ProtoPie Introduces Full Voice Functionality Prototyping

ProtoPie, a prototyping tool provider, now allows users to design voice interactions within digital prototypes. Rather than merely mimicking voice functionality, this new feature allows users to tap into the text-to-speech and speech-to-text engines already built into their browsers or operating systems.

ProtoPie's Voice User Interface prototyping features a visual interface that allows designers to affect micro-interactions in real-world environments, such as the cockpit of a car or the digital screen on home appliances. ProtoPie is already partnering with leading automotive and appliance makers.

"With over 70 penetration penetration of smart home speakers in U.S. and European households and roughly 80 percent of businesses planning to incorporate chatbots this year, the need for UX and UI design tools that can harness the power of voice is growing more pressing. This is evidenced by the fact that the Google Assistant team themselves requested we build out this feature ahead of schedule to meet their own prototyping needs," said ProtoPie's founder and CEO, Tony Kim, in a statement.

"The integration of voice functionality is expected to have broad implications for diverse verticals, from automotive, to IoT appliances, to mobile applications. The inclusion of voice integration for companies in these industries is becoming table stakes for user experience as technology becomes more accessible and convenient. Our hope is that by helping designers more readily harness the power of voice interactions, we'll accelerate the move toward even more intuitive and empowering user experiences for customers," said Jenna Yim, ProtoPie's chief strategy officer, in a statement. "Currently, voice-integration features often feel like an afterthought , an add-on alternative to primary UI controls. That's why, despite there being so many smart speakers in homes, people rarely use them for anything other than checking the weather. Designing elevated voice interactions has been inaccessible. We're confident this latest update to ProtoPie is the start of myriad new applications for voice."

For example, ProtoPie allows users to prototype the entire driver experience, connecting multiple dashboards, the steering wheel, gas pedal, clutch, and connected smartphones.

"Now automotive companies can add voice as a new dimension of realism, all without having to code. Being able to prototype an environment such as this without the use of custom code is unparalleled and allows for greater integration across different fields of use,"Yim said.