Sensory Launches VoiceGenie
Sensory, a provider of speech and vision technologies, has released VoiceGenie, a solution that brings speech recognition technology to Bluetooth headphones and headsets for hands-free voice control of headphone functions, music playback, call handling, access to fitness information, and control of smartphone assistants. It also supports the "Alexa" wake word and enables Bluetooth devices to benefit from the advanced skillsets offered by Amazon's Alexa Voice Service (AVS) completely hands-free.
"Alexa has been a huge hit in the home, and customers tell us every day about new ways they'd love to use Alexa," said Priya Abani, director of Amazon Alexa, in a statement. "With companies like Sensory using Alexa Voice Service to create new experiences like VoiceGenie, customers will soon be able to use Alexa and its thousands of skills in new environments."
VoiceGenie enables hands-free device control as well as voice activated access to AI services such as Amazon's Alexa. Through a separate application running on the phone, Alexa can be accessed via a Bluetooth headset, using the connected smartphone as a gateway to the cloud.
"BlueAnt has shipped millions of Bluetooth products with Sensory technology over the past several years; we are excited to incorporate VoiceGenie with Alexa, and expect to have product introductions in 2017," said Taisen Maddern, founder and CEO of BlueAnt Wireless, in a statement.
Sensory intertwined its speech recognition code with a music decoder so they could run simultaneously and in low power on a small DSP. By running on a Bluetooth audio software-on-a-chip designed for headphones and headsets, Sensory's embedded low-power speech recognition technologies can offer an always-ready hands-free experience to activate three voice-enabled AI assistants:
- VoiceGenie:Allows access and control for Bluetooth devices and music playing from the mobile phone. Checking connections, battery strength, settings or controlling music playback and more can all be done through voice commands, even when music is playing. When phone calls come in, VoiceGenie announces who is calling and lets users answer or ignore the call by voice.
- VoiceGenie to Phone Commands: VoiceGenie can listen for commands to be directed to the built-in mobile assistants.
- VoiceGenie to Alexa: Using the VoiceGenie mobile app, Alexa can be accessed by voice through the headset. This provides access to the thousands of Alexa skills offered.
"I have two Amazon Echos in my house and four Alexa devices at work, and it's really cool to be able to sit on a couch or in front of my computer and ask for my step count. However, I can't use my Echo on a run, which is really when I want hands-free access to my heart rate or step count through Alexa. With VoiceGenie, querying this sort of information through Bluetooth headsets while biking, hiking, jogging, and more is now possible," said Todd Mozer, CEO of Sensory, in a statement.
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