OPEN SESAME: Voice Recognition Comes to Homes September 14, 2001 Voice-recognition technology allows machines to understand the words spoken by humans. As the accuracy of this technology improves, various products are appearing that can respond to voice commands. There are already personal computers and car navigation systems that can be operated by voice, and work continues on the development of a system that will enable the user to control various equipment and appliances around the home from one location. The day is approaching when even elderly people will be able to easily use high-tech equipment. Appliances That Listen Misawa Homes Co., a maker of upscale residential houses, has developed a system that allows residents to control all of a home's equipment by voice. Spoken commands are picked up by a voice-recognition device and are converted into a digital signal that tells a particular appliance what to do. For example, a user can turn an air conditioner on and off and even change the thermostat just by speaking. In the same manner, lights can be brightened, dimmed, or turned on and off. The television can be switched on and off, its volume adjusted, and the channel changed. The resident can activate the VCR and have it play and record videocassettes by voice command. Shutters can be opened and closed as well, much like the door in "The History of Ali Baba" in Arabian Nights, which responded to the words "Open Sesame!" There are a surprising number of older people who have trouble operating home appliances, especially VCRs. The difficulties that they experience may be eliminated if this technology finds its way into everyday products. Controlling the Home Away from Home A few problems still remain with this system, however, and with voice-recognition technology in general. The main problem is that voice recognition is not yet 100% accurate. In order to prevent mishaps, such as the unintentional operation of machinery, the home system initially records 300 words spoken by the user, but it still occasionally mistakes extraneous sounds, such as that of a falling object, for commands.   Your Name What did you think of this article? It was interesting. It was boring. Send this article to a friend What home appliance makers and other companies are turning their attention to now is the idea of linking voice-recognition technology with the Internet and mobile phones. By using cellular phones, it may be possible to prevent voice-recognition devices from picking up background noise and misunderstanding commands. A command could be spoken into the phone, converted into a digital signal, and then relayed to appliances within the house via the Internet. Another advantage that mobile phones might offer is that they could allow the user to turn on the air conditioner or fill the bathtub with hot water while he or she is on the way home. Many companies are working to further develop voice-recognition technology, and it appears as though the day when most household appliances will respond to "open sesame" commands may not be far in the future. Copyright (c) 2001 Japan Information Network. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.