Friday, March 15, 2013

Apple, Beware: Google Now Coming to iOS, Chrome, Chrome OS & Windows 8

Google Now speech recognition going cross platform…

Source: google.com

Regarded by some as the innovation of 2012, Google Now wants to be a hit in 2013, as well, by expanding beyond Android. If this is not a a gauntlet that Google is throwing down in front of Apple’s Siri, then I don’t know what it is. Google Now also makes use of another new project that Google has been developing in its secret laboratories: Knowledge Graph. The “cards” that Google Now passively displays, according to your search habits, use the information from Knowledge Graph.

But if you already know how awesome Google Now is, – and if you have an Android phone with Jelly Bean then you should now – then you understand the excitement behind bringing Google Now to other OS platforms. Google Now is the awesome feature that shows you search results without you having to look for them. Sure, this brings up again the issue of tracking and privacy, but if we believe Google abides by its motto (don’t be evil), this shouldn’t harm us that much.

Promotional Google Now video for iOS leaks online

google now for ios


As we are all already used to it, a leak is usually enough to fire up discussions and to make early judgments. And when the leak seems to be very genuine, like it’s the case right now, many of us take it for granted. Engadget was tipped off to a YouTube video that was displaying Google Now for iOS. Unsurprisingly, the video was shortly removed, but not quick enough for the online media to totally miss out. Have a look at both videos, the leaked one and the original Google Now and judge for yourself if this is a well-made, yet phony video or a genuine one.

We can see that its the same voice and the promotional video is done in the same style, maybe too similar to the first one, to be frank. And it’s difficult to think that somebody could reproduce the exact voice, make a video that could appear similar to the first one just for … fun? Or has Google intentionally let this through, to prepare users for what’s coming? And I find it even harder to believe that the hint of Google Now coming to Chrome is a coincidence.

Discovered Chrome flag pinpoints to Google Now on Chrome, Chrome OS

We have previously assumed (December 2012) that Google Now was bound to arrive on the Chrome browser and the Chrome operating system. The assumptions and discussions around this have intensified when we spotted a new, important feature in the Chrome OS - the Notifications Galore. Stephen Shankland with Cnet makes a valid point, connecting this feature and the upcoming Google Now:

The infrastructure dovetails with a new rich notification system being built into Chrome and Chrome OS, a mechanism that will let developers use HTML-formatted pop-ups. That will be handy for Google Now notifications, which often display graphics like maps and weather icons

But it was François Beaufort, a curious French developer known to discover various bugs & leaks, that found the Chrome flag which shows a clear reference to the coming of Google Now to the Chrome browser.

If coding doesn’t scare you as much as it scares me and if you know your way around Chromium, try and find it here or here. If not, then simply please yourself with the picture below.

google now chrome

Ok, but where does Windows 8 come in? If you will look carefully on the Chromium Code thread, then you will find the following:

Google Now component extension now can be turned on via chrome://flags. The server name needs to be set manually in JS debugger via local memory. TEST=Enable the extension via chrome://flags, set the server via local memory, restart, make sure cards appear. Check this on CrOS and Windows. When this starts working in Canary, set it up to see cards, wait till next day, update Canary to the next version, make sure cards appear on (1) the first start after the update; (2) following starts.

What else than Chrome OS could CrOS mean? And if this is going to Windows, it’s obviously going to Windows 8, not older versions, right? And it makes sense to give such a tool to Windows 8 and Windows RT users – since they are always on the go, Google Now will prove to be a very useful tool for them.

Siri needs to smarten up

Google Now is going to appear on Windows 8, Chrome, Chrome OS and iOS, thus becoming a central tool in our daily lives. You won’t even realize it when you will become dependent on the “cards” Google Now will passively and intelligently fetch you. Google Now will complete the Search app and function in a brilliant way and you won’t even notice when you won’t care anymore about the fact that Google knows so many things about you. You’ll become so addicted to using Google Now that you’ll embrace the technology without asking any questions.

So, the big question remains, what can Apple do? Well, it has only one choice – to innovate, innovate and innovate. We don’t know what rabbit is Apple going to pull out of its bottomless hat, but if their magic trick fails, we will all boo. Google’s doing great, embedding its search engine in our daily lives, making us need, love and look after it. Just look how many things Google Now can do now (pun intended). Google Now will expand to Windows, as well, one thing which Apple can’t do because they are special and closed. Let’s see what Siri has to say.

via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Google Now speech recognition going cross platform… Source:  google.com R egarded by some as the innovation of 2012 , Google Now wants to be a hit in 2013, as well, by expanding beyond Android. If this is not a a gauntlet that Google is throwing down in front of Apple’s Siri, then I don’t know what ...

Google Glass project acquires voice and object recognition company - News

Can't remember a person's name? 

Google Glass might help using speech and object recognition technology…

Source: google.com
Google Glass
Google Glass

Google has just acquired DNNresearch, a technology start-up from the Computer Science department at the University of Toronto responsible for researching speech and object recognition software.

DNNresearhc specialises in object and speech recognition and was incorporated by the University of Toronto just last year. The software they are currently researching could mean Google’s augmented reality Google Glass technology could integrate capabilities to search for specific objects or faces.

At SXSW, Google showed off the InSight app as part of a showcase of a new host of Google Glass features. The app is capable of identifying people by the clothes they’re wearing, but the software has obvious limitations, in that it wouldn’t recognise them if they changed outfits. The DDNresearch research could mean that Google Glass is capable of recognising speech, objects and faces within its memory. The company’s research “has profound implications for areas such as speech recognition, computer vision and language understanding.”Google’s acquisition of the company means that the company’s founder, Geoffrey Hinton and two of his graduate students will now be moving to work for Google. “Geoffrey Hinton’s research is a magnificent example of disruptive innovation with roots in basic research,” said the University of Toronto’s president David Naylor. “The discoveries of brilliant researchers, guided freely by their expertise, curiosity and intuition, lead eventually to practical applications no one could have imagined, much less requisitioned.”Having previously donated $600,000 (£402,171) to DNNresearch, Google has been eyeing up the start-up company for quite a while. “Last summer, I spent several months working with Google’s Knowledge team in Mountain View, working with Jeff Dean and an incredible group of scientists and engineers who have a real shot at making spectacular progress in machine learning,” said Hinton.“I am betting on Google’s team to be the epicentre of future breakthroughs.”Are you excited or scared by the potential technologies capabilities Google Glass could wield? Are you quite happy with your smartphone and wouldn’t want to have access to Google Glass? Give us your thoughts via the TrustedReviews Facebook and Twitter pages or the comments section below.  #End 

Via: TechCrunch

 

Latest gadget reviews

 

Original Page: http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/google-glass-project-acquires-voice-and-object-recognition-company&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAAoATAAOABA3a-IigVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=wUh6bTZtSKM&usg=AFQjCNEHBV4WpcIgGxZC6FmqP65U3UW4dw

Best,

Gerd
via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Can't remember a person's name?  Google Glass might help using speech and object recognition technology… Source:  google.com Google Glass Google has just acquired DNNresearch, a technology start-up from the Computer Science department at the University of Toronto responsible for researching speech a ...

HARMAN Integrates Apple’s Siri Into Ferrari

Now even your Ferrari is listening to your voice recognition commands. Take Siri for a wild ride.


Source:  google.com

HARMAN is providing Ferrari in-car speech control. At the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari showcased the integration of Apples Siri in its latest Ferrari FF model, marking the first such system integration by HARMAN.

image

Due to the seamless combination of Apple’s technology with the existing head unit, operation is just as simple as it is with any Siri enabled iPhone. A long press of the infotainment systems menu button on the steering wheel activates Siri, while commands and audio feedback are picked up clearly and played through built-in microphones and the cars audio system. Additionally, the volume is adjusted for better comprehensibility – just like the mobile phone, where Siri stops any music being played once it is activated.

Michael Mauser, HARMAN’s Executive Vice President and Co-President of Infotainment & Lifestyle Divisions, comments: “This Siri integration is an important milestone in the cooperation between HARMAN and Ferrari. By transferring the known modus operandi to the car, Ferrari offers its customers the ease of use of their mobile devices with an embedded premium HARMAN infotainment system.”

via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Now even your Ferrari is listening to your voice recognition commands. Take Siri for a wild ride. Source:   google.com HARMAN is providing Ferrari in-car speech control. At the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari showcased the integration of Apples Siri in its latest Ferrari FF model, marking the first such ...

Monday, March 11, 2013

Google’s 4 Biggest Technical Challenges, According To Search Guru Amit Singhal - SXSW

Is Google trying to model the voice recognition capabilities seen in Star Trek?

Source:  Forbes 

Amit Singhal

Google is the dominant player in Internet search and one of the most important technology companies. But it still faces major challenges.

Google’s Amit Singhal, senior vice president of search and Google Fellow, was asked in a talk at South By Southwest what Google’s biggest challenges are to solving its mission.

Those four technical challenges are: the knowledge graph, speech recognition, natural language understanding and (understanding) conversation, he said. These four areas are technical problems that, despite Google’s improvements, are still “not solved,” Singha said.

The knowledge graph is about “understanding the world as you and I do”–in other words, the connections between things and ideas and how they relate to each other, which underlies Google’s core search focus. Speech recognition is translating the human voice into text, which is key to things like searching by voice. Natural language is understanding the nuances of language, which allows the conversion of voice transcription into meaningful information. Conversation is related to natural language.

Still, Singha says search has progressed much faster than he thought it would have when he was in graduate school studying the problem 20 years ago. “When I was starting out as a graduate student in search we would struggle to figure out ‘apple’ is a company and also ‘apple’ is a fruit,” Singhal saidin a talk about the future of Google search and mobile with Guy Kawasaki.

Today however, you can type “church address” in Google and the search engine will know you’re looking for a physical map address. But if you type “Feedburner address” Google will know you’re looking for a URL.

Singhal, who joined Google 12 years ago, emphasized a vision of search based on the sci-fi vision in Star Trek. In the show, Captain Kirk would ask the computer any question and the computer would spit out an answer. Singhal pointed to Google Now, which is designed to send users information before they even search for it, such as flight delay information, or when someone should leave for a meeting, taking into account traffic.

“It should tell you things when you don’t ask it. If your flight is delayed you shouldn’t have to ask what’s the status. It should just know. Or you have a meeting an hour away and there’s bad traffic. Google should tell you, you’d better leave now. Our vision of Google is things you need to know just come to you… Our dream is for search to become the Star Trek computer. That’s what we’re building today.”

via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Is Google trying to model the voice recognition capabilities seen in Star Trek? Source:   Forbes  Amit Singhal Google is the dominant player in Internet search and one of the most important technology companies. But it still faces major challenges. Google’s Amit Singhal , senior vice president of se ...

Friday, March 1, 2013

Voice recognition technology looks beyond Siri - BLOUIN BEAT: Technology

Quo vadis, speech recognition?
The journey had just begun.…

Source:  google.com  
A man uses 'Siri' on the new iPhone 4S after being one of the first customers in the Apple store in Covent Garden on October 14, 2011 in London, England.

A man uses ‘Siri’ on the new iPhone 4S on October 14, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images/Oli Scarff

Apple’s voice-activated companion, Siri, is probably the single most well-known piece of consumer voice-recognition technology. But the interactive voice response (IVR) industry is a big one, with scores of applications for businesses as well as individual users. The market for voice-based apps is still on the rise as different mobile devices become available, so there is still much to see from software providers in the way of voice-activated apps.

Google’s answer to Siri reached iOS in late 2012 as part of an update to Google’s iOS search app. The voice feature was touted as better than Apple’s software: it provided context for voice transcriptions and queries which incorporated more intelligence about individual users, preferences, habits and locations — something Siri users found a frustrating shortcoming of the native-to-iPhone software. Indeed, the complaint that Siri doesn’t actually do much beyond enabling users to perform voice-activated searches on web apps or plug in calendar events with voice commands has led advocates of Google-based apps to latch onto Google Now – not, in fact,a voice-based service at all (which may itself serve as a sharp criticism indeed of Apple’s bodiless helpmeet). The functionality of Google Now, though, is what users began to crave when Siri came up short on delivering real-time information about their locations and tasks.

Fortunately, the old Apple/Google duopoly might soon experience some disruption. Amazon acquired Ivona, a text-to-speech company, in January, supposedly to build voice recognition into its Kindle products. Some of Ivona’s technology was already infused into the Kindle Fire, but Amazon’s purchase solidified its intentions to commit to IVR as a core element of its product offerings. Some think it opens the door for Amazon to explore devices other than tablets, which would mean its IVR apps could someday stand in direct competition with Siri.

The next plane of relevance for voice recognition technology might lie in the browser, or so Google seems to think. It’s latest Chrome browser for desktop and Android includes Web Speech API to allow developers to build speech recognition into web apps. It might lie in the console: Microsoft has promised to improve speech recognition technology inside the next Xbox. It might be found on the open road: auto manufacturers are bringing integral IVR systems to automobiles, and GM just released a software development kit for some 2014 vehicles. IVR continues to be highly useful for healthcare organizations, contact centers, and the education sector, so regardless of the next step, there is room for software providers to make inroads into the voice recognition space and room for developers to take advantage of it beyond enabling Joe Schmo to find the nearest waffle house. #End 

google.com by Juliana Kenny on February 13, 2013

Original Page: http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeattechnology/2013/02/13/voice-recognition-technology-looks-beyond-siri/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAEoATAAOABAlrixiQVIAlgAYgVlbi1VUw&cd=wK-u-0IdiMk&usg=AFQjCNGc3IebCjgnAy07N43XSpwNd43Y3w

Best,

Gerd
via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Quo vadis, speech recognition? The journey had just begun.… Source:   google.com   A man uses ‘Siri’ on the new iPhone 4S on October 14, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images/Oli Scarff A pple’s voice-activated companion, Siri, is probably the single most well-known piece of consumer voice-recogniti ...

Thursday, February 28, 2013

SpeechTechMag.com: Jabra Headsets Feature Embedded Rubidium Speech Technology

This is implementation of always-on speech recognition technology in Bluetooth headsets should help making these devices even more popular

Rubidium, a supplier of embedded speech processing technologies, announced today that GN Netcom has unveiled a new series of Jabra unified communications headsets with its voice control technology.

The technology is available in the Jabra MOTION and the Jabra MOTION UC, which use motion sensors and microphones to monitor and react to environmental situations intelligently.

The integrated motion sensor and intelligent microphone allows the user to spend more time concentrating on the call and less time adjusting and fiddling with the headset. One example of the motion sensor at work is the auto-on feature that turns the device on when it senses that it has been picked up. Likewise, if the user goes from sitting to walking, the audio will be tweaked to adjust for the change in noise that will result, ensuring that call quality is not diminished. With Rubidium’s voice control users can pick up or reject a call just by saying “answer” or “ignore” respectively.

Rubidium has been a CSR Extension Partner since 2009 and has millions of products in the Bluetooth headsets and hands-free marketplace using its speech recognition, text-to-speech, and compressed speech playback technology.

“We are very excited about the Jabra MOTION series,” said Shlomo Peller, CEO and founder of Rubidium, in a statement. “The series marks our first foray into office-space speech technology. By using level one Bluetooth technology, Jabra and Rubidium combine for a hands-free office experience that can take place up to 100 meters from the workstation. We see the Bluetooth space opening with numerous possibilities this year, and diversification into UC is just one of the exciting developments we’ve been expecting.” #End 


Original Page: http://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/News/Industry-News/Jabra-Headsets-Feature-Embedded-Rubidium-Speech-Technology-88015.aspx

Best,

Gerd
via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - This is implementation of always-on speech recognition technology in Bluetooth headsets should help making these devices even more popular Source:   speechtechmag.com Rubidium, a supplier of embedded speech processing technologies, announced today that GN Netcom has unveiled a new series of Jabra un ...

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Google’s OK Glass: What Siri Should Be, And Isn’t

Google's new "cyborg" technology is almost here.…

Source: google.com


Google’s new OK Glass concept is not dissimilar from Apple’s Siri. But the search giant’s take on voice command and mobile computing may offer users something more viable than Siri.

It appears that the long-anticipated appearance of “Google Glass” has at least begun to make its way onto the tech scene. Today, Google unveiled “OK Glass,” which the company put on display as its answer to Apple’s Siri. The difference? OK Glass is voice command with a new piece of hardware: camera, monitor, and microphone-equipped eyewear.

CNET explains:

“The Glass eyewear perches a screen just above a person’s ordinary field of view; the device itself is equipped with a processor, camera, head-tracking orientation sensors, and other electronics drawn from the smartphone industry . . . Google’s video and “what-it-does” explanation is very much from a first-person perspective, showing what it’s like to wear the device. It makes for a very personal experience, reproducing what a person would see and adding an unobtrusive transparent Glass interface in the upper right.”


When you take a look at the video, you’ll be hard-pressed to not see how OK Glass is an answer to Siri; the crux of the new technology is voice command. There are, however, some very palpable differences between Siri and OK Glass, and my initial reaction is that Google might be on the right track here.

The obvious difference is the addition of a major hardware piece: the glasses. With earbuds in, Siri can communicate with the user back and forth, but the user interface is audio-based, lest you look down at the screen and see the results of your Siri query. By putting the display front and center into the field of vision, nearly every scenario where Apple tried to sell Siri is improved on with OK Glass. It’s always going to be better to have the option of a small, transparent display to augment the UI. And given some of the tech that is bound to get rolled our with OK Glass, it also looks like the glasses will be responsive to head gestures, and may even come to read retinal activity down the line.

But the real difference between Siri and OK Glass is the persona of the tech. And by “persona,” I mean the way in which the UI is characterized to the user. With Siri, Apple has sought to make it into a “her” — a virtual assistant who bears some resemblance to an artificial intelligence. Siri, after all, has a voice.

It’s interesting that in the demo video, Google has sought to pre-market OK Glass as an entity as well. The prompt, after all, is not really, “OK Glass,” but “OK, Glass.” And with that little comma — that little inflection, it becomes a referent to the glasses.

But that’s not really what OK Glass seems to be about.

The big selling point is how the built-in camera and microphone mimics the human eye and ear — it becomes a extension of the user’s own senses. In this way, OK Glass isn’t an entity unto itself — it is a true augmentation of the wearer; an extension of the user’s own senses.

I’ve argued before that this is the most significant aspect of smartphones; they are augmenting our ability to access information, communicate, and solve problems, much like a cyborg. One could argue that Siri is also an extension of cyborg technology. But OK Glass takes it to another level.

I don’t see how Apple will be able to compete with OK Glass unless very soon they too unveil something like this, alla “Siri Shades.” Whatever the case, my feeling is that users will be more comfortable with OK Glass, which becomes an extension of their own self, rather than Siri, which masquerades as an artificial intelligence worth talking to on a daily basis.

#End 

 
By Michael Nace
 

Related Posts via Taxonomies

2 Responses to “Google’s OK Glass: What Siri Should Be, And Isn’t”

  1. Core2 Says:
    February 20th, 2013 at 5:48 pm

    It’s bad enough to have a crowd full of people staring blankly into their smartphones, now they will be talking to themselves.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 5  0


  2. GetSwole Says:
    February 20th, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    Very interesting article Michael, great job! Had no idea Google was anywhere near ready to present this product. It’ll be interesting to see how fast Apple scrambles their concepts together & moves forward with them after seeing Google’s OK Glass.

    Like? 0  0


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Original Page: http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://iphone5newsblog.com/2013/02/20/googles-ok-glass-what-siri-should-be-and-isnt/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAAoATAAOABAwMOViQVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=XU4C-pPdo2Q&usg=AFQjCNEuGLyM6BsBPys7xXLDQsl250Aghg

Best,

Gerd
via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Google's new "cyborg" technology is almost here.… Source:  google.com Google’s new OK Glass concept is not dissimilar from Apple’s Siri. But the search giant’s take on voice command and mobile computing may offer users something more viable than Siri. It appears that the long-anticipated appearance ...

Monday, January 28, 2013

Blog post from last year confirmed; Amazon acquires text-to-speech firm Ivona to rival Apple’s Siri

As reported already last summer in our blog - http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/theres-no-room-for-amazon-com-in-the-smartphone-market -  Amazon went through with the acquisition of text-to-speech company Ivona, taking yet another core speech technology company of the market and further reducing the number of viable players in our industry.  

Source: google.com

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) has acquired text-to-speech technology firm Ivona Software, which powers accessibility features optimized for its Kindle Fire tablets. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ivona, founded in 2001, offers speech synthesis solutions spanning 44 voices in 17 languages, with more in development. Its technologies are integrated into Kindle Fire features including Text-to-Speech, Voice Guide and Explore by Touch, as well as a host of accessibility, public announcement/transportation, telecommunications and e-learning services.

Amazon said it will work with Ivona to build new voice solutions and products but did not divulge any concrete details. The digital retail giant most likely will leverage the Inova portfolio to add new and enhanced voice recognition capabilities to Kindle tablets and e-readers on par with Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Siri voice assistant technology, which applies search algorithms to translate verbal commands and perform device tasks. Apple first integrated Siri into its iPhone 4S in late 2011.

The Ivona deal also seems likely to reignite rumors that Amazon is building its own smartphone. In mid-2012, Bloomberg reported Amazon is working with Chinese manufacturer Foxconn International to build the device, adding Amazon has been assembling a portfolio of patents covering wireless technologies to fend off potential allegations of infringement. In a subsequent interview with AllThingsD, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos declined to address the smartphone rumors but indicated more devices are on the way.

“We will certainly—not any time soon—but next year,” Bezos said last fall when asked about the company’s device pipeline. “We have some more things that we hope people will enjoy. It’s premature for me to talk about them.”

A smartphone fits squarely within Amazon’s larger vision for digital media dominance. Unlike Apple, which relies on content from its iTunes digital media storefront and App Store to boost sales of hardware like the iPhone and iPad—and unlike Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), which looks to Android to fuel revenues derived from its core advertising and search services—Amazon depends on affordable hardware to drive sales of e-books, music, movies and related content offerings. A low-cost Amazon phone with Siri-like functionality could be a major hit with consumers.

Last week, Amazon mounted a new challenge to Apple’s iTunes by introducing a version of its MP3 Store optimized for iOS devices. The HTML5-based Amazon MP3 Store enables iOS device owners to discover and purchase DRM-free digital music via the Safari browser. In addition to a catalog encompassing 22 million songs, the storefront offers signature Amazon features like personalized recommendations, bestseller lists and customer ratings.  #End 

For more:
- read this release

by Jason Ankeny

Original Page: http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/amazon-acquires-text-speech-firm-ivona-rival-apples-siri/2013-01-24&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAAoATAAOABAuqeYiAVIAlAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=aoLuWeB3gjU&usg=AFQjCNETmQ3l7t69yKweyRBtk8o-9q5q2w

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Gerd
via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - As reported already last summer in our blog -  http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/theres-no-room-for-amazon-com-in-the-smartphone-market -  Amazon went through with the acquisition of text-to-speech company Ivona, taking yet another core speech technology company of the market and further reducing ...

Monday, January 14, 2013

Global Markets and Technologies for Voice Recognition

Interesting overview about the development of speech technologies over the next few years…

Source:  google.com

 In the coming decade, observers of the evolution in voice recognition technologies will no doubt look back to 2012 as the tipping point year - the time when speech adoption finally broke away from the enterprise niche market of interactive voice response (IVR) solutions into broader uses that include consumer and health care sectors. Advances in machine learning and statistical data-mining techniques, coupled with the ubiquitous adoption of mobile devices, are helping voice recognition solutions get a new lease on life. With global software revenues expected to reach $16.7 billion by 2017, this maturing industry continues to owe much of its growth to advances in the critical triad of automatic speech recognition (ASR), text-to-speech (TTS), and speaker verification (SV) technologies.Companies, across all sectors and from every part of the voice recognition supply chain, seek a competitive edge that will differentiate them in an increasingly crowded business environment. They want to create and use products that can help them to be nimble and efficient and that will help them grow their customer base. Converging technologies make partnerships a compelling way to introduce new products; however, an uncertain global economy is offering fewer incentives to give rise to the number of mergers and acquisitions that characterized the voice recognition (VR) space earlier in the new millennium.The second decade of the millennium has ushered in new uses for voice recognition products as collaborative consumption, fueled by the proliferation of social networks, empowers everyone to be potentially not only media consumers, but also producers of new applications. VR technologies help users identify (biometrics), codify (health care), search (voice search), navigate (voice-enabled navigation), and control (connected home). These technologies also help customers comply with privacy, safety and security requirements dictated by law and by user expectations.In the next five years companies will pair VR technologies with the latest research in artificial intelligence and augmented reality, creating a new generation of compelling products. Consumers, primed by the success of the Siri personal assistant, will expect products that not only predict their preferences but also offer new, interactive ways to enhance their emotional experiences.To address the rapidly growing mobile traffic demand of the emerging middle class in Africa and Asia as well as in the highly developed geographic regions of North America and Europe, voice recognition providers are partnering with manufacturers that are loading their products with voice-activated multimodal options. With the help of these applications, drivers can navigate to their destinations; workers can voice-pick warehouse inventory; doctors can automate medical transcription processes; lawyers can build their cases with e-discovery products; homeowners control their environmental and security systems; and users of smart devices can access applications by voice commands.Geographic regions that have built out their broadband networks offer the best potential for growth, especially in those areas where mobile devices are the primary mode for such frequently used functions as entertainment, navigation and banking. Products and applications that are smart, cost-effective and intuitive will hold the keys to the VR kingdom in the next five years. Battle lines, drawn in the 2012 turf wars between Google, Samsung and Apple, where each has fought for direct integration into mobile operating systems, indicate just how valuable these companies perceive the stakes to be not only in the mobile market but also in capturing the imagination and dollars of an ever-expanding global user base. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY AND ITS CONTRIBUTION Companies in the voice recognition space are facing challenges similar to those present in other technology markets. Converging technologies offer the promise of new products and markets, especially in the fast-growing mobile markets. They also invite disruptive activities as witnessed by the patent battles of such major smartphone and application providers as Apple, Samsung and Google; each of these companies has aggressive strategies for making major inroads into the lucrative voice recognition market, which is still largely dominated by one provider, Nuance Communications.Customers are applying the same measuring stick to voice-aided products and services as they do to other products - they value accuracy, speed and efficiency. Whether obtaining stock quotes from their smartphones, getting wake up calls from voice-enabled alarm clocks, or accessing voice-translated e-mail, consumers have increasingly greater expectations about not only the quality of content, but also about the quality of their experiences.Traditional habits persist, especially when it comes to customer service. No matter how compelling the content or how efficient the voice-enabled transaction, many consumers still prefer to talk to a live operator, or to type when talking would suffice. They also remember unsuccessful experiences with speech recognition applications that were implemented by early adopters. Virtual personal assistants, like Apple’s iPhone Siri product, are helping to change users’ experience of voice-enabled technology - from frustrating to fulfilling.Choosing voice recognition solutions remains a significant information technology (IT) investment - a fact not lost on companies that, in better economic times, focus primarily on strategic growth. Compelled to keep discretionary spending to a minimum, companies are more inclined to purchase products and services that show a quantitative return on investment.Being offered monetary incentives to streamline their operations as well as facing mandates to comply with new federal regulations, health care professionals are balancing the requirements to contain costs with the potential of voice-aided automated solutions that promise to increase documentation accuracy and enhance customer satisfaction. Given the continued adoption of wireless devices and the seemingly insatiable consumer and business demand for unlimited access to information, it is likely that many enterprising companies will choose voice recognition solutions, either hosted at their site or shared in a cloud-computing environment, for competitive advantage even when the short-term economic landscape is dotted with question marks.This report will analyze in depth voice recognition technologies and the market and applications they serve. It addresses such questions as: Who is using these technologies What benefits do they accrue from using them At what price points do they buy them Which markets will reap the most benefits from their adoption Which issues must be addressed to generate a successful return on investment AUDIENCE FOR THE REPORT This report focuses on market potential for voice recognition technologies as well as current and future forces shaping the voice-enabled market. It is targeted at manufacturers, supply chain personnel, marketing managers, and futurists.SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE REPORT This report analyzes voice recognition technologies and their markets. It recognizes the fact that integrated software and hardware technologies together, coupled with enhanced devices, are the building blocks for successful deployments. Additionally, tracking the growth of traditional and emerging voice-enabled applications is important for extending voice recognition’s reach.An overview of the voice recognition industry precedes later chapters that review the main voice recognition markets and that discuss top supplier market share, current technologies, and the unique challenges faced by each market in the future. Five-year forecasts follow, segmented by voice recognition categories and end markets.Succeeding chapters discuss emerging technologies, corporate and national research and development funding, the organizational and economic makeup of the voice recognition industry, and the legislative, political and environmental issues facing the industry. The changing dynamics of international market share also are addressed.The appendices contain information about upcoming voice recognition industry-related conferences and recent patent grants, as well as a list of related mergers and acquisitions, licensing arrangements, and partnerships.METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this report. The material presented is based on information gathered from personal contacts within the voice recognition industry, as well as on an analysis of the technologies, issues and concerns gathered from technical papers and industry conferences. The report’s final analysis and projections combine the consensus of primary contacts and BCC’s assumptions regarding the impact of both historical and emerging trends.Additional data was obtained from analysis of secondary sources. These sources include trade publications, trade associations, company literature, and online databases. This research was done to supplement BCC’s understanding of applications, markets and trends in the voice recognition industry. All dollar estimates in this report are based on 2012 constant dollars.AUTHOR’S CREDENTIALS Patricia Kutza, the author of this report, is a veteran business and technology journalist. She has written extensively about technology business and cultural trends for a variety of print and new-media outlets. This report, IFT039C Global Markets and Technologies for Voice Recognition, is an update of a report she wrote in 2010.REPORT HIGHLIGHTS This report provides: An overview of the software and hardware for voice recognition technologies and their markets Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2011, estimates for 2012, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2017 Discussion of top supplier market shares, new technologies, and the unique challenges faced by each category in the future Examination of the importance of traditional and emerging voice-enabled devices, as these media will promote and extend voice recognition’s reach Reviews of enabling technologies, corporate and national research and development funding, the organizational and economic makeup of the voice recognition industry, and the legislative, political, and environmental issues facing the industry Listings of recent patent grants, as well as related mergers and acquisitions, licensing arrangements, and partnerships Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 REASONS FOR THE STUDY AND ITS IMPORTANCE 1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY AND ITS CONTRIBUTION 2 AUDIENCE FOR THE REPORT 3 SCOPE AND CONTENT OF THE REPORT 3 METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES 3 AUTHOR’S CREDENTIALS 3 RELATED BCC RESEARCH REPORTS 4 BCC ONLINE SERVICES 4 DISCLAIMER 4 CHAPTER 2 SUMMARY 6SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 7SUMMARY FIGURE GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 7 CHAPTER 3 OVERVIEW 9 IMPORTANCE OF THE INDUSTRY 9 INVESTOR CONFIDENCE 10 U.S. VENTURE CAPITAL FINANCING AND DEALS IN VOICE RECOGNITION-RELATED SECTORS, SIX QUARTERS: 2011-2012 10 TABLE 1 U.S. VENTURE CAPITAL FINANCING AND DEALS IN RELATED SECTORS, SIX QUARTERS, 2011-2012 ($ BILLIONS/NO. OF DEALS) 10 TOP FIVE COUNTRIES GLOBAL, RANKED BY VENTURE CAPITAL CONFIDENCE IN 2012 11 TABLE 2 TOP FIVE COUNTRIES GLOBAL RANKED BY VENTURE CAPITAL CONFIDENCE, 2012 11 HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY 11 SPEECH RECOGNITION LIFE CYCLE 13 TABLE 3 SPEECH RECOGNITION LIFE CYCLE 13 DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY: MAJOR CATEGORIES 13 HARDWARE 13 Infrastructure Hardware 14 TABLE 4 INFRASTRUCTURE HARDWARE 14 SOFTWARE 14 TABLE 5 SOFTWARE 14 ENHANCED DEVICES 15 TABLE 6 ENHANCED DEVICES 15 FUNDAMENTAL FUNCTIONS OF VOICE TECHNOLOGY 15 SCOPE OF REPORT CLASSIFIED BY VOICE RECOGNITION FUNCTION 15 TABLE 7 SCOPE OF REPORT CLASSIFIED BY VOICE RECOGNITION FUNCTION 15 SCOPE OF REPORT CLASSIFIED BY MARKET 16 TABLE 8 SCOPE OF REPORT CLASSIFIED BY MARKET 16 EFFECT ON THE FUTURE 16 CHAPTER 4 MAJOR CATEGORIES 19HARDWARE 19DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING (DSP) 19Global Digital Signal Processor Dollar Sales Forecast, through 2017 19TABLE 9 GLOBAL DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR (DSP) DOLLAR SALES FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ BILLIONS) 20FIGURE 1 GLOBAL DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR (DSP) DOLLAR SALES FORECAST,2011-2017 ($ BILLIONS) 20Digital Signal Processor Major Players, Products, and End Markets 21TABLE 10 DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 21IP MULTIMEDIA SUBSYSTEM (IMS) GATEWAYS 21Global Gateway Sales Forecast 21TABLE 11 GLOBAL GATEWAY MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ BILLIONS) 22FIGURE 2 GLOBAL GATEWAY MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ BILLIONS) 22Gateway Major Players, Products, and End Markets 23TABLE 12 GATEWAY MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 23GLOBAL MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) 23Global Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) Microphones Forecast 24TABLE 13 GLOBAL MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) MICROPHONES MARKETFORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 24FIGURE 3 GLOBAL MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) MICROPHONES MARKETFORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 24Global Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) Microphone Major Players,Products, and End Markets 25TABLE 14 GLOBAL MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) MICROPHONE MAJORPLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 25BLUETOOTH INTEGRATED HEADSETS 25Global Bluetooth Integrated Headsets Forecast 26TABLE 15 GLOBAL BLUETOOTH HEADSETS MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($BILLIONS) 26FIGURE 4 GLOBAL BLUETOOTH HEADSETS MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ BILLIONS) 26Bluetooth Integrated Headset Major Players, Products, and End Markets 27TABLE 16 BLUETOOTH INTEGRATED HEADSET MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND ENDMARKETS 27SET-TOP BOXES 27Global Voice-Enabled Set-Top Box Sales Forecast 27TABLE 17 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED SET-TOP BOX MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($MILLIONS) 27FIGURE 5 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED SET-TOP BOX MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($MILLIONS) 27VOICE-ACTIVATED INTERACTIVE GAMES 28Global Voice-Activated Interactive Games Sales Forecast 28TABLE 18 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED INTERACTIVE GAMES SALES FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 28FIGURE 6 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED INTERACTIVE GAMES SALES FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 28SOFTWARE 29COMMERCIAL PACKAGES: AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION 29Global Automatic Speech Recognition Sales Forecast 30TABLE 19 GLOBAL AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 30FIGURE 7 GLOBAL AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($MILLIONS) 30Challenges to Growth 31Automatic Speech Recognition Major Players, Products, and End Markets 31TABLE 20 AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND ENDMARKETS 31COMMERCIAL PACKAGES: SPEAKER VERIFICATION (VOICE BIOMETRICS) 32Global Speaker Verification Sales Forecast 32TABLE 21 GLOBAL SPEAKER VERIFICATION SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 32FIGURE 8 GLOBAL SPEAKER VERIFICATION SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 32Types of Voice Biometric Engines 33TABLE 22 TYPES OF VOICE BIOMETRIC ENGINES 33Range of Markets by Application for Speech Verification 34TABLE 23 RANGE OF MARKETS BY APPLICATION FOR SPEECH VERIFICATION 34Challenges to Growth 35Speaker Verification Major Players, Products, and End Markets 35TABLE 24 SPEAKER VERIFICATION MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 35COMMERCIAL PACKAGES: TEXT-TO-SPEECH 35Global Text-to-Speech Sales Forecast 36TABLE 25 GLOBAL TEXT-TO-SPEECH SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 36FIGURE 9 GLOBAL TEXT-TO-SPEECH SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 36Challenges to Growth 37Text-to-Speech Major Players, Products, and End Markets 38TABLE 26 TEXT-TO-SPEECH MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 38COMMERCIAL PACKAGES: SPEECH ANALYTICS 38Global Speech Analytics Sales Forecast 38TABLE 27 GLOBAL SPEECH ANALYTICS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 39FIGURE 10 GLOBAL SPEECH ANALYTICS SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 39Comparison of Goals, Scope and Techniques of Text and Data Mining 40TABLE 28 COMPARISON OF GOALS, SCOPE, AND TECHNIQUES OF TEXT AND DATA MINING 40Speech Analytics Major Players, Products, and End Markets 41TABLE 29 SPEECH ANALYTICS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 41Challenges to Growth 41COMMERCIAL PACKAGES: VOICE-ENABLED CALL CENTER PROCESSING ANDROUTING 42TABLE 30 CALL AND CONTACT CENTER KEY CONCERNS 42Global Voice-Enabled Call Center Sales Forecast 42TABLE 31 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED CALL CENTER SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($BILLIONS) 42FIGURE 11 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED CALL CENTER SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($BILLIONS) 43Call and Contact Center Technology Client Wish List 43TABLE 32 CALL AND CONTACT CENTER TECHNOLOGY CLIENT WISH LIST 43Call Center Speech Technology Major Players, Products, and End Markets 44TABLE 33 CALL CENTER SPEECH TECHNOLOGY MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND ENDMARKETS 44COMMERCIAL PACKAGES: INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) VOICE-ACTIVATEDDIALING 44Key Reasons Contact/Call Centers Are Attracted to Hosted/Managed ServiceInteractive Voice Response (IVR) 45TABLE 34 KEY REASONS CONTACT/CALL CENTERS ARE ATTRACTED TO HOSTED/MANAGEDSERVICE INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) 45Global Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Voice-Activated Dialing Sales Forecast,through 2017 45TABLE 35 GLOBAL INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR)_VOICE-ACTIVATED DIALINGMARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ BILLIONS) 45FIGURE 12 GLOBAL INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) VOICE-ACTIVATED DIALINGMARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ BILLIONS) 45Emerging Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Technology 46Voice-Activated Dialing Major Players, Products, and End Markets 46TABLE 36 VOICE-ACTIVATED DIALING MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 46COMMERCIAL PACKAGES: VOICE-ENABLED MOBILE SEARCH 47Global Voice-Enabled Mobile Search Advertising Revenue Forecast 47TABLE 37 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED MOBILE SEARCH ADVERTISING REVENUE FORECAST,THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 47FIGURE 13 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED MOBILE SEARCH ADVERTISING REVENUE FORECAST,2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 47Challenges to Growth 47EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: VOICE-ACTIVATED MOBILE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS 48Voice-Activated Mobile Virtual Assistants Providers 48TABLE 38 VOICE-ACTIVATED MOBILE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS,AND END MARKETS 48Challenges to Growth 49ENHANCED DEVICES 49VOICE-AIDED ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS 49Voice-Aided Assistive Products Sales Forecast 49TABLE 39 GLOBAL VOICE-AIDED ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 49FIGURE 14 GLOBAL VOICE-AIDED ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($MILLIONS) 49Voice-Aided Assistive Products Major Players, Products, and End Markets 50TABLE 40 VOICE-AIDED ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND ENDMARKETS 50Challenges to Growth 51VOICE-INTEGRATED WORKSTATIONS 51Global Voice-Integrated Workstation Sales Forecast 51TABLE 41 GLOBAL VOICE-INTEGRATED WORKSTATION SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017($ MILLIONS) 51FIGURE 15 GLOBAL VOICE-INTEGRATED WORKSTATION SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($MILLIONS) 51Voice-Integrated Workstation Major Players, Products, and End Markets 52TABLE 42 VOICE-INTEGRATED WORKSTATION MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND ENDMARKETS 52VOICE-ACTIVATED CAR KITS 52Global Bluetooth Voice-Activated Car Kit Sales Forecast 53TABLE 43 GLOBAL BLUETOOTH VOICE-ACTIVATED CAR KIT SALES FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 53FIGURE 16 GLOBAL BLUETOOTH VOICE-ACTIVATED CAR KIT SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017($ MILLIONS) 53Voice-Activated Car Kit Major Players, Products, and End Markets 54TABLE 44 VOICE-ACTIVATED CAR KIT MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 54Emerging Technology: Mirror Link 54VOICE-ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS 54Global Voice-Activated Navigation Systems Sales Forecast 55TABLE 45 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 55FIGURE 17 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017($ MILLIONS) 55Voice-Activated Navigation Systems Major Players, Products, and End Markets 56TABLE 46 VOICE-ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, ANDEND MARKETS 56VOICE-ACTIVATED WEARABLE PRODUCTS 56Global Voice-Activated Wearable Products Sales Forecast 56TABLE 47 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED WEARABLE PRODUCTS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 56FIGURE 18 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED WEARABLE PRODUCTS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH2017 ($ MILLIONS) 56Voice-Activated Wearable Products Major Players, Products, and End Markets 57TABLE 48 VOICE-ACTIVATED WEARABLE PRODUCTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 57Emerging Technology: Project Glass 57VOICE-ACTIVATED SMART HOME PRODUCTS 57Global Voice-Activated Smart Home Products Sales Forecast 58TABLE 49 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED SMART HOME PRODUCTS SALES FORECAST,THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 58FIGURE 19 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED SMART HOME PRODUCTS SALES FORECAST,2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 58Voice-Activated Smart Home Products Major Players, Products, and End Markets 59TABLE 50 VOICE-ACTIVATED SMART HOME PRODUCTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, ANDEND MARKETS 59 CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY: VOICE RECOGNITION CATEGORIES AND END MARKETS 61 TOTAL GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORIES, THROUGH 2017 61 TABLE 51 TOTAL GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 61 FIGURE 20 TOTAL GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 61 HARDWARE 62 GLOBAL HARDWARE MARKET FORECAST 62 TABLE 52 GLOBAL HARDWARE MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 62 FIGURE 21 GLOBAL HARDWARE MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 62 SOFTWARE 63 GLOBAL SOFTWARE MARKET FORECAST 63 TABLE 53 GLOBAL SOFTWARE MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 63 FIGURE 22 GLOBAL SOFTWARE MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 63 ENHANCED DEVICES 65 GLOBAL ENHANCED DEVICES MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 65 TABLE 54 GLOBAL ENHANCED DEVICES DOLLAR SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 65 FIGURE 23 GLOBAL ENHANCED DEVICES DOLLAR SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 65 END MARKETS 66 SCOPE OF END MARKET APPLICATIONS 66 TABLE 55 SCOPE OF END MARKET APPLICATIONS 66 VALUE OF ALL END MARKETS BY CATEGORY, 2011 67 TABLE 56 VALUE OF ALL END MARKETS BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($ MILLIONS) 67 Distribution of Voice Recognition Technologies in Selected End Products, Applications and Markets 68 TABLE 57 DISTRIBUTION OF VOICE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGIES FOR SELECTED END PRODUCTS, APPLICATIONS, AND MARKETS 68 CHAPTER 6 END-USE MARKETS: ENTERPRISE 70ENTERPRISE MARKET 70FORECAST OF VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE,THROUGH 2017 70TABLE 58 FORECAST OF VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE,THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 70FIGURE 24 FORECAST OF VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE,2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 70NICHE MARKETS 71Legal Market 71Global Voice-Enabled Legal Sector Sales Forecast 71TABLE 59 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED LEGAL SECTOR MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($MILLIONS) 71FIGURE 25 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED LEGAL SECTOR MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($MILLIONS) 71Comparison of Traditional and Voice-Enabled Court Reporting Tasks 72TABLE 60 COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL AND VOICE-ENABLED COURT REPORTING TASKS 72Legal Software Solutions by Function 72TABLE 61 LEGAL SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS BY FUNCTION 72Voice-Directed Warehousing Market 73Global Voice-Directed Warehousing Sector Sales Forecast 73TABLE 62 GLOBAL VOICE-DIRECTED WAREHOUSING SECTOR MARKET FORECAST,THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 73FIGURE 26 GLOBAL VOICE-DIRECTED WAREHOUSING SECTOR MARKET FORECAST,2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 73Voice-Directed Warehousing Market Functions That Benefit from VoiceEnablement 74TABLE 63 VOICE-DIRECTED WAREHOUSING MARKET FUNCTIONS THAT BENEFIT FROMVOICE ENABLEMENT 74Voice-Directed Warehousing (VDW) Market Providers, Products, and EndMarkets 75TABLE 64 VOICE-DIRECTED WAREHOUSING (VDW) MARKET PROVIDERS, PRODUCTS, ANDEND MARKETS 75Call (Contact) Center Market 75Market Share Forecast for Speech-Enabled Interactive Voice Response (IVR)Systems, through 2017 75TABLE 65 MARKET FORECAST FOR SPEECH-ENABLED INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR)SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 75FIGURE 27 MARKET FORECAST FOR SPEECH-ENABLED INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE(IVR) SYSTEMS, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 76Cost-per-Call and Call Abandonment Rates by Industry 77TABLE 66 COST-PER-CALL AND CALL ABANDONMENT RATES BY INDUSTRY ($, %) 77Call Center Voice-Aided Infrastructure Technologies 77AutoAttendants 77Automatic Call Distributors (ACDs) 77Computer-Telephony Integration (CTI) 78Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 78Percentage of Ports Used for Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Applications perIndustry 78TABLE 67 PERCENTAGE OF PORTS USED FOR INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR)APPLICATIONS PER INDUSTRY 78Call Center Analytics 79Voice Recognition 79Call Center Use 79Call Center Use by Industry Function 79TABLE 68 CALL CENTER USE BY INDUSTRY FUNCTION 79Voice Recognition Call Center Solutions Providers, Products, and Applications 80TABLE 69 VOICE RECOGNITION CALL CENTER SOLUTIONS PROVIDERS, PRODUCTS, ANDAPPLICATIONS 80Emerging Call Center Trends 81Challenges to Growth 81Military 82Global Voice-Enabled Military Sector Sales Forecast, through 2017 82TABLE 70 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED MILITARY SECTOR SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017($ MILLIONS) 82FIGURE 28 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED MILITARY SECTOR SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($MILLIONS) 82Air Traffic Controller Training 83Companies Offering Voice-Enabled Military Products 83TABLE 71 COMPANIES OFFERING VOICE-ENABLED MILITARY PRODUCTS 83Converging Technologies 83VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 83TABLE 72 VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 ($MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 84FIGURE 29 VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 ($MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 84VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 84TABLE 73 VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 85FIGURE 30 VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 85EMERGING PRODUCTS 86Forecast of Global Smartphone Sales 86TABLE 74 FORECAST OF GLOBAL SMARTPHONE SALES, THROUGH 2017 (MILLION UNITS) 86FIGURE 31 FORECAST OF GLOBAL SMARTPHONE SALES, 2011-2017 (MILLION UNITS) 86Voice-Activated E-mail 87Voice-mail Transcription 87Voice-Activated E-mail/Voice-mail Transcription Providers 87TABLE 75 VOICE-ACTIVATED E-MAIL/VOICE-MAIL TRANSCRIPTION PROVIDERS 87CHALLENGES TO GROWTH 88 CHAPTER 7 END-USE MARKETS: CONSUMER 90 CONSUMER MARKET 90 FORECAST OF VALUE OF CONSUMER VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE, THROUGH 2017 90 TABLE 76 FORECAST OF VALUE OF CONSUMER/MOBILE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 90 FIGURE 32 FORECAST OF VALUE OF CONSUMER/MOBILE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 90 VALUE OF CONSUMER VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 91 TABLE 77 VALUE OF CONSUMER VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 ($ MILLIONS, %) 91 FIGURE 33 VALUE OF CONSUMER VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 ($ MILLIONS, %) 91 NICHE MARKETS 92 Voice-Enabled Telematics Market 92 Global Voice-Enabled Telematics Market Forecast 92 TABLE 78 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED TELEMATICS MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 92 FIGURE 34 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED TELEMATICS MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 93 Telematics Voice-Enabled Product Providers and Auto-Based Applications 94 TABLE 79 TELEMATICS VOICE-ENABLED PRODUCT PROVIDERS AND AUTO-BASED APPLICATIONS 94 Telematics Trends 95 Emerging Technologies 95 Smart Homes 95 Global Voice-Enabled Smart Home Sales Forecast, through 2017 95 TABLE 80 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED SMART HOME MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 95 FIGURE 35 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED SMART HOME MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 95 SMART HOME VOICE-ACTIVATED ENVIRONMENT PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS 97 TABLE 81 SMART HOME VOICE-ACTIVATED ENVIRONMENT PRODUCTS AND APPLICATIONS 97 Entertainment 97 Global Voice-Enabled Entertainment Sales Forecast 97 TABLE 82 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED ENTERTAINMENT MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 97 FIGURE 36 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED ENTERTAINMENT MARKET FORECAST, 2011- 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 98 Interactive Televisions and Set-Top Boxes 98 Global Voice-Enabled Interactive TV Set-Top Box Market Forecast 98 TABLE 83 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED INTERACTIVE TV AND SET-TOP BOX SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 98 FIGURE 37 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED INTERACTIVE TV AND SET-TOP BOX SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 98 Interactive Games 99 Global Interactive Games Sales Forecast 99 TABLE 84 GLOBAL INTERACTIVE GAMES SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 100 FIGURE 38 GLOBAL INTERACTIVE GAMES SALES FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 100 Voice-Activated Games and Applications 100 TABLE 85 VOICE-ACTIVATED GAMES AND APPLICATIONS 100 VALUE OF CONSUMER VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 101 TABLE 86 VALUE OF CONSUMER VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($ MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 101 FIGURE 39 VALUE OF CONSUMER VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($ MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 101 EMERGING PRODUCTS 102 Interactive Displays 102 Cinema 102 Emotion Detection Features 102 Google Glasses 102 Voice and Gesture Mash-Up Products 103 3D Communication Systems 103 CHALLENGES TO GROWTH 103 CHAPTER 8 END-USE MARKETS: HEALTH CARE 105HEALTH CARE MARKET 105FORECAST OF VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE,THROUGH 2017 105TABLE 87 FORECAST OF VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE,THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 105FIGURE 40 FORECAST OF VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BYNICHE, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 105VALUE OF THE HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 106TABLE 88 VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($MILLIONS/%) 106FIGURE 41 VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($MILLIONS/%) 106NICHE MARKETS 107Health Care Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 107Global Voice-Enabled Health Care Interactive Voice Response (IVR) SalesForecast, through 2017 108TABLE 89 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED HEALTH CARE INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR)MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 108FIGURE 42 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED HEALTH CARE INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR)MARKET FORECAST, 2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 108Medical Dictation/Transcription 108Global Voice-Enabled Medical Transcription Sales Forecast, through 2017 109TABLE 90 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION SALES FORECAST,THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 109FIGURE 43 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION SALES FORECAST,2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 109Voice-Enabled Medical Dictation Providers, Products, and Applications 110TABLE 91 VOICE-ENABLED MEDICAL DICTATION PROVIDERS, PRODUCTS, ANDAPPLICATIONS 110Assistive Technology Market 110Global Voice-Enabled Assistive Technology Sales Forecast, through 2017 111TABLE 92 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MARKET FORECAST,THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 111FIGURE 44 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY MARKET FORECAST,2011-2017 ($ MILLIONS) 111TABLE 93 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS, PRODUCTS, AND APPLICATIONS 112VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 113TABLE 94 VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 ($MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 113FIGURE 45 VALUE OF HEALTH CARE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY REGION, 2011 ($MILLIONS, % OF MARKET) 113EMERGING PRODUCTS 114Reporting Systems 114Communication Systems 114Voice-Controlled “Intelligent” Wheelchairs 114Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices 115CHALLENGES TO GROWTH 115 CHAPTER 9 TECHNOLOGIES 117 TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORTING VOICE RECOGNITION APPLICATIONS 117 TABLE 95 TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORTING VOICE RECOGNITION APPLICATIONS 117 CHALLENGES FACED BY SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGIES 119 2D/3D 119 AUDIO MINING (SPEECH ANALYTICS) 119 AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION 119 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 119 AUGMENTED REALITY 119 CLOUD COMPUTING 120 FAR-FIELD MICROPHONE 120 HEAD-UP DISPLAY (HUD) 120 INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE 120 NOISE ABATEMENT 120 SPEECH BIOMETRICS 121 TEXT-TO-SPEECH 121 VOICE-OVER-IP 121 VOICE-ACTIVATED DIALING (VAD) 121 VOICEXML 122 VoiceXML 2.0 122 Call Control eXtensible Markup Language (CCXML) 122 ECMAScript 122 Media Server Markup Language (MSML), Media Server Control Markup Language (MSCML), MediaCTRL 122 OpenVXI 122 Semantic Interpretation for Speech Recognition (SISR) 122 Speech Recognition Grammar Specification (SRGS) 123 Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) 123 Voice Browser 123 Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) 124 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 124 VOICE RECOGNITION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, AND INITIATIVES 124 TABLE 96 VOICE RECOGNITION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, AND INITIATIVES 124 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SPENDING FORECAST BY TOP VOICE RECOGNITION PROVIDER, NUANCE, 2009-2011 126 TABLE 97 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SPENDING FORECAST FOR TOP VOICE RECOGNITION PROVIDER, NUANCE, THROUGH 2011 ($ MILLIONS) 126 CONSORTIUMS 127 GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION AND SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIUMS 127 TABLE 98 GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION AND SUPPORTING TECHNOLOGY CONSORTIUMS 127 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 128 PATENTS 128 Patent Generation by Top Voice Recognition Provider: Nuance 128 Top Five U.S. Patent Holders in 2011 128 TABLE 99 TOP FIVE U.S. PATENT HOLDERS, 2011 (NO. OF PATENTS) 128 LICENSING 129 CHAPTER 10 INTERNATIONAL 131PROJECTED BROADBAND GLOBAL SUBSCRIBER GROWTH BY REGION, 2011-2012 131TABLE 100 PROJECTED BROADBAND GLOBAL SUBSCRIBER GROWTH BY REGION, THROUGH2012 (MILLION SUBSCRIBERS) 131ASIA-PACIFIC 131LATIN AMERICA 131EMERGING MARKETS 132 CHAPTER 11 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 134 PROFILE OF VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET LEADER: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS 134 NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS SEGMENT SHARE OF REVENUE, 2009-2011 134 TABLE 101 NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS SEGMENT SHARE OF REVENUE, 2009-2011 (%) 134 NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS REVENUES BY SEGMENT, 2009-2011 135 TABLE 102 NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS REVENUES BY SEGMENT, THROUGH 2011 ($ MILLIONS) 135 Enterprise Segment 135 Mobile/Consumer 135 Health Care 135 Imaging 136 VOICE RECOGNITION INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIPS 136 FIGURE 46 VOICE RECOGNITION INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIPS 136 INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIP EXAMPLE 136 Audience 136 Company Description 136 Sales Model 136 Audience Research and Development Investment, 2010-2011 137 TABLE 103 AUDIENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT, 2010 AND 2011 (% OF REVENUE) 137 Channel Distribution of Selected Voice Recognition Technologies 137 TABLE 104 CHANNEL DISTRIBUTION OF SELECTED VOICE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGIES 137 INDUSTRY CONCERNS 137 EVOLVING STANDARDS 138 Devices and Applications that Use Multimodal Interactions 138 TABLE 105 DEVICES AND APPLICATIONS THAT USE MULTIMODAL INTERACTIONS 138 GOVERNMENT REGULATION 138 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Incentives for Medicare Providers, 2011-2015 (per Practitioner) 139 TABLE 106 ARRA INCENTIVES FOR MEDICARE PROVIDERS, PER PRACTITIONER, 2011-2015 ($ THOUSANDS) 139 ORGANIZATIONS AND RESEARCH LABS 139 TABLE 107 ORGANIZATIONS AND RESEARCH LABS 140 CHAPTER 12 COMPANY PROFILES 1463M HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS 146BACKGROUND 146AJAXWEAVER 146BACKGROUND 146ANDREA ELECTRONICS CORP. 146BACKGROUND 147ANGEL 147BACKGROUND 147APPLIED VOICE & SPEECH TECHNOLOGIES INC. (AVST) 147BACKGROUND 148ASPECT COMMUNICATIONS CORP. (ASPT) 148BACKGROUND 148AURIX 148BACKGROUND 149AUTONOMY 149BACKGROUND 149AVAYA INC. 149BACKGROUND 149CHANT 150BACKGROUND 150CISCO 150BACKGROUND 150CLICKFOX 150BACKGROUND 151CONTACT SOLUTIONS, INC. 151BACKGROUND 151CONVERGYS CORP. 151BACKGROUND 151CYARA SOLUTIONS 152BACKGROUND 152DEMANDVOICE LLC 152BACKGROUND 152DIGITAL BASE PRODUCTIONS 152BACKGROUND 153DISAGGREGATE 153BACKGROUND 153ELOYALTY (A TELETECH COMPANY) 153BACKGROUND 153EMPIRIX, INC. 153BACKGROUND 154FRONTRANGE SOLUTIONS 154BACKGROUND 154GM VOICES, INC. 154BACKGROUND 154GOLD SYSTEMS 154BACKGROUND 155INFERENCE SOLUTIONS NORTH AMERICA 155BACKGROUND 155INFRAWARE 155BACKGROUND 155IQSERVICES 156BACKGROUND 156LOGITECH 156BACKGROUND 156LOQUENDO 156BACKGROUND 157LUMENVOX 157BACKGROUND 157MESSAGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 157BACKGROUND 157MICROAUTOMATION 158BACKGROUND 158MICROSOFT TELLME 158BACKGROUND 158MOVIDILO 158BACKGROUND 159NEXIDIA 159BACKGROUND 159NUANCE 159BACKGROUND 159PARLANCE 160BACKGROUND 160PHILLIPS SPEECH PROCESSING 160BACKGROUND 160PLUMVOICE 160BACKGROUND 161PRODUCT SUPPORT SOLUTIONS 161BACKGROUND 161RESOLVITY 161BACKGROUND 161RIGHT VOICE, INC. 161BACKGROUND 162SENSORY 162BACKGROUND 162SOFTEL 162BACKGROUND 162SYNTELLECT 162BACKGROUND 163TALKTECH 163BACKGROUND 163TELLME 163BACKGROUND 164USAN 164BACKGROUND 164VERINT SOLUTIONS 164BACKGROUND 164VOCOLLECT 164BACKGROUND 165VOICE2FORM 165BACKGROUND 165VOICEVAULT 165BACKGROUND 165VOLTDELTA ONDEMAND SOLUTIONS 165BACKGROUND 166VOXEO 166BACKGROUND 166WORDLY VOICES 166BACKGROUND 166WIZZARD SOFTWARE 167BACKGROUND 167WYDE VOICE 167BACKGROUND 167YDILO 167BACKGROUND 168 CHAPTER 13 APPENDIX 170 VOICE RECOGNITION PARTNERSHIPS,2011-2012 170 TABLE 108 VOICE RECOGNITION PARTNERSHIPS, 2011-2012 170 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, 2011-2012 171 TABLE 109 MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, 2011-2012 171 LICENSING AGREEMENTS, 2011-2012 171 TABLE 110 LICENSING AGREEMENTS, 2011-2012 171 GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION PATENTS, 2011-2012 172 TABLE 111 GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION PATENTS, 2011-2012 172 VOICE RECOGNITION INDUSTRY EVENTS 174 TABLE 112 VOICE RECOGNITION INDUSTRY EVENTS 174 LIST OF TABLES SUMMARY TABLE GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 7 TABLE 1 U.S. VENTURE CAPITAL FINANCING AND DEALS IN RELATED SECTORS, SIX QUARTERS, 2011-2012 ($ BILLIONS/NO. OF DEALS) 10 TABLE 2 TOP FIVE COUNTRIES GLOBAL RANKED BY VENTURE CAPITAL CONFIDENCE, 2012 11 TABLE 3 SPEECH RECOGNITION LIFE CYCLE 13 TABLE 4 INFRASTRUCTURE HARDWARE 14 TABLE 5 SOFTWARE 14 TABLE 6 ENHANCED DEVICES 15 TABLE 7 SCOPE OF REPORT CLASSIFIED BY VOICE RECOGNITION FUNCTION 15 TABLE 8 SCOPE OF REPORT CLASSIFIED BY MARKET 16 TABLE 9 GLOBAL DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR (DSP) DOLLAR SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ BILLIONS) 20 TABLE 10 DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 21 TABLE 11 GLOBAL GATEWAY MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ BILLIONS) 22 TABLE 12 GATEWAY MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 23 TABLE 13 GLOBAL MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) MICROPHONES MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 24 TABLE 14 GLOBAL MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) MICROPHONE MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 25 TABLE 15 GLOBAL BLUETOOTH HEADSETS MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ BILLIONS) 26 TABLE 16 BLUETOOTH INTEGRATED HEADSET MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 27 TABLE 17 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED SET-TOP BOX MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 27 TABLE 18 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED INTERACTIVE GAMES SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 28 TABLE 19 GLOBAL AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 30 TABLE 20 AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 31 TABLE 21 GLOBAL SPEAKER VERIFICATION SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 32 TABLE 22 TYPES OF VOICE BIOMETRIC ENGINES 33 TABLE 23 RANGE OF MARKETS BY APPLICATION FOR SPEECH VERIFICATION 34 TABLE 24 SPEAKER VERIFICATION MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 35 TABLE 25 GLOBAL TEXT-TO-SPEECH SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 36 TABLE 26 TEXT-TO-SPEECH MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 38 TABLE 27 GLOBAL SPEECH ANALYTICS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 39 TABLE 28 COMPARISON OF GOALS, SCOPE, AND TECHNIQUES OF TEXT AND DATA MINING 40 TABLE 29 SPEECH ANALYTICS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 41 TABLE 30 CALL AND CONTACT CENTER KEY CONCERNS 42 TABLE 31 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED CALL CENTER SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ BILLIONS) 42 TABLE 32 CALL AND CONTACT CENTER TECHNOLOGY CLIENT WISH LIST 43 TABLE 33 CALL CENTER SPEECH TECHNOLOGY MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 44 TABLE 34 KEY REASONS CONTACT/CALL CENTERS ARE ATTRACTED TO HOSTED/MANAGED SERVICE INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) 45 TABLE 35 GLOBAL INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR)_VOICE-ACTIVATED DIALING MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ BILLIONS) 45 TABLE 36 VOICE-ACTIVATED DIALING MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 46 TABLE 37 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED MOBILE SEARCH ADVERTISING REVENUE FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 47 TABLE 38 VOICE-ACTIVATED MOBILE VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 48 TABLE 39 GLOBAL VOICE-AIDED ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 49 TABLE 40 VOICE-AIDED ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 50 TABLE 41 GLOBAL VOICE-INTEGRATED WORKSTATION SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 51 TABLE 42 VOICE-INTEGRATED WORKSTATION MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 52 TABLE 43 GLOBAL BLUETOOTH VOICE-ACTIVATED CAR KIT SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 53 TABLE 44 VOICE-ACTIVATED CAR KIT MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 54 TABLE 45 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 55 TABLE 46 VOICE-ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 56 TABLE 47 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED WEARABLE PRODUCTS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 56 TABLE 48 VOICE-ACTIVATED WEARABLE PRODUCTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 57 TABLE 49 GLOBAL VOICE-ACTIVATED SMART HOME PRODUCTS SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 58 TABLE 50 VOICE-ACTIVATED SMART HOME PRODUCTS MAJOR PLAYERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 59 TABLE 51 TOTAL GLOBAL VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY CATEGORY, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 61 TABLE 52 GLOBAL HARDWARE MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 62 TABLE 53 GLOBAL SOFTWARE MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 63 TABLE 54 GLOBAL ENHANCED DEVICES DOLLAR SALES FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 65 TABLE 55 SCOPE OF END MARKET APPLICATIONS 66 TABLE 56 VALUE OF ALL END MARKETS BY CATEGORY, 2011 ($ MILLIONS) 67 TABLE 57 DISTRIBUTION OF VOICE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGIES FOR SELECTED END PRODUCTS, APPLICATIONS, AND MARKETS 68 TABLE 58 FORECAST OF VALUE OF ENTERPRISE VOICE RECOGNITION MARKET BY NICHE, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 70 TABLE 59 GLOBAL VOICE-ENABLED LEGAL SECTOR MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 71 TABLE 60 COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL AND VOICE-ENABLED COURT REPORTING TASKS 72 TABLE 61 LEGAL SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS BY FUNCTION 72 TABLE 62 GLOBAL VOICE-DIRECTED WAREHOUSING SECTOR MARKET FORECAST, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 73 TABLE 63 VOICE-DIRECTED WAREHOUSING MARKET FUNCTIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM VOICE ENABLEMENT 74 TABLE 64 VOICE-DIRECTED WAREHOUSING (VDW) MARKET PROVIDERS, PRODUCTS, AND END MARKETS 75 TABLE 65 MARKET FORECAST FOR SPEECH-ENABLED INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) SYSTEMS, THROUGH 2017 ($ MILLIONS) 75 TABLE 66 COST-PER-CALL AND CALL ABANDONMENT RATES BY INDUSTRY ($, %) 77 TABLE 67 PERCENTAGE OF PORTS USED FOR INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) APPLICATIONS PER INDUSTRY 78 TABL To order this report:Consumer_Electronics Industry: Global Markets and Technologies for Voice Recognition Nicolas Bombourg Reportlinker Email: nicolasbombourg@reportlinker.com US: (805)652-2626 Intl: +1 805-652-2626 SOURCE Reportlinker  

via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Interesting overview about the development of speech technologies over the next few years… Source:   google.com  In the coming decade, observers of the evolution in voice recognition technologies will no doubt look back to 2012 as the tipping point year - the time when speech adoption finally broke ...

Monday, January 7, 2013

An Apple iCar Isn’t Entirely Crazy (AAPL)

Is speech recognition in the car for Apple just the beginning?


Source:  google.com  

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL  ) ? Putting out its own car?

I don’t think so.

Marketwatch’s Matthew Lynn — in his London Eye column yesterday — offered up seven surprises of 2013. Yes, many of the predictions are beyond outlandish, but one in particular was a real puzzler.

“What Apple needs is a whole new industry to conquer with its mix of design brilliance and marketing flair,” he writes in suggesting that the world’s most valuable company will drive into the auto market next year.

Crazy. Right?

Well, I was surprised to find an iCar reference earlier this month in our own Foolish archives. Doug Ehrman referred to the iCar in a headline for a story about General Motors (NYSE: GM  ) moving to incorporate Siri in a couple of its models next year.

Now, that particular story is simply referring to Apple’s technology in cars. GM’s nod to Apple will find the Chevrolet Spark and the Sonic incorporating iOS 6 features beyond merely just Apple’s Siri voice-activated digital assistant. The assumptions end there. No one outside of Lynn seems to be suggesting that Apple is about to get behind the wheel of automotive manufacturing.

However, what if the suggestion isn’t so crazy?

It was easy to dismiss the ridiculous forecast, but then we get to Google (NASDAQ: GOOG  ) . Apple and Big G have become fierce competitors these days, with each company trying to top the other. We know that Google has turned heads with its fleet of self-driving cars that it uses to offer digital street mapping images. The search giant dreams of the day when it can commercialize that technology.

Well, what if Apple beats Google to the punch? It can happen, and the big-ticket nature of cars would be a big driver in pushing Apple’s stock higher in 2013.

Is it likely to happen? No way. Apple’s safest path here is to continue to work technology deals with leading automakers. However, an Apple car would certainly turn even more heads than the Google Earth cars driving about. Why not? There won’t be a lot left for Apple to do to raise the bar once it finally puts out its TV. If apple wants to drive new business, why not bet on the driver?

There’s no doubt that Apple is at the center of technology’s largest revolution ever, and that longtime shareholders have been handsomely rewarded with over 1,000% gains. However, there is a debate raging as to whether Apple remains a buy. The Motley Fool’s senior technology analyst and managing bureau chief, Eric Bleeker, is prepared to fill you in on both reasons to buy and reasons to sell Apple, and what opportunities are left for the company (and your portfolio) going forward. To get instant access to his latest thinking on Apple, simply click here now.

via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Is speech recognition in the car for Apple just the beginning? Source:   google.com   Apple ( NASDAQ: AAPL     ) ? Putting out its own car? I don’t think so. Marketwatch’s Matthew Lynn — in his London Eye column yesterday — offered up seven surprises of 2013. Yes, many of the predictions are beyond ...

Apple and Intel Working on Bluetooth Smart Watch for 2013 Launch?

Next up - speech recognition and text to speech in youreatch.....

Source:  google.com 
Chinese site TGBus reports [Google translation, via Mobilegeeks.de] that Apple and Intel are currently working together on a Bluetooth-enabled smart watch. According to the report, the watch will include a 1.5-inch OLED display from RITEK subsidiary RiTdisplay and will launch in the first half of next year.

image
Sony SmartWatch (left) and Pebble e-paper watch (right)

Full details on Apple’s smart watch are unknown, but the report compares Apple’s project to Sony’s SmartWatch, although it notes that Apple’s Siri voice assistant will provide for greater integration with the iPhone in allowing users to take phone calls directly through the watch.

There are of course other smart watches taking advantage of the low-power Bluetooth 4.0 standard hitting the market as well, with one of the most highly anticipated ones being the Pebble e-paper watch that raised over $10 million on Kickstarter. But while the Pebble team has continued to give regular updates on its development progress, the watch has yet to begin shipping. #End 

google.com by Eric Slivka on December 27, 2012

Original Page: http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.macrumors.com/2012/12/27/apple-and-intel-working-on-bluetooth-smart-watch-for-2013-launch/&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgBIAIoATAAOABAqNXzhgVIAlgAYgVlbi1VUw&cd=0n6GN6PCUPE&usg=AFQjCNEL_3IidJePRxze8ylGgbX_-FkehA

Best,

Gerd
via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Next up - speech recognition and text to speech in youreatch..... Source:   google.com  Chinese site TGBus reports [ Google translation , via Mobilegeeks.de ] that Apple and Intel are currently working together on a Bluetooth-enabled smart watch. According to the report, the watch will include a 1.5 ...

Windows Phone 8 supports speech recognition in 15 languages including Indian dialects

Microsoft speech recognition and text-to-speech across many languages now available on the new Windows phone.

www.Speechtechnologygroup.com provides the Microsoft speech engine with ASR and TTS for 26 languages with MRCP interface to connect to the leading voice platforms like Avaya, Genesys, Cisco, Asterisk and more.

Source:  google.com 

Windows Phone 8 may look and feel very similar to Windows Phone 7.5, but in actuality there are number of changes that range from the new start screen, to the shared core with Windows 8 and every other day new features keep propping up. Microsoft is touting yet another improvement in its mobile OS with its improved language support. In a blog post, today Microsoft claims that the Windows Phone 8 on-screen keyboard works across 50 languages and it’s speech recognition works with 15 languages and it even supports the Indian accent.

Microsoft says that improved language support was the number one feature that customers had asked for and from the 22 languages supported in Windows Phone 7.5, the support has gone up to 50 in Windows Phone 8. Additionally, the 15 languages supported by the speech recognition software in the platform include Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India (English), Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, which makes it a truly global platform.

In comparison Apple’s Siri does a very poor job of recognizing the Indian dialect in the process it is rendered useless for most Indians. Google’s Voice search works much better and is quite accurate, but we cannot say if it’s better than Microsoft’s solution or not, but Google does have the advantage in terms of search which is superior to Microsoft’s Bing.

via http://www.speechtechnologygroup.com/speech-blog - Microsoft speech recognition and text-to-speech across many languages now available on the new Windows phone. www.Speechtechnologygroup.com provides the Microsoft speech engine with ASR and TTS for 26 languages with MRCP interface to connect to the leading voice platforms like Avaya, Genesys, Cisco, ...