Have you got a feeling for what agent patents could mean for General Magic and whether they will have to share the stage with other companies developing this area? These are such far reaching basic building blocks for the way we can interact with computers. What's a patent like Java worth to Sun for example?
I didn't really see the value of Magic Talk when GM first announced the system, but now that I begin to think about agents, it makes more sense. I thought Magic Talk was just a slick interface between ASR, text to voice and the user, but now I see something greater. For example Gen Magic says, "The new MagicTalk platform is based on a "distributed VUI" model, where portions of the VUI can be located in different parts of the network. "This model allows a simple VUI to be installed in a number of different devices that access the more sophisticated VUI within Serengeti," said Steve Markman. "The distributed VUI would allow users to gain all the benefits of human interaction using the simplest devices, like a PDA or even a watch. The model of embedded computers predicted by futurists is rapidly approaching reality."
If I'm understanding this correctly, the agent will the whole fabric of the information transaction invisible. Now, I get information from an address. In the future, I'll get information from many addresses and I'll not have to think about the "where's and how's". It will be a whole mix of secure agents speaking to each other within a VPN as well as public agents. And the amazing thing is you won't have to think about it once the strucure is set up.
Again, you have to wonder how much control General Magic has over the future of this and how much they will benefit financially. It will be interesting to see if they can bring out Portico and generate some money and then fund their way into numerous new businesses.
What other companies will be key developers of this technology?
Regards,
Mark
General Magic Announces MagicTalk, The First Intelligent Voice User Interface Platform; Platform Will Debut In Upcoming Network Service
Business Wire - April 09, 1998 08:15
%GENERAL-MAGIC GMGC %CALIFORNIA %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS %COMED %TELECOMMUNICATIONS %PRODUCT V%BW P%BW
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SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 1998--General Magic, Inc. (NASDAQ:GMGC) today announced MagicTalk(tm), the first intelligent voice user interface (VUI) platform. General Magic will debut MagicTalk in its upcoming integrated voice and data network service, code-named "Serengeti," which will be released commercially in mid-1998.
"The announcement of MagicTalk demonstrates General Magic's commitment to building the market for integrated voice and data applications and providing technologies that will grow the category," said Steve Markman, chairman, president, and CEO of General Magic. "We are witnessing the emergence of a major new trend where voice will be the way people use technology. General Magic is leading the effort with MagicTalk, which we believe will act as 'the voice of the network' much like a graphical user interface acts as the 'face' of the personal computer."
MagicTalk is the foundation technology for Serengeti, which is the only second generation virtual assistant that provides users with access to their important information - email, voice mail, calendar, address book, news and stock quote information - using the most natural user interface known, their own voices. Previous generation voice user interfaces are computer-like in their interaction, and typically recognize only several dozen verbal utterances and often contain fewer than 100 responses. Serengeti, however, will understand more than one million different phrases, and can reply to the user with approximately 5,000 responses and helpful hints. Designed to recreate the comfortable experience of a human conversation, Serengeti understands natural language, even when the user interrupts what the virtual assistant is saying. For users, this familiarity means virtually no speaker training is required.
The MagicTalk intelligent voice user interface platform demonstrates intelligence in three ways: social intelligence, content intelligence and technical intelligence.
-- Social intelligence: MagicTalk portrays a personality that enables the user to interact with the network in a comfortable and familiar way - through conversation. In addition to applying 15 years of social psychology research conducted by top experts from Stanford University in the area of human/computer interaction, General Magic has combined the talents of Hollywood writers, directors, and producers to create the "persona" of an assistant who can help the user navigate through their information.
-- Content intelligence: MagicTalk's intelligent rules and filters recognize and sort out the important information the user receives from a variety of communication sources including voice mail, e-mail, personal information managers, address books, calendars and public news from custom sources, as well as other information available from the Internet.
-- Technical intelligence: MagicTalk grammars are designed to be dynamically extensible and can be customized to recognize new content. MagicTalk grammars will also allow the user to act upon, as well as access, their important information. The Company is currently developing its patented agent technology to extend the user's range of action.
The new MagicTalk platform is based on a "distributed VUI" model, where portions of the VUI can be located in different parts of the network. "This model allows a simple VUI to be installed in a number of different devices that access the more sophisticated VUI within Serengeti," said Steve Markman. "The distributed VUI would allow users to gain all the benefits of human interaction using the simplest devices, like a PDA or even a watch. The model of embedded computers predicted by futurists is rapidly approaching reality."
MagicTalk's architecture is designed to enable rapid customization to meet specific market, product and geographical needs. "We are currently talking to third parties about the possibility of extending the MagicTalk user experience to custom applications that our partners and customers create for their own products or services," Markman added. "The Company is developing a plan to provide a developer's kit and certification program for Serengeti extensions."
MagicTalk will be able to work with all types of devices, including telephones and computers. In the U.S. alone, there are currently 58 million wireless phones and over 100 million households with land line phones -- all of which can be used to access the MagicTalk intelligent voice user interface.
"General Magic is undeniably leading the future in integrated voice and data applications," said industry analyst Andrew Seybold. "Clearly this is where the market is headed because of the availability of continuous speech recognition technology, the dependence of business on mobile phones and remote access and the predicted explosion in voice and data traffic. I have been fortunate to get a flavor of MagicTalk's potential and can't wait for the commercial availability of Serengeti later this year."
In accordance with U.S. securities law, General Magic notes that this press release contains forward-looking statements. There are risks that may cause actual results to vary materially. These risks include, but are not limited to, the challenges inherent in the development and delivery of complex technologies; the market acceptance of the Company's Serengeti service; the Company's ability to respond to competitive pressures; the Company's dependence on establishing distribution relationships; the Company's limited financial resources; and the Company's reliance on attracting, retaining and motivating key technical, marketing and management personnel. These and other risk factors are detailed in General Magic's 1997 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1998.
General Magic offers integrated voice and data applications making communication and access to information easy and convenient for people, no matter where they are. The Company's development efforts are founded on its patented agent technology, innovative user-interface and communication-centric designs to provide simple, yet effective ways for people to keep in touch with the information they need to be successful. The Company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information on General Magic, please visit the company's Web site at genmagic.com. |
