AI
Friday, May 04, 2001 8:19:03 PM
REPOST: HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED- Part Two
INTEL and IBM's V.R. relatioship
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture. Intel's role will be to provide extended-temperature versions of the Pentium processor as well as in-car computing reference platforms.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; were doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Intel and IBM Telematics relationship
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
From the 11/00 interview with Intel's Ron Smith, VP of wireless:
KAREN LAKE: Talk to us about the Internet being accessible from the car and where that's going. Is that in your department?
RON SMITH: Yes, that is actually in my department because by definition if you're going to have access from a car, it needs to be wireless and it is in a wide area network because you're not going to be driving your car inside a building. You're going to be driving your car out on the highway.
This is a real exciting area. There are a lot of new things that are going on here. They have already crafted a name for this called telematics. Don't ask me the origin of that name because I don't know.
KAREN LAKE: Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular, voice and Internet services in vehicles. I interrupted you. Please keep going.
RON SMITH: That's right, it's in vehicles. It started out with these emergency services like OnStar, which is actually a call back, a voice service. But now people want to move toward more information services to bring the same kind of capability, Internet access, the location-based services, and so on, to a vehicle. We are actively engaged in that. In fact, just recently we announced a relationship with IBM with their VisualAge capability to help bring some more of that software interface directly to these kinds of devices. We have a number of things going on with a number of manufacturers. Of course, none of them are public yet so I can't really talk about them.
KAREN LAKE: Is there really any difference in the technology from a car vs. a PDA vs. a cellular phone? Are they all just adaptations of each other?
RON SMITH: They're all just adaptations of each other. You have the same kinds of requirements. You have to be able to maintain the data when the power goes off.
KAREN LAKE: And that's the Flash memory thing.
RON SMITH: Right. So, you need a Flash memory. You want a low power environment with relatively high performance like you'd get with our XScale microarchitecture. In a battery-operated device, it's pretty obviously needed because you can't drain the battery in a car. You don't want to be draining the car battery, but there are a lot more Amp hours, if you will, in a car battery. But if you're going to store it in a dashboard of a car, you have a lot of space constraints. You can't afford to have cooling hardware associated with that because it's going to be packed into a dashboard with all kinds of other things. So it amounts to the same kind of technology requirements.
Smith comments that the technology involving the car (telematics), PDA, and cellular phone are all basically the same was significant. It is my contention the the intel/edig project involves all three areas. In particular, IMO the intel/edig project has been involved in developing prototypes for the three voice-enabled PSA concepts discussed in the VoiceTimes survey on the IBM website- those being:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
While the IBM voice-enabled PDA was first made public early last year, clearly this is something "IBM" has been working on for sometime. In a September 1999 article, David Barnes, IBM's senior product evangelist disclosed that Intel has been working in IBM's labs for more than a year on speech applications.
The article noted that IBM's two biggest speech recognition rivals, Dragon Systems and Lernout & Hauspie, are not only promising more accurate, faster-learning upgrades to their respective desktop packages, NaturallySpeaking and Voice Xpress, but they're also courting traveling professionals who want to dictate letters and documents into a digital recorder and have them automatically transcribed to their PCs.
The next step is to boss around your PDA. Last spring, Philips' Nino 500 became, according to Barnes, one of the first handheld devices to incorporate speech recognition into a palm-size PC. The PDA's Nino Voice software allows spoken command and control, but not dictation.
The article concluded that you can expect to see many more voice-operated mobile devices soon. In April, 1999 a coalition of speech recognition and mobile technology companies--including IBM, Olympus, Philips, and Intel--announced the creation of VoiceTimes, an alliance to set industry standards. "A lot of people are putting a lot of energy into speech recognition," says Michael Laskoff, vice president of marketing for CompUSAnet.com.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1563/9_17/60041570/print.jhtml
Another IBM voice enabled example was demonstrated at
CeBit '98. A concept car called "the Network Vehicle," developed as part of a technology initiative by IBM, Delco Electronics, Netscape, and Sun Microsystems, was demonstrated using a java platform. The development of the network vehicle required the integration of a wide range of technologies from vehicle control networks to multimedia systems and driver/passenger displays. To ask for directions, read a phone number from the Work Pad, dial the cell phone, check on stock quotes, or lock the doors, the driver only needs to issue spoken commands.The network vehicle does the rest.
VoiceTimes results?
In early 2000, IBM began demonstrating a voice enabled PDA.
In February 2000 W.S. "Ozzie" Osborne, general manager of IBM Voice Systems demonstrated a prototype of its Personal Speech Assistant (PSA)/ Personal voice Assistant (PVA)at IBM's Santa Teresa Laboratory in San Jose. Some 2500 research scientists are exploring voice technologies throughout IBM. At this same press briefing, IBM previewed a speech console on the dashboard of a Chrysler that communicates with the driver about the condition of the car.
The PSA/PVA is a snap-on speech recognition base for Palm devices. A prototype contains a speaker, earphone jack, microphone, and -- most importantly -- a coprocessor that provides the necessary computing power to support voice technologies such as speech recognition and text-to-speech. Using IBM's Personal Speech Assistant application, you can navigate through a to-do list, execute several hundred commands, and access your address book. For example, you can say, "Find Bill Smith," and the contact record for Bill Smith opens on-screen.
Dictating a memo is as simple as holding down the record button and speaking into the unit's microphone. The prototype stores audio files in the base's 4MB of flash memory; IBM's compression scheme can contain 30 minutes of audio. The base can also be designed to accommodate removable media such as Compact Flash cards or even a 340MB IBM Microdrive. When you sync the handheld with your desktop PC, IBM's ViaVoice engine on your desktop automatically transcribes the audio clip and uploads the transcript to the handheld. Though not unwieldy, a prototype base adds slightly to the weight and length of an IBM WorkPad unit (running the Palm OS), as demonstrated.
Now, recall FF's 6/99 statement: "Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In early March 2000. IBM again demoed the PSA at the Mobile Insights conference. Here is a short article reporting about this event:
IBM Puts Voice on Palm
IBM announces ViaVoice version for handhelds, non-PC devices (like cars).
Ephraim Schwartz, InfoWorld
Wednesday, March 08, 2000
As mobility moves the market for processing cycles off the desktop and into the palm, IBM Tuesday took a major step in offering a useable interface for devices with limited keyboards. The company announced an embedded version of its ViaVoice speech engine for handhelds and other nontraditional devices.
At the Mobile Insights 2000 conference here, Big Blue demonstrated its speech recognition and text-to-speech technology on a Palm III personal digital assistant. The Personal Speech Assistant prototype shown on stage was attached to the back of a Palm III, similar to other Palm III add-ons. Inside the PSA unit was the Embedded ViaVoice software, optimized for both the Palm OS and an NEC embedded processor.
In the demonstration, billed as only a technology demo, IBM official David Barnes made numerous voice-command and control calls to the unit, which responded by verifying appointments, taking short messages, and translating selected words into Spanish and Japanese.
Barnes reiterated that IBM is not interested in making the hardware but that its speech division will license the embedded speech software development kit to developers working on almost any platform.
The SDK includes recognition for 500 words, enough for most command and control functions, as well as unlimited text-to-speech capability for reading e-mail messages.
As part of the unit, flash memory was used to store longer voice episodes, which according to Barnes could then be hot-synced via the Palm cradle to a desktop that included a full version of ViaVoice. The desktop version would convert the voice .wav files to text and automatically send them back to the Palm.
IBM would not say which hardware vendors may create products, but a number of PDA as well as car manufacturers are interested.
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article.asp?aid=15638
In 3/00 IBM followed up this demonstration with the release of an embedded version of its ViaVoice speech engine for handhelds. Additionally, IBM's embedded ViaVoice will enable other devices, such as cars and telephones themselves, to take voice commands. Recall Ron Smith's comments made 8 months later that the technology used in the car, PDA, and phone are substantially the same.
NEC-aVoiceTimes member
Did you note the reference to a NEC processor above? At first I was bothered by this reference thinking that maybe this is not an intel/edig project. However, I now realize that IBM's PDA, the WorkPad z50 is powered by a NEC MIPS 131 MHz (5) processor, has 16MB RAM standard, (upgradable to 48 MB) and 20MB (6) ROM. It includes an integrated 33.6Kbps (7) modem, serial port, SVGA external port, speaker, microphone and Infrared port for wireless transfer of data between desktop PCs and other mobile devices. IBM Mobile Connect, an IBM pervasive computing application, helps to improve performance by synchronizing Palm OS and Windows CE-based devices directly with corporate networks, moving synchronization from an individual's desktop PC to a company's server. Also, remember that NEC is now also a member of the VoiceTimes alliance.
Additionally, voice recognition software requires more power than an NEC processor provides. Recently, I came across message board posts relating to an NEC laptop:
re NEC MobilePro 790 October 19, 2000
The reason why NEC won't be (apparently) using one of their own processors in the next-generation HPC2000 MobilePro 790 is that the NEC VR processor has a maximum clock speed of 168Mhz.
A quote from a reliable source at NEC ref the new HPC 2000 offering for NEC.
"The new NEC 790 significantly improves on the fine attributes of the NEC 780. New features include 64MB 50 mhz SDRAM, a TFT color screen and magnesium alloy case. Overall dimensions remain generally the same as the NEC 780. Boasting a StrongArm 206 Mhz processor, this is the system to beat in this form factor."
I also recently referred to the possibility of a NEC voice-enabled module for Handspring. While I think this is possible, I think I focused on this do to my recent preoccupation with this area. As I recently posted, the greater liklihood IMO is edig's involvement with a DataPlay module for Handspring. In all liklihood, I could see NEC, as the #3 PDA player behind Palm and Handspring, come out with its own voice enabled PDA. Other interesting possibilities would be a 2nd generation Nino from VoiceTimes member Philips. Philips has licensed IBM's IBM's ViaVoice technology. Lastly, IBM recently announced an alliance with Palm.
IBM VoiceTimes webpage/b
The IBM's VoiceTimes' alliance webpage made a special point of discussing the PVA and survey results taken:
"IBM Voice Systems presented a Technology Concept Demo at Mobile Insights 2000 (MI2000) that featured a voice-enabled IBM WorkPad handheld computer. This concept demo was dubbed the "PVA" (Personal Voice Assistant). The PVA demo was created as a concept demo, designed to demonstrate voice recognition technology in a handheld device. IBM made no promise to announce the PVA as a product, nor did IBM make any guarantee to announce a voice-enabled handheld device in the future.
The PVA demo was voted best of show. The demo showcased award-winning IBM Embedded ViaVoice technology that was used to activate standard PDA tasks such as Address Book, To-do List, Memo, Calendar, etc. Attendee feedback demonstrated that smart handheld devices (SHDs) such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) can be used more effectively when users are able to interact with them using voice commands.
The IBM PVA Demo showcased voice input and Text-To-Speech (TTS) output. It was shown on a lab-built cradle that housed a microphone, speaker, battery and the LRCC (Low Resource Command and Control) IBM ViaVoice Speech Engine. A Palm III or a Palm V could be snapped into the cradle through the onboard serial port. The hardware shown was conceptual in nature and was designed only to demonstrate the function and capabilities of voice-enabling.
Market Research
In order to gain insight into market preferences and requirements for a device like the PVA, VoiceTIMES, with IBM's help, hosted a web-based survey prior to and during the MI2000 Show. The survey captured users' demographic data and asked users for input regarding the features and functions that would make a handheld device more efficient for the user. The highlights of the results are being posted in 'VoiceTIMES' News, supporting the VoiceTIMES objective of furthering the development of voice technology.
Why did VoiceTIMES conduct this survey and how was it conducted?
The speech-enabled IBM WorkPad started as an IBM technology research project that resulted in a working demo. It was believed that this enhancement would be attractive to mobile users, giving them the ability to 'voice-command' the normal Palm application functions in addition to, or instead of, using a stylus. The demo also showcased IBM's leadership and expertise in distributing voice recognition technology to smart handheld devices.
IBM conducted focus group market research in January. There appeared to be interest in a 'voice-enabled' PDA. That market research was shared with VoiceTIMES and VoiceTIMES decided to launch an investigation of voice-enabled handheld devices. The most common concerns were pricing and product life cycle. After the focus groups were conducted, quantitative data was necessary to understand the marketplace for this technology advancement.
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The top four chosen activities were lookups and additions to phone numbers and calendar activities. Translation and web-surfing were the least useful activities studied.
Most participants would prefer to purchase a speech-enabled handheld device from an OEM was the 1st choice, and from e-stores as 2nd choice.
Final Message
Adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology.
Intel's PVA
Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market. Magically, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Veicle Assistant.
from Intel's website:
The PVA Arrives
September 22, 2000
An emerging category of wireless Internet client devices is designed to make the in-vehicle wireless Internet experience feature-rich and easy to use. It is called the Personal Vehicle Assistant, or PVA. Similar to its hand-held PDA counterpart, the PVA is a Web-enabled wireless Internet consumer electronic device with the power to make a wide range of Internet services available anywhere, at any time.
For PVA users, these services can include two-way voice communications, e-mail, personalized news, navigation, traffic data and roadside assistance services, in addition to a wide spectrum of personal productivity and entertainment applications. For ergonomics, the PVA will enable hands-free operation with a basic user interface as simple as a car radio. Entertainment opportunities will enhance the drive-time experience, with MP3 digital audio for drivers and DVD movies for rear seat passengers.
http://www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/pva.htm
Two powerful trends are driving the rapid growth of the Internet. The first of these trends is the expansion of the wireless Internet, with its promise of "anytime, anywhere" connectivity to an ever-wider array of compelling applications for personal communications, information, productivity and entertainment. In his keynote address at the Fall 2000 Intel Developer Forum, Ron Smith, vice president and general manager of Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group, used the term "e-Everywhere" to describe this growing set of consumer expectations.
This trend also involves the convergence of voice, data and multimedia streams over the Internet. With the growing availability of wireless Internet services, consumers are becoming accustomed to voice, data and multimedia communications, e-mail, Web browsing, and mobile commerce (m-Commerce) applications that are always-on and always-connected. Wireless solutions from Intel are helping to make a wide range of services available through easy to use hand-held devices in a host of form factors, ranging from feature-rich cell phones to wireless Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and personal vehicle assistants.
Today there is another powerful trend: the growing availability of wireless Internet services in vehicles. It is called "telematics," the term for the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Just as the PDA makes the wireless Internet available in hand-held devices that can be used away from the desktop, Telematics extends the reach of the wireless Internet, making Internet services available during the periods we spend commuting and traveling by car.
The compelling user experiences provided by the wireless Internet have captured the attention of automobile manufacturers, equipment OEMs and developers, who are working to deliver a range of in-vehicle wireless Internet solutions.
The personal vehicle assistant makes drive-time more productive:
Navigation applications will take the guesswork out of reaching new destinations, while real-time traffic notification systems will help drivers arrive at their destination sooner.
Personalized information services will keep drivers and passengers up to the minute with the latest news, financial and business data.
A new set of "m-Commerce" applications may be used to reserve hotel rooms, purchase event tickets, make restaurant reservations, or even automatically pay highway and bridge tolls.
Emergency services will be available, such as roadside assistance and automatic collision notification systems. In addition, voice-activated communications will keep drivers in touch, all while the driver keeps his or her eyes on the road.
Entertainment opportunities will enhance the drive-time experience, with MP3 digital audio for drivers and DVD movies for rear seat passengers.
Intel's Role
Intel has made a major commitment to the expansion of the wireless Internet, including technologies and industry investments that support innovative personal vehicle assistant product development. Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group is working to develop and enhance the wireless Internet experience for end users.
One way to enhance personal vehicle assistant capabilities is through higher integration and lower total system cost. To meet these goals, Intel has made technology investments in the areas of signal processing, baseband, control and application processing, as well as power and memory management. [Clearly, one area that intel and edig are playing a role is with Motorola and IBM's development of the MobileGT architecture and the integration of a reasonably cost effective telematics solution.]
Recall that in part one I linked IBM's Visual Age java being used in the Mobile GT telematics solution to Intel's new XScale architecture. Intel recently specifically announced the XScale Microarchitecture is ideal for Personal Vehicle Assistants. "Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture is the ideal microprocessor core design solution for personal vehicle assistants. This will enhance the automotive wireless Internet experience with high performance, scalability, and ultra-low power consumption.
High Performance The Intel XScale microarchitecture delivers industry leading mW/MIPS performance, based on Intel's 0.18 micron semiconductor process technology. It delivers the processing power required for high-performance Telematics applications including 3D navigation systems and multimedia."
In short, Intel and IBM have developed a telematics platform solution which clearly includes VR applications sounding very much like the intel-edig vtt project. Additionally, the voice-enabled PALM snap-on module described in detail on the IBM VoiceTimes webpage sounds like further prototypes related to the intel-edigital project. In fact, here is a direct reply from IBM regarding the VoiceTimes Alliance:
The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create
open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES
is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used
to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA.
Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access
devices.
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
INTEL and IBM's V.R. relatioship
At the same time IBM and Motorola announced its telematics relationship, so did IBM and Intel; Motorola said it would support the IBM/Intel work. On 1/25/00 Intel and IBM announced they are collaborating on in-car computing products that will enable automakers to provide wireless and Web-based services such as navigation, communication, and information. IBM will provide its Pervasive Computing software, which is a suite of advanced software for managing the in-vehicle information systems. The software suite includes IBM's VisualAge MicroEdition, which incorporates embedded Java, as well as voice-recognition and text-to-speech functions. This software is used, along with interfaces to the vehicle, to communicate information to the driver and the outside world via the Internet. The companies said Motorola Inc. will also support the venture. Intel's role will be to provide extended-temperature versions of the Pentium processor as well as in-car computing reference platforms.
IBM and Intel officials said the partnership won't compete with carmakers or auto suppliers developing technology to create Web-enabled vehicles. In fact, they're potential customers. "Automakers and their suppliers are our partners," said Walt Davison, IBM's marketing executive for the automotive industry. "We're not competing with them; were doing what we do best to help them do what they do best." IBM expects automakers to start offering vehicles with in-car computing systems next year. "The earliest consumers will see vehicles with in-car computing systems on the road will be in 18 months," Desai said.
http://detnews.com/2000/technology/0002/10/02100040.htm
IBM claims: Automotive pervasive computing is a reality -- where people use ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech software to interact with their automobiles the same way that they interact with their computers. IBM is working with automobile manufacturers so that drivers can run diagnostics from the road, search the Internet for a stock price and even make a service appointment with the manufacturer simply by speaking to their e-mail.
In July 2000, IBM announced that engineers and developers can now deploy connected Java language-based solutions across a wider array of embedded targets using IBM's VisualAge Micro Edition tools, class libraries and virtual machines. While VisualAge Micro Edition remains optimized for QNX's Neutrino real-time operating system, IBM has also added support for the iTRON industrial real time operating system and Microsoft Windows CE in response to customer requests.
"Engineering decisions in the connected post-PC world must focus on customer choice. From the start, IBM designed and built VisualAge Micro Edition for portability and compatibility with published specifications," said Skip McGaughey, IBM director of embedded systems sales and marketing. "As our customers have approached us for new CPU, RTOS and development platform support, we have responded quickly, thanks to our investment in innovation and advanced technology."
Pervasive computing projects will require client and server components that run on multiple embedded targets.
Support for the ARM processor architectures is now included in VisualAge Micro Edition. This includes StrongARM SA-110 and SA-1110 processors and development reference boards from Intel.
On 10/16/00, Intel announced plans to collaborate with IBM* to deliver a non-proprietary, standards-based in-car client platform for the expanding Telematics market segment. This collaboration will speed up the delivery of a complete set of Telematics client reference kits supporting the Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture. These kits will enable developers and original equipment manufacturers to reduce their time to market and create leading-edge wireless applications. IBM's popular VisualAge® Micro Edition Java™ application development tools and deployment technologies allow developers to quickly and easily leverage existing applications for e-Business.
Intel and IBM Telematics relationship
Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Examples of in-car computing devices and services include navigation systems, emergency roadside assistance, and an array of entertainment applications and services.
Intel's support of IBM's embedded Java application development environment, Java class libraries and the J9 virtual machine for Intel's Xscale microarchitecture reference platforms provides Telematics developers and OEMs with a highly portable and reusable platform. "We are pleased to provide the burgeoning Telematics application development industry and OEMs with what are arguably the strongest wireless building blocks in the industry," said Pat Kerrigan, marketing manager at Intel's In-Car Computing Operation.
"Automotive computing is an important and growing market segment that both Intel and IBM serve with advanced technology and products," said Skip McGaughey, director of marketing and sales for IBM's OTI embedded system group. "With this announcement, IBM takes the important step to broaden VisualAge Micro Edition to embrace Intel's Xscale microarchitecture. www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/converge.htm.
From the 11/00 interview with Intel's Ron Smith, VP of wireless:
KAREN LAKE: Talk to us about the Internet being accessible from the car and where that's going. Is that in your department?
RON SMITH: Yes, that is actually in my department because by definition if you're going to have access from a car, it needs to be wireless and it is in a wide area network because you're not going to be driving your car inside a building. You're going to be driving your car out on the highway.
This is a real exciting area. There are a lot of new things that are going on here. They have already crafted a name for this called telematics. Don't ask me the origin of that name because I don't know.
KAREN LAKE: Telematics is the market segment that includes cellular, voice and Internet services in vehicles. I interrupted you. Please keep going.
RON SMITH: That's right, it's in vehicles. It started out with these emergency services like OnStar, which is actually a call back, a voice service. But now people want to move toward more information services to bring the same kind of capability, Internet access, the location-based services, and so on, to a vehicle. We are actively engaged in that. In fact, just recently we announced a relationship with IBM with their VisualAge capability to help bring some more of that software interface directly to these kinds of devices. We have a number of things going on with a number of manufacturers. Of course, none of them are public yet so I can't really talk about them.
KAREN LAKE: Is there really any difference in the technology from a car vs. a PDA vs. a cellular phone? Are they all just adaptations of each other?
RON SMITH: They're all just adaptations of each other. You have the same kinds of requirements. You have to be able to maintain the data when the power goes off.
KAREN LAKE: And that's the Flash memory thing.
RON SMITH: Right. So, you need a Flash memory. You want a low power environment with relatively high performance like you'd get with our XScale microarchitecture. In a battery-operated device, it's pretty obviously needed because you can't drain the battery in a car. You don't want to be draining the car battery, but there are a lot more Amp hours, if you will, in a car battery. But if you're going to store it in a dashboard of a car, you have a lot of space constraints. You can't afford to have cooling hardware associated with that because it's going to be packed into a dashboard with all kinds of other things. So it amounts to the same kind of technology requirements.
Smith comments that the technology involving the car (telematics), PDA, and cellular phone are all basically the same was significant. It is my contention the the intel/edig project involves all three areas. In particular, IMO the intel/edig project has been involved in developing prototypes for the three voice-enabled PSA concepts discussed in the VoiceTimes survey on the IBM website- those being:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
While the IBM voice-enabled PDA was first made public early last year, clearly this is something "IBM" has been working on for sometime. In a September 1999 article, David Barnes, IBM's senior product evangelist disclosed that Intel has been working in IBM's labs for more than a year on speech applications.
The article noted that IBM's two biggest speech recognition rivals, Dragon Systems and Lernout & Hauspie, are not only promising more accurate, faster-learning upgrades to their respective desktop packages, NaturallySpeaking and Voice Xpress, but they're also courting traveling professionals who want to dictate letters and documents into a digital recorder and have them automatically transcribed to their PCs.
The next step is to boss around your PDA. Last spring, Philips' Nino 500 became, according to Barnes, one of the first handheld devices to incorporate speech recognition into a palm-size PC. The PDA's Nino Voice software allows spoken command and control, but not dictation.
The article concluded that you can expect to see many more voice-operated mobile devices soon. In April, 1999 a coalition of speech recognition and mobile technology companies--including IBM, Olympus, Philips, and Intel--announced the creation of VoiceTimes, an alliance to set industry standards. "A lot of people are putting a lot of energy into speech recognition," says Michael Laskoff, vice president of marketing for CompUSAnet.com.
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1563/9_17/60041570/print.jhtml
Another IBM voice enabled example was demonstrated at
CeBit '98. A concept car called "the Network Vehicle," developed as part of a technology initiative by IBM, Delco Electronics, Netscape, and Sun Microsystems, was demonstrated using a java platform. The development of the network vehicle required the integration of a wide range of technologies from vehicle control networks to multimedia systems and driver/passenger displays. To ask for directions, read a phone number from the Work Pad, dial the cell phone, check on stock quotes, or lock the doors, the driver only needs to issue spoken commands.The network vehicle does the rest.
VoiceTimes results?
In early 2000, IBM began demonstrating a voice enabled PDA.
In February 2000 W.S. "Ozzie" Osborne, general manager of IBM Voice Systems demonstrated a prototype of its Personal Speech Assistant (PSA)/ Personal voice Assistant (PVA)at IBM's Santa Teresa Laboratory in San Jose. Some 2500 research scientists are exploring voice technologies throughout IBM. At this same press briefing, IBM previewed a speech console on the dashboard of a Chrysler that communicates with the driver about the condition of the car.
The PSA/PVA is a snap-on speech recognition base for Palm devices. A prototype contains a speaker, earphone jack, microphone, and -- most importantly -- a coprocessor that provides the necessary computing power to support voice technologies such as speech recognition and text-to-speech. Using IBM's Personal Speech Assistant application, you can navigate through a to-do list, execute several hundred commands, and access your address book. For example, you can say, "Find Bill Smith," and the contact record for Bill Smith opens on-screen.
Dictating a memo is as simple as holding down the record button and speaking into the unit's microphone. The prototype stores audio files in the base's 4MB of flash memory; IBM's compression scheme can contain 30 minutes of audio. The base can also be designed to accommodate removable media such as Compact Flash cards or even a 340MB IBM Microdrive. When you sync the handheld with your desktop PC, IBM's ViaVoice engine on your desktop automatically transcribes the audio clip and uploads the transcript to the handheld. Though not unwieldy, a prototype base adds slightly to the weight and length of an IBM WorkPad unit (running the Palm OS), as demonstrated.
Now, recall FF's 6/99 statement: "Our Intel product design will also be an important technical achievement for our team. A number of prototypes are being developed to Intel's specifications; they include PC downloading capabilities and can interact with third-party software that performs voice-to-text functions and text-to-voice functions. The integration of these functions with convenient hand-held devices is proving to be a rapid growth area for both business and personal use.
In early March 2000. IBM again demoed the PSA at the Mobile Insights conference. Here is a short article reporting about this event:
IBM Puts Voice on Palm
IBM announces ViaVoice version for handhelds, non-PC devices (like cars).
Ephraim Schwartz, InfoWorld
Wednesday, March 08, 2000
As mobility moves the market for processing cycles off the desktop and into the palm, IBM Tuesday took a major step in offering a useable interface for devices with limited keyboards. The company announced an embedded version of its ViaVoice speech engine for handhelds and other nontraditional devices.
At the Mobile Insights 2000 conference here, Big Blue demonstrated its speech recognition and text-to-speech technology on a Palm III personal digital assistant. The Personal Speech Assistant prototype shown on stage was attached to the back of a Palm III, similar to other Palm III add-ons. Inside the PSA unit was the Embedded ViaVoice software, optimized for both the Palm OS and an NEC embedded processor.
In the demonstration, billed as only a technology demo, IBM official David Barnes made numerous voice-command and control calls to the unit, which responded by verifying appointments, taking short messages, and translating selected words into Spanish and Japanese.
Barnes reiterated that IBM is not interested in making the hardware but that its speech division will license the embedded speech software development kit to developers working on almost any platform.
The SDK includes recognition for 500 words, enough for most command and control functions, as well as unlimited text-to-speech capability for reading e-mail messages.
As part of the unit, flash memory was used to store longer voice episodes, which according to Barnes could then be hot-synced via the Palm cradle to a desktop that included a full version of ViaVoice. The desktop version would convert the voice .wav files to text and automatically send them back to the Palm.
IBM would not say which hardware vendors may create products, but a number of PDA as well as car manufacturers are interested.
http://www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article.asp?aid=15638
In 3/00 IBM followed up this demonstration with the release of an embedded version of its ViaVoice speech engine for handhelds. Additionally, IBM's embedded ViaVoice will enable other devices, such as cars and telephones themselves, to take voice commands. Recall Ron Smith's comments made 8 months later that the technology used in the car, PDA, and phone are substantially the same.
NEC-aVoiceTimes member
Did you note the reference to a NEC processor above? At first I was bothered by this reference thinking that maybe this is not an intel/edig project. However, I now realize that IBM's PDA, the WorkPad z50 is powered by a NEC MIPS 131 MHz (5) processor, has 16MB RAM standard, (upgradable to 48 MB) and 20MB (6) ROM. It includes an integrated 33.6Kbps (7) modem, serial port, SVGA external port, speaker, microphone and Infrared port for wireless transfer of data between desktop PCs and other mobile devices. IBM Mobile Connect, an IBM pervasive computing application, helps to improve performance by synchronizing Palm OS and Windows CE-based devices directly with corporate networks, moving synchronization from an individual's desktop PC to a company's server. Also, remember that NEC is now also a member of the VoiceTimes alliance.
Additionally, voice recognition software requires more power than an NEC processor provides. Recently, I came across message board posts relating to an NEC laptop:
re NEC MobilePro 790 October 19, 2000
The reason why NEC won't be (apparently) using one of their own processors in the next-generation HPC2000 MobilePro 790 is that the NEC VR processor has a maximum clock speed of 168Mhz.
A quote from a reliable source at NEC ref the new HPC 2000 offering for NEC.
"The new NEC 790 significantly improves on the fine attributes of the NEC 780. New features include 64MB 50 mhz SDRAM, a TFT color screen and magnesium alloy case. Overall dimensions remain generally the same as the NEC 780. Boasting a StrongArm 206 Mhz processor, this is the system to beat in this form factor."
I also recently referred to the possibility of a NEC voice-enabled module for Handspring. While I think this is possible, I think I focused on this do to my recent preoccupation with this area. As I recently posted, the greater liklihood IMO is edig's involvement with a DataPlay module for Handspring. In all liklihood, I could see NEC, as the #3 PDA player behind Palm and Handspring, come out with its own voice enabled PDA. Other interesting possibilities would be a 2nd generation Nino from VoiceTimes member Philips. Philips has licensed IBM's IBM's ViaVoice technology. Lastly, IBM recently announced an alliance with Palm.
IBM VoiceTimes webpage/b
The IBM's VoiceTimes' alliance webpage made a special point of discussing the PVA and survey results taken:
"IBM Voice Systems presented a Technology Concept Demo at Mobile Insights 2000 (MI2000) that featured a voice-enabled IBM WorkPad handheld computer. This concept demo was dubbed the "PVA" (Personal Voice Assistant). The PVA demo was created as a concept demo, designed to demonstrate voice recognition technology in a handheld device. IBM made no promise to announce the PVA as a product, nor did IBM make any guarantee to announce a voice-enabled handheld device in the future.
The PVA demo was voted best of show. The demo showcased award-winning IBM Embedded ViaVoice technology that was used to activate standard PDA tasks such as Address Book, To-do List, Memo, Calendar, etc. Attendee feedback demonstrated that smart handheld devices (SHDs) such as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) can be used more effectively when users are able to interact with them using voice commands.
The IBM PVA Demo showcased voice input and Text-To-Speech (TTS) output. It was shown on a lab-built cradle that housed a microphone, speaker, battery and the LRCC (Low Resource Command and Control) IBM ViaVoice Speech Engine. A Palm III or a Palm V could be snapped into the cradle through the onboard serial port. The hardware shown was conceptual in nature and was designed only to demonstrate the function and capabilities of voice-enabling.
Market Research
In order to gain insight into market preferences and requirements for a device like the PVA, VoiceTIMES, with IBM's help, hosted a web-based survey prior to and during the MI2000 Show. The survey captured users' demographic data and asked users for input regarding the features and functions that would make a handheld device more efficient for the user. The highlights of the results are being posted in 'VoiceTIMES' News, supporting the VoiceTIMES objective of furthering the development of voice technology.
Why did VoiceTIMES conduct this survey and how was it conducted?
The speech-enabled IBM WorkPad started as an IBM technology research project that resulted in a working demo. It was believed that this enhancement would be attractive to mobile users, giving them the ability to 'voice-command' the normal Palm application functions in addition to, or instead of, using a stylus. The demo also showcased IBM's leadership and expertise in distributing voice recognition technology to smart handheld devices.
IBM conducted focus group market research in January. There appeared to be interest in a 'voice-enabled' PDA. That market research was shared with VoiceTIMES and VoiceTIMES decided to launch an investigation of voice-enabled handheld devices. The most common concerns were pricing and product life cycle. After the focus groups were conducted, quantitative data was necessary to understand the marketplace for this technology advancement.
Selected Survey Results
Three 'Concepts' were discussed:
1]an 'Add-on' device to a current PDA (i.e., Palm III or Palm V),
2]an 'embedded' version that had the speech technology built-in to the device,
3]a smartphone with onboard PDA-type functions.
Immediate access to information was PVA/PDA enthusiasts' leading desire for voice-activated usage, while 'being able to contact others' was the leading desire for smartphone users. Most participants agreed that 'hands-free'/'eyes-free' operation was the feature that they found most important. The top four chosen activities were lookups and additions to phone numbers and calendar activities. Translation and web-surfing were the least useful activities studied.
Most participants would prefer to purchase a speech-enabled handheld device from an OEM was the 1st choice, and from e-stores as 2nd choice.
Final Message
Adding voice to PDAs and Smartphones is the next 'natural' step for enhancing smart handheld devices, and it supports the VoiceTIMES vision to expand Voice Technology.
Intel's PVA
Clearly the "hands-free/eyes-free" killer application is best designed for the telematics market. Magically, a few months later Intel announces its own PVA- Personal Veicle Assistant.
from Intel's website:
The PVA Arrives
September 22, 2000
An emerging category of wireless Internet client devices is designed to make the in-vehicle wireless Internet experience feature-rich and easy to use. It is called the Personal Vehicle Assistant, or PVA. Similar to its hand-held PDA counterpart, the PVA is a Web-enabled wireless Internet consumer electronic device with the power to make a wide range of Internet services available anywhere, at any time.
For PVA users, these services can include two-way voice communications, e-mail, personalized news, navigation, traffic data and roadside assistance services, in addition to a wide spectrum of personal productivity and entertainment applications. For ergonomics, the PVA will enable hands-free operation with a basic user interface as simple as a car radio. Entertainment opportunities will enhance the drive-time experience, with MP3 digital audio for drivers and DVD movies for rear seat passengers.
http://www.intel.com/design/wireless/telematics/pva.htm
Two powerful trends are driving the rapid growth of the Internet. The first of these trends is the expansion of the wireless Internet, with its promise of "anytime, anywhere" connectivity to an ever-wider array of compelling applications for personal communications, information, productivity and entertainment. In his keynote address at the Fall 2000 Intel Developer Forum, Ron Smith, vice president and general manager of Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group, used the term "e-Everywhere" to describe this growing set of consumer expectations.
This trend also involves the convergence of voice, data and multimedia streams over the Internet. With the growing availability of wireless Internet services, consumers are becoming accustomed to voice, data and multimedia communications, e-mail, Web browsing, and mobile commerce (m-Commerce) applications that are always-on and always-connected. Wireless solutions from Intel are helping to make a wide range of services available through easy to use hand-held devices in a host of form factors, ranging from feature-rich cell phones to wireless Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and personal vehicle assistants.
Today there is another powerful trend: the growing availability of wireless Internet services in vehicles. It is called "telematics," the term for the market segment that includes cellular voice and Internet services in vehicles. Just as the PDA makes the wireless Internet available in hand-held devices that can be used away from the desktop, Telematics extends the reach of the wireless Internet, making Internet services available during the periods we spend commuting and traveling by car.
The compelling user experiences provided by the wireless Internet have captured the attention of automobile manufacturers, equipment OEMs and developers, who are working to deliver a range of in-vehicle wireless Internet solutions.
The personal vehicle assistant makes drive-time more productive:
Navigation applications will take the guesswork out of reaching new destinations, while real-time traffic notification systems will help drivers arrive at their destination sooner.
Personalized information services will keep drivers and passengers up to the minute with the latest news, financial and business data.
A new set of "m-Commerce" applications may be used to reserve hotel rooms, purchase event tickets, make restaurant reservations, or even automatically pay highway and bridge tolls.
Emergency services will be available, such as roadside assistance and automatic collision notification systems. In addition, voice-activated communications will keep drivers in touch, all while the driver keeps his or her eyes on the road.
Entertainment opportunities will enhance the drive-time experience, with MP3 digital audio for drivers and DVD movies for rear seat passengers.
Intel's Role
Intel has made a major commitment to the expansion of the wireless Internet, including technologies and industry investments that support innovative personal vehicle assistant product development. Intel's Wireless Communications and Computing Group is working to develop and enhance the wireless Internet experience for end users.
One way to enhance personal vehicle assistant capabilities is through higher integration and lower total system cost. To meet these goals, Intel has made technology investments in the areas of signal processing, baseband, control and application processing, as well as power and memory management. [Clearly, one area that intel and edig are playing a role is with Motorola and IBM's development of the MobileGT architecture and the integration of a reasonably cost effective telematics solution.]
Recall that in part one I linked IBM's Visual Age java being used in the Mobile GT telematics solution to Intel's new XScale architecture. Intel recently specifically announced the XScale Microarchitecture is ideal for Personal Vehicle Assistants. "Designed for ultra-low power and high performance, Intel® XScale™ microarchitecture is the ideal microprocessor core design solution for personal vehicle assistants. This will enhance the automotive wireless Internet experience with high performance, scalability, and ultra-low power consumption.
High Performance The Intel XScale microarchitecture delivers industry leading mW/MIPS performance, based on Intel's 0.18 micron semiconductor process technology. It delivers the processing power required for high-performance Telematics applications including 3D navigation systems and multimedia."
In short, Intel and IBM have developed a telematics platform solution which clearly includes VR applications sounding very much like the intel-edig vtt project. Additionally, the voice-enabled PALM snap-on module described in detail on the IBM VoiceTimes webpage sounds like further prototypes related to the intel-edigital project. In fact, here is a direct reply from IBM regarding the VoiceTimes Alliance:
The products we announced can and will use VoiceTIMES
specification verified devices. VoiceTIMES is the initiative to create
open specifications for mobile devices. The specifications that VoiceTIMES
is currently working on and will be working on in the future will be used
to access the mobile Internet through our software.
Perfect examples are our voice-enabled automotive solution and the PVA.
Both solutions use the VoiceTIMES specification for their internet access
devices.
Tom Houy
Manager, Client Systems Marketing
IBM Speech Systems
1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
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