Sensory Introduces Speaker Verification for Mobile Devices and Consumer Electronics

Sensory today released speaker verification and identification for its TrulyHandsfree voice recognition and activation products.

The text-dependent voice security technology creates a unique voiceprint for users, allowing a voice wake-up word to be spoken that both activates the device and verifies the user's identity all in a single command. For mobile devices, combining voice activation and speaker verification allows the right user to access voice control functions, providing consumers with "truly hands free" control of their mobile devices without the worry of another's voice triggering their devices to gain control or data. It is architected to be deeply embedded and implemented on low power chips below the OS layer to reduce power consumption. Speaker verification is accessed in parallel to the wake-up for a seamless user experience. In addition to applications in mobile devices, the speaker verification and identification has numerous applications in robotics, TVs, set-top boxes, security, home control/virtual assistant, automotive, etc. The technology’s small footprint also ensures easy integration into the device hardware.

"Mobile devices still require tactile interactions before users can enable voice recognition and voice control functions," said Todd Mozer, CEO of Sensory, in a statement. "Combining voice activation and speaker verification enables mobile devices to be easier, more secure, safer, and more convenient to use and access information."

"Using a unique phrase both for user authentication and as a wake-up word makes a lot of sense from the wireless subscriber's perspective," said Dan Miller, senior analyst at Opus Research. "Rapid, effortless authentication should be a boon to secure mobile search, shopping, banking, and protection of personal data on mobile devices."

Continued Mozer, "As voice control of consumer devices becomes more prevalent, Sensory's speaker identification technology will improve the user experience on shared devices by providing recommendations and suggestions based on an individual's habits, behavior, and lifestyle or automatically adjusting the device to the user's unique preferences."

"By building speaker identification into its TrulyHandsfree word-spotting tool, Sensory has enabled automatic, user-specific personalization," noted Judith Markowitz, president of J. Markowitz Consultants. "This natural and unobtrusive use of speaker identification for personalization significantly enhances the user experience and opens important new markets for speaker identification."