech-activation systems are now standard in many cars. However, how well has the automotive industry capitalized on and integrated voice-recognition technology into vehicles? Well, it appears that necessity drove this type of innovation, and here’s why.
Why is Voice Recognition System becoming so popular in Vehicles?
Thanks to big-brand innovations like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Echo, voice-activated technology of late is becoming extremely popular in everyday life. Although technology is still evolving, it has advanced more quickly in the automotive industry than anywhere else. In-car speech recognition is not a new concept. It has been around for some time but of late has gained immense recognition in vehicles and below are some of the reasons why.
- Safety- The development of voice-recognition technology has always been driven by the need for safety. In cars, this technology aims to stop the distraction of gazing at your phone while driving, whether you are using a maps app or dictating a hands-free text message.
- Convenience- The technology is not only safer, but also more convenient, and it has the potential to assist drivers with restricted mobility as well as other disabilities. For example, if you can activate all of your car’s auxiliary systems with your voice, such as audio, climate control, and so on, you will not have to press the button to turn them on and off. Furthermore, you won’t have to enter any information or divert your attention away from what you are supposed to be doing: both driving as well as concentrating on the road.
- User-Friendly- Not only is there a lot of leverage revolving around location, data, and navigation routes, yet there is also more user-friendliness now that the user’s needs are being considered. For example, you can use this technology to have the voice assistant help you find any nearby gas stations by navigating the car utilizing the map – everything without having to enter your current location’s address.
- Better Wireless Voice Technology- Thanks to advancements in wireless communications integrated into cars and more powerful microphone and computing systems than ever before, innovations in the voice recognition sector in cars have transformed the way one travels from one destination to another. This is particularly true for long and unseen routes, which have become less strange and hectic as a result of the technology’s various features. Amazon, for example, has developed devices with advanced voice recognition features such as vibration and harshness. This ensures that communication runs as smoothly as possible with the fewest possible interruptions. The microphones are equipped with the ability to distinguish between who is talking on the mic & what should be prioritized.
- Better Connectivity- Despite the fact that connectivity is critical, particularly when driving long distances where weak signals can be a major issue for many drivers, companies are looking for new ways to augment the signal quality captured by smartphones. For a long time, cloud computing, local voice processing, and backups have all played a part in improving the user-friendliness of voice recognition in vehicles.
What can be accomplished?
As more auto manufacturers ensure a seamless connection between your car, home, and all the devices in between, voice recognition is becoming more mainstream. The chance to reach customers in their cars — and gather all that data — has tech behemoths, automakers like Amazon and Google, as well as investors, scrambling for a piece of the connected car pie. But this is only the start. Future autonomous vehicles are expected to include voice recognition as a standard feature, with drivers eventually relinquishing control of the vehicle mechanically. Voice recognition is also being used in other applications, such as automated drones, two-wheelers, and even air taxis.
We can expect more people to use in-car voice systems as their capabilities improve. Today, drivers can use in-car voice assistants to perform a variety of tasks that previously required their hands, such as:
- Setting navigational goals & listening to directions at the time of driving
- Receiving information from the voice assistants regarding everything from the adjacent gas station to net search results
- Placing orders at restaurants, cafes, and consumer-goods stores
- Operating infotainment systems like the radio and audio streaming services
- Managing car systems such as windshield wiper operation, interior temperatures, and door locks, among others.
Why it has become a Need in Automobiles?
- Various advances in auto Voice Recognition Technology have been accelerated for keeping the public safe at the same time using call services/navigation while driving, owing to the fact that driver safety is a priority.
- Distraction from a text message, phone call, or while using Google Maps is a natural human impulse to take one’s eyes off the road.
- In automobiles, Voice Recognition Technology has now turned into a novel standard feature possibly in every new vehicle, particularly in the automobile market.
- When compared to touch screens, driver distraction levels are much lower while utilizing Voice Recognition Technology in Automobiles, according to recent research.
Top Players in Auto Voice Recognition Technology
Some of the key players in auto voice recognition systems are rated as follows:
- Microsoft- Known as the world’s largest software company, Microsoft Corporation was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is best known for software products that are slowly encroaching on the territories of automobiles and smartphones.
- Apple- One of the most influential technology companies, Apple was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Cupertino, California. The company is presently involved in a variety of industries, including marketing, mobile phone design, sales, and also manufacturing, computer sales, and media devices to its customers.
- Alphabet was founded in 1998 and is known as Google’s parent company. According to reports, the company is a global leader in internet-based goods and smart services.
- Nuance Communications, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, provides speech recognition & AI products in consumer & enterprise, healthcare AI solutions & services, and automotive.
Wrapping Up
Safety will not be compromised for the sake of convenience, irrespective of what the future has for voice-recognition technology in cars. This does not, however, guarantee a completely risk-free drive. It is still one’s responsibility to drive safely on the road as both driver and user. Aside from driving safely, buying reliable car insurance is another way to safeguard oneself and their vehicle.
