cksla at RB re VTT-enabled wireless computing:
I believe such a product will be out by the end of the year. I have recently touched on this concept. The starting point is LHSP's NUK:
ragingbull.com
note a couple of things:
(1) the use of Intel's strongarm processor;
(2) edig's Micro OS can work efficiently w/ Linux per Jimee11: "The MicroOS could be incorporated quite easily into a Linux framework by supplementing the Linux file management functionalities. Remember, both Linux and the MicroOS were written in the 'C' language and this makes function calls very easy."
(3) intel's $30M investment in LHSP and agreement to work together in speech recognition solutions (in competition with IBM/Philips and no doubt Msft) ragingbull.com
(4) using LHSP's continuous speech recognition USERS CAN DICTATE AND SEND E-MAILS USING VOICE COMMANDS (VTT application)
(5) LHSP's rep comment:"We put this together for the conference, to show how these technologies can work together, and to show what can be done," said a spokesperson from the company. "It's interesting to see dictation on a handheld, because users aren't going to be wanting devices they can't interact with."
We know that Intel has commissioned Edig to design advanced digital recorder prototypes, which were due to be delivered at the end of last year but that: "Our Intel relationship has taken some interesting turns in new technology and new OEM relationships. (11/4/99)
F. Falk's latest letter (3/14/00)stated:
Voice Recording Technology
In addition to an Internet music player design, e.Digital has portable voice recording technology which we license to OEM customers for business and dictation use. Developments in the speech technology industry continue to open doors for us. Advances in voice-to-text programs and voice command recognition programs from third parties (such as IBM, Lernout & Hauspie, and Dragon Systems) make new product categories possible. Powerful systems connected to phone lines and/or PC's, formerly the exclusive territory of huge conglomerates, are becoming more accessible to smaller businesses and individuals. Our portable digital voice recording technology is capable of interacting with these systems so that consumers do not have to be out of touch with their desktop speech technology even when they are away from their desks.
As illustrated by Lernout & Hauspie's recent purchase of Dictaphone, we are seeing important developments in the speech technology industry. Hardware companies and software companies are joining forces and combining technology to make the most of this emerging market. We can add portable capability to these systems. We continue to devote research, development, and marketing efforts to applications for our technology in this area.
Most laptop and palmtop computers are still too complex for most consumers. We expect future portable products to emerge with larger screens, no keyboards or electronic "pens", using voice-prompted, and/or voice-activated programs for storage, retrieval and playback of data. These products will take advantage of technology to make the user interface more natural and make products easier for nontechnical consumers to use. Our engineers are focusing their efforts in this exciting new arena.
LHSP's acquisition of Dictaphone is quite interesting- could it possibly be the voice recorder to be used in the NUK. Remember Dictaphone was a member of IBM's VoiceTimes alliance with Intel and e.digital.
Balrog has stated:
We must realize that the future VTT/TTV devices are going to incorporate removable flash memory. Also that the way these voice controlled devices will work is if you want the device to do something you will have to speak a command to it like, " read email. "
When you give that command, the device will record your words into the removable flash memory chip and then be acted upon by the voice algorithims in a program like IBM's ViaVoice software.
So where does our little e.Digital come in?
Firstly, e.Digital was the first company to produce a digital voice recorder using flash memory many years ago. They have the expertise in the area. But probably most important is the following number that they have.
5,742,737
This number is the patent number for:
Method for recording voice messages on flash memory in a hand held recorder.
Once again what is a VTT/TTV device?
It's a voice recording device for deferred speech recognition.
Intel's VP Whittier stated: ?e.Digital has been innovating advanced digital mobile solutions for the business dictation and medical industry for the last three years. We believe VoiceTIMES will allow e.Digital to expand development of mobile information gathering devices employing speech and leverage our product designs into many additional industry solutions."
-- Ron Whittier, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Content Group
By the time the NUK is ready to be mass produced by OEMs later this year, i suspect it will be more like a "palmtop computer" with a larger screen to accomodate video. You will recall F. Falk's statement in the 12/20/99 newsletter:
"In addition to Internet music, e.Digital is working with standards relating to still pictures, full-motion video, text, and/or voice, integrating emerging technology and standards into portable devices according to the needs of our OEM customers. Voice technology is emerging and will become the standard interface with products of all varieties. Streaming video of 2-6 minutes is becoming available for portable devices and we expect portable, downloadable video technology to become available over the next twelve months."
With the increasing storage capabilities of flash and' in particular ibm's microdrive, downloading your favoite music VIDEO will be possible. In his latest 3/14/00 letter, Falk concluded: We are working with global companies to build a future of portable, Internet-compatible appliances using convergent technologies to retrieve, store, and play back voice, text, still images, music, and full-motion video.
The cellular phone will either be incorporated directly into the palmtop or used in conjunction therewith. Recall the recent article about S.D. company Packet Video: ragingbull.com Wireless multimedia software and service provider PacketVideo has developed a technology that allows a cell phone to essentially become a mobile computer that fits into a pocket.
Speaking at a feature presentation on Cell Phone Convergence on Monday, PacketVideo president Rob Tercek said there's a whole generation of users who will never own a landline phone or even a desktop computer. "They are going to access their information on the Web using handheld devices and cell phones. The phone will be a wireless modem."
Instead of bellying up to desktop computers to access information on the Web, users will instead link their cell phones with their PDAs -- using either a cable connection or eventually a wireless application like Bluetooth that allows devices to connect at a short range using radio links. Users can then dial up their ISP and use the PDA to surf the Web.
By using the Intel StrongARM chip, PacketVideo allows two-way video, essentially turning the phone into a video walkie-talkie and giving users the means to receive interactive programming accessed on demand.
The internet-enabled wireless, cellular palmtop computer with voice recognition capabilities that is capable of recording and playing full streaming audio and video content will be the portable internet device of the very near future. "The portable Internet products industry and Internet music industry are just being born and we believe that this is only the beginning of a new, multi-billion-dollar industry." e.digital is right smack in the middle!
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