voice commands interfaces in yacth

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ander07

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Hi everybody, I hope this the right place to find an aswer to a question that came into my mind recently.

Since I'm not an expert, I would like to have your opinion about the use of a "multimodal" interface in a yacth during navigation or in port.

I try to make myself clear: a "multimodal" device is a system that can be activated and controlled both using traditional buttons or by the user's voice: that means that the user can give voice commands, or press buttons to interact with the system and receive spoken and/or visual/acoustic feedback.

My question is: in your opinion this interaction modality could be useful in ships to manage secondary devices (for obvious reasons not the main controls) and which devices or controls would benefit by the combined use of the voice and traditional buttons?

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Ander07

P.s.: such devices are currently been implemented in the automotive field. Few weeks ago Microsoft announced they are working with Ford to sell things like these:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6240479.stm
 
I think you will need to think very carefully about the voice interface

For example what do you really want the boat to do in response to "SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIT"

Will the computer carry out instructions at a speed proportional to the volume and stress of the skipper's voice - I think it should.

Also voice recognition may be a problem - If computer is made to recognise both you and SWMBO you could end up with a very confused machine.

I like wheels, dials and levers.

Just as an awful afterthought

You are not going to make the boat answer you - please tell me your not.
 
Also will have to work with variable background noises, from the gentle lapping of a force two, the taxi-growl of a Perkins at full chat, the shriek of storm force winds in the rigging, the pathetic mewling of the cabin boy, five blasts from a 30kt container ship, Solent Coastguard-Solent Coastguard-Solent Coastguard; radio check please, the ratcheting of winches, "You do that one more time and you're swimming home".

And then there'd be the "Turn left, I mean port, oh poo hard astern, now turn the wheel the other way. Whoops" moments.

Nah, it'll never catch on.
 
I thought there were quite enough bits capable of going wrong on a yacht already.
Just ask Robin Knox Johnson about electronics on yachts.
 
The ability of software to recognise speech is proportional to the size of the "Dictionary" it needs to recognise.

With a small number of commands it would be OK
 
Let Go! you cry to the crew on the bow line, as you engage drive astern helm hard over to get off the berth

Splash goes the anchor as the boat lets it go

yes a great idea! Just think what fun you could have with a loud hailer operating other boats from "hailing distance"

wouldn't miss it for the world - where are the trials I will bring a picnic and a camcorder. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I'd see speed of repsonse as the main issue. Having voice-activated activity (winches, helm, engine etc) would by definition probably be most beneficial when short-handed in a bit of a tight situation. And then you want things done quickly. But to avoid erros you'd probably need a double-confirmation mechanism e.g. so the system doesn't blow the mainsheet unless you really confirm that's what you need doing. But by which time it's now overdue and causing a different kind of drama. See my point?
 
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