In the eyes of many, the emergence of speech technology was a slight ironic development, considering people had placed texting and typing over voice calls as a more preferred means of communication. However, the introduction of intelligent commands like Siri, Alexa, and Amazon Echo showed us that speech technology could take different forms, from dictating text messages to making dinner reservations.
Today, speech technology seems to be growing exponentially, which can be attributed to millennial consumers’ prioritization of convenience, efficiency, and speed. On that note, let’s take a look at what the future holds for speech technology.
Speech Technology and Brands
Undoubtedly, the world is undergoing a revolution in how artificial intelligence and big data interact with our activities online and offline. Every day, vast amounts of data on our purchases, conversations, movements, and even physical identities are being collected. They’re even stored, analyzed, and used by many big companies to provide personalized experiences for their customers. While a personalized experience is great for customer experience, brands also gain immensely from speech technology.
For instance, as a software entrepreneur or developer, integrating a hotword or wake word technology in an app or device is the best way to make people interact with your software. It allows you to own the customer experience irrespective of where it’s used.
Perhaps, this is why Elon Musk (SpaceX and Tesla CEO) has refused to integrate Siri, Google, or Alexa wake words. He understands that creating a new wake word for his brand is the best way to strengthen a consumer’s bond with the brand.
Thanks to companies like Sensory, a pioneer wake word listener, you can create your own custom wake word. Sensory has mastered how to achieve effective wake words that are fast and responsive even in noisy environments or long distances.
Speech Technology and the Automobile Industry
The recent pandemic brought an increased concern for hygiene and fear of touching surfaces. As a result, people now realize the importance of voice technology. It’s expected that this pandemic and other factors will lead to technological advancement in many areas, including passenger vehicles.
In the past, people had low expectations for the future of automobiles. However, today, Elon Musk’s invention proves that anything is possible. Besides, a glance at famous Elon Musk quotes shows that he’s also a realist while he’s an optimist. So, before embarking on any project, he’s convinced that it’s important enough.
Therefore, if we already have electric cars and self-driven cars that use voice assistants, then it’s only a matter of time before speech technology is integrated into self-driven cars. This will make a lot of difference to the way people drive, especially the disabled.
Speech Technology and Healthcare
The healthcare system is one of the biggest beneficiaries of speech technology. Many people can testify to the vital role technology played in the fight against COVID-19. For instance, Chatbots were used to screen people while Apple’s Siri walked people through COVID-19 assessments and then recommended telehealth apps.
Furthermore, studies confirm that the integration of speech in healthcare can identify the early stages of diseases like Parkinson’s disease, therefore aiding better treatment. For example, one research showed that using RASTA-PLP, a speech analysis technique has an 82% accuracy in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease in patients.
All in all, AI and speech technology make it possible for anyone to access health services wherever they are. Now that people can see the benefits of voice technology in healthcare, it’ll be impossible for speech technology to be pushed aside or ignored. So, be prepared to witness more investment in new technology integrations.