TV Industry Preparing for Voice Recognition Interfaces in 2012

[haruhiko]

Wow.. that's going to be interesting. Copying successful Apple products is excusable and may be successful. But.... copying Apple rumors?????

 

[samcraig]

Apple did Siri.

So it's now "safe" for everyone else to do.

Oh please. Apple did not invent voice recognition. It's even more popular because of Apple - but "safe" for everyone else. Wow.

 

[Zedcars]

The only problem with voice recognition on TVs is that it could interfere when commanding volume. If the TV is too loud, then the mic may pick that up. "Turn volume down to ten." "Did you say, 'buy a Snuggie?'"

Solution:
Internal phase reversal of the TV audio output signal, summed with the microphone signal will result in all audio from the TV removed and only the vocal commands left for Siri to understand. This can be handled 'inside the box' (24/7) negating the need to mute the audio externally.

The aim would be to work 'invisibly' in the background with little to no impact on normal TV operation. You do not want the audio to cut out completely just to lower the volume.

 

[samcraig]

Solution:
Internal phase reversal of the TV audio output signal, summed with the microphone signal will result in all audio from the TV removed and only the vocal commands left for Siri to understand. This can be handled 'inside the box' (24/7) negating the need to mute the audio externally.

The aim would be to work 'invisibly' in the background with little to no impact on normal TV operation. You do not want the audio to cut out completely just to lower the volume.

Of course the other solution is a handheld remote like the one with Apple TV but it comes with one button to activate/confirm Siri's commands and a mic on the remote. Makes much more sense than shouting across a room.

 

[AidenShaw]

Solution:
Internal phase reversal of the TV audio output signal, summed with the microphone signal will result in all audio from the TV removed and only the vocal commands left for Siri to understand. This can be handled 'inside the box' (24/7) negating the need to mute the audio externally.

The microphone would typically be receiving sounds from up to 8 separate audio channels sent to 8 separate speakers, with various delays due to the distance from each speaker to the microphone, and additional sounds due to echoes inside the room.

It's as simple as adding the complement of a single analog audio signal, even assuming that the TV itself sees the audio signal which may not be true.

The button on the remote makes more sense, or perhaps Apple should copy Microsoft's Kinect and put a camera on the TV so that specific hand gestures could get SiriTV's attention.

 

[samcraig]

The microphone would typically be receiving sounds from up to 8 separate audio channels sent to 8 separate speakers, with various delays due to the distance from each speaker to the microphone, and additional sounds due to echoes inside the room.

It's not that simple, even assuming that the TV itself sees the audio signal which may not be true.

The button on the remote makes more sense, or perhaps Apple should copy Microsoft's Kinect and put a camera on the TV so that specific hand gestures could get SiriTV's attention.

To counter - the camera solution would only work if you were in front or "near" the TV. What if you're (for example) in the kitchen cooking and you want to raise/lower the volume or change the channel.

There could be a hybrid solution as well though - camera + remote (with microphone)...