rememberFF/RP talking uo LHSP:PRONOUNCED TECHNOLOGIES LICENSES LERNOUT & HAUSPIE'S AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY FOR AUDIONAV™MOBILE NAVIGATION UNIT
VAN NUYS, California, March 10, 1999 — Pronounced Technologies, the developer of the world's first portable voice-interactive vehicle navigation system, has entered into a licensing agreement with Lernout & Hauspie (L&H™) to incorporate L&H's Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology into the AudioNav™ portable navigation unit.
Pronounced Technologies will integrate L&H's ASR technology into the AudioNav's smart chip, enabling full speaker-independent voice control and operation of the navigation unit. The design of a smart chip with ASR will enable the AudioNav to translate spoken input to text strings.
"L&H's technology is the perfect engine for our AudioNav," said Zaya Younan, president and CEO of Pronounced Technologies. "We have customized their state-of-the-art speaker-independent technology and applied it to a compact and user-friendly navigation system. Our AudioNav marks a major breakthrough in the mobile navigation industry by meeting the consumer's demand for a navigation unit that's portable and affordable."
"We see the automotive industry as a key market for L&H's broad array of speech technology. Speech provides a convenient and safe interface enabling drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road," said Patrick De Schrijver, president of L&H's speech and language technologies and solutions division. "The agreement with Pronounced Technologies and the integration of L&H's speech technology into quality products such as AudioNav strengthens our position in this growing automotive market."
The AudioNav is a navigation unit and portable music disc player that relies on voice commands for navigation operation and music disc player functioning. The portable unit will be the most compact and affordable of its kind. The portable AudioNav and an in-dash navigation system with Global Positioning System (GPS) and a wireless connection will both be available this spring.
Pronounced Technologies is a leading developer and manufacturer of speaker-independent voice-interactive systems, designing the world's first easy-to-use and low-cost voice-interactive mobile navigation system, enhancing the safety and convenience of consumers. The company's management and engineering team focuses on the development of consumer applications for their patented voice-interactive technology.
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