Audi A3 Integrates Dragon Features
Nuance Communications has announced that its automotive-grade Dragon Drive! Messaging service is powering the text message dictation in the new Audi A3, creating a hands-free messaging experience.
With Audi connect Messaging, drivers can use their voice to dictate and send text messages, as well as hear incoming text or email messages.
The Audi A3 integrates Dragon Drive! Messaging as part of the in-car user interface. Drivers can connect their phone via Bluetooth or insert their SIM card into the MMI Navigation plus to dictate and send text messages without having to take their hands off of the wheel. For example, just say "Dictate text message to John Smith" to quickly access the contact from a mobile address book, and then speak the message, "I am stuck in traffic and will be late for the meeting. Start without me." The message is read to the driver, and from there he can continue dictating, edit, or send the message using simple voice commands. Nuance's capabilities also read out incoming text and email messages.
Audi also integrates Nuance's voice command and control as part of its voice user interface, letting drivers speak voice commands to search and access contacts and make calls on their phone and select Audi connect services.
"The in-car experience is quickly evolving from simply keeping drivers entertained to keeping them connected and productive in safer, smarter ways," said Arnd Weil, vice president and general manager of automotive, Nuance Mobile, in a statement. "Dragon Drive! Messaging's flexible and customizable architecture enables…automotive brands like Audi to deeply integrate powerful voice capabilities as part of their unique in-car experience, without compromising quality or adding dangerous distractions."
Audi connect Messaging with dictation capabilities will be available with Audi connect and MMI Navigation plus on the new Audi A3 shipping at the end of 2012 in Europe and will initially support several European languages.