e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[murgirl]

NeweLong:
High-Tech 'Infotainment'

Officials said Fujitsu Ten and e.Digital have collaborated for several months to develop state-of-the-art, car-based "infotainment" systems integrating digital audio, voice recognition, data storage, video and wireless Internet technologies under the Eclipse brand name.

The voice recognition technology is similar to that developed by e.Digital for a portable digital music player that it introduced in 2001. Rather than scrolling manually through selections, the technology lets users pick folders and titles by speaking out loud.

On the Eclipse system, the voice technology currently controls only the MP3 Changer, but it could eventually be extended to operate complete in-car audio, driver navigation, video and Internet systems.

Getting More Vocal

"We see a lot of other potential products coming from this partnership," Ferguson said.

Vannin Gale, senior marketing manager for the Eclipse brand, said Fujitsu Ten expects the arrangement to yield more voice-activated products for cars.

These would integrate audio systems with interactive video, navigation, e-mail and other functions, Gale said.

Home Connections Coming

According to Jim Collier, e.Digital's chief operating officer, the integration could yield a single voice-activated system that controls the audio equipment in the car as well as the cell phone, the on-board global positioning system (GPS) and video players.

"Technology development will include navigation and control, as well as wireless access and integration with home networks," Collier said.





http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/15711.html