Microsoft’s newest patent will let you whisper voice commands to your smartphones

Microsoft

Voice commands are designed to make using your smart devices easier. But not everyone is comfortable speaking into your smartphones to dictate commands or private information and the like, especially when you’re out in public. That’s where the technology that Microsoft patented comes in handy. Called “Silent Voice Input,” it’ll let you whisper “with an inward airflow” to vocally communicate with your devices. What you’d need to do is place the device equipped with this feature very close to your mouth (in certain instances as close as 2mm), allowing for a small gap between the apparatus and the lips. Once in place, theoretically, the microphone can “capture [a] stable utterance signal with a very small voice leakage.” It might take some time to practice whispering while you inhale. This is called an ingressive airflow and this should prevent your voice from being distorted.

This kind of technology could potentially come to devices like smartwatches, smartphones, headsets, TV remotes, or even rings. But Microsoft hasn’t discussed whether this technology is going into development. Not all patents get turned into actual products, but it’s good to know the idea is there.

Source: Engadget

Use ‘Ok Google’ anywhere on your Android smartphone

Google has done what they said they would. You can now trigger voice search anywhere on your Android smartphone with a new Google Search update. This new feature is similar to what you can do with a Moto X but now it is available for all Android phones. Just say “Ok Google” when your screen is on and tell Google Now what to do. You can even activate the feature from the lock screen.

Just head to Google Now and select the menu at the bottom right of the phone and then tap on Settings, then Voice, and then select “Ok Google” Detection. According to Gizmodo, this feature is rolling out phone by phone. We’ve tested it on the Nexus 5 and it seems to be working already. Just be a bit patient if it hasn’t landed on your Android just yet.

Moto Assist update for Moto X now enables voice response to texts while driving

US models of the Motorola Moto X smartphone that are running the Android 4.4 KitKat upgrade received a notable update in the Moto Assist feature which automates tasks when you are driving, in a meeting or sleeping. The latest update brings the ability to respond to text messages via voice when the Moto X senses you are driving (which it can do with it's motion co-processor). This is good news for all Moto X owners since it will extend the functionality of their device when the update is made available by their respective country carriers. I plan on testing the new Moto Assist feature on my developer Moto X to see just how much of an improvement the update brings.