Nuance Communications, the company responsible for the Dragon line of speech recognition software, has announced a new natural-language voice platform designed specifically for in car use. Targeted at automotive manufacturers and suppliers, the Dragon Drive! platform will allow hands-free and eyes-free dictation of text messages and emails, and voice control of car entertainment and navigation systems.
The rise of the connected car has enabled drivers to access a variety of content and information, but often at the expense of safety, with texting while driving being particularly dangerous. Like similar voice recognition solutions, Dragon Drive! aims to let drivers remain connected without having to take their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel.
Nuance does have an advantage in developing its car-specific platform though - it is able to leverage the core technologies found in its Dragon Dictation and Dragon Go! applications combined with it’s microphone and noise cancellation technology.
This system allows drivers to dictate and send a text or email message, listen to received text messages and emails, get instant directions, and search and listen to a specific song, artist, or even a news item, regardless of whether the content is stored in the car or on the Internet.
While there is no word on whether any automotive manufacturers have come on board with plans for in car devices based on the platform, Nuance has launched Dragon Drive! Messaging in six languages – U.S. English, U.K. English, French, Italian, German and Spanish – with additional services and languages to be added throughout the year.
Here’s a video from Nuance showing how the Dragon Drive! platform will function.
Source: Nuance Communications
