It's not always clear how Apple uses the technology from companies that it purchases, but with this acquisition, it's likely Apple will use the API to improve its voice-based personal assistant, Siri. Financial Times also believes Apple could use the technology for its upcoming car project, as VocalIQ specialized in in-car applications among other things.
While VocalIQ's speech processing and machine learning technology could be incorporated into devices from wearables to the connected home, the company was particularly focused on in-car applications. This included a collaboration with General Motors.
In a blog earlier this year, VocalIQ described how a "conversational voice-dialog system" in a car's navigation system could prevent drivers from becoming distracted by looking at screens. Its "self- learning" technology allows "real conversation between human and the internet of things", VocalIQ wrote.VocalIQ has criticized Siri in a past blog post, calling the virtual assistant a "toy" unable to understand context. The difference between VocalIQ's system and traditional speech-recognition services like Siri and Cortana is its ability to learn.
The reason for this state of affairs is that while Apple, Google and the some others have mastered how the use machine learning for speech-recognition, they are still stuck with medieval approach when it comes of conversational voice dialog. They are still using pre-programmed flow-chart based response that don't learn.
The consumer demand for a self-learning multi-domain conversational voice system where consumers can freely talk about movies, restaurants, music, hotel bookings and the meaning of life, is huge and undeniable. The first one to meet that demand will rule the smartphone and wearables market for the next decade.Apple confirmed its purchase of VocalIQ with its usual statement: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."
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Forrester released its annual report on US consumer technology use on Monday, and the findings make encouraging reading for wearable developers, manufacturers and enthusiasts.
Twenty-one percent of all "online" adults in the U.S. now own a wearable device of some kind, with the younger generation leading the way in adoption.
It's been a big 12 months for wearables, with interest peaking around the launch of the Apple Watch in March. Since then, Samsung, Pebble and Motorola have released new flagship smartwatches of their own, while fitness-focused companies such as Fitbit and Jawbone have also been busy getting new devices out to consumers.
That's just the beginning.
The Birth Of A TrendAccording to Forrester's report, Fitbit is leading the charge, with 36 percent of the total number of wearables in use. That backs up figures released by IDC in August, which also showed Fitbit on top of the pile—and a 223 percent increase in wearable sales year-on-year for the market overall.
The Nike Fuel Band and the Apple Watch are tied for second at 16 percent, while the now-discontinued Google Glass still accounts for 15 percent of wearable devices in use. That's a promising figure for Google, if it's ever going to bring out version 2.0 of the augmented reality spectacles, as promised.
"One thing is clear—consumer adoption has taken off," writes Forrester's Gina Fleming.
Her colleague, Julie Ask, points to the growth of the smartphone market as the primary driver behind wearable adoption, an angle that's tough to argue with: Without the iPhone, there would be no Apple Watch. Without Android, there would be no Android Wear.
Not only has the explosion in smartphone use driven down the cost of components and accelerated the miniaturization of electronics, it also gives consumers access to the apps necessary for wearable data to make sense. A Fitbit or Jawbone tracker is just a rather pointless bracelet without the software to go with it.
"The combination of machine learning, which gives consumers accurate data and insights, and the added apps layer, which allows users to act on those insights, creates a winning formula," Ask writes. "The result is that fitness wearables have matured from a 'fun to have' gadget for those tackling a new goal, to a category impacting the financials of entire industries."
There are plenty of challenges ahead—not least of which is getting consumers to keep using their -- For more information read the original article here.
Both Apple and Google have television on their minds: The tech titans have updated their streaming devices, the Apple TV and Chromecast. But soon, neither will find a home on Amazon.com, where those devices had been selling like hotcakes.
According to Bloomberg, the retailer plans to effectively pull both devices off its digital shelves.
See also: Amazon's Power Play: Alexa Meets Fire TV, Plus A Slew Of New Devices
In a message sent out to vendors, Amazon cited the gadgets' lack of support for Amazon's Prime Video streaming service as the reason for their removal, Bloomberg reports.
Amazon doesn't appear to be favoring its own Fire TV set-top box—just its video service. Amazon will apparently still sell Roku streaming devices and Xbox and PlayStation consoles, which play Amazon videos.
But there could be other motivations that extend far beyond the living room.
TV's Just The StartLast month, Amazon added Alexa voice controls to its Fire TV box. That update may offer additional context for the company's latest retail decision.
The Alexa voice technology is an integral part of Amazon's smart speaker, which launched earlier this year as the Amazon Echo. The appliance wowed reviewers and early-adopting users. As far as smart technologies go, Alexa is pretty brainy.
Its voice features understand natural language, so users can speak casually to the cylindrical appliance, and it responds with the day's news, weather, traffic report, access to streaming services (including Amazon's own, of course) and more.
That something “more” includes voice control over Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, SmartThings, Insteon, and Wink smart home gadgets.
In other words, Alexa has become the intersection point for Amazon's smart TV and smart home efforts. That's a path that many expected Apple to take.
The Battle For The Living Room, Or The Whole House?Apple's latest set-top box supports Siri voice functionality, so the iPhone maker could be laying down very similar groundwork.
See also: Apple TV Gets Voice, Touch, And Its Own Operating System, tvOS
Google has also been pursuing voice, TV and the smart home in a variety of ways, though it's not yet clear how the company may connect those dots. It's hard to imagine how the tiny Chromecast dongle could house a microphone, but the Google Cast technology it relies on also works for other devices.
Google's latest ChromecastThe product removal may be Amazon's way of aiming a bazooka at a couple -- For more information read the original article here.