Say “goodbye” to saying “hello”
Sprint Nextel is ending its Voice Command service, which allowed users to store numbers and say names to dial them. Is this a tragedy? Not really, but like Hamlet, it is marginally interesting. Voice Command was a network-based service; that is, the names, numbers, and matching voice files were stored on Sprint’s network. Now that so many wireless handsets have voice dialing, the network service isn’t that useful (or billable), but the network cost of maintaining it was probably as high as it ever was.
So chalk this up as another salvo in the endless battle between network/shared resources and those feasible in every pocket.
Sprint discontinuing Voice Command on July 1st - Engadget Mobile
Android deserves augmented reality
Android, Google’s mobile development platform, has attracted a really useful app. Enkin takes your location, camera input, and other info, and renders a customized meaningful overlay: where your car is in the lot, where the nearest noodle shop is, etc. This kind of personal guidance would be tremendously valuable for those with cognitive disabilities, permitting independent living and travel. Add audio output and you have a wayfinding device for blind users.
Apple iPhone to support video chat?
More iPhone rumor mongering … Will the next generation iPhone from Apple have 2 cameras, one facing out and one facing the user? Will its 3G capabilities allow video chat? If so, stand by for exciting sign language video, direct and via relay service and remote video interpreting.
AppleInsider | Rumor: Digg founder claims 3G iPhone to do video chat
Talk back to your Blackberry
We’ve covered Jott ever since it was a wee app. Now it’s got a beta for RIM Blackberry that lets you reply to emails by voice; Jott does the speech-to-text transcription. Neat trick, and perfect for people with typing trouble of all sorts.
Jott: Jott Beta for Blackberry Lets You Reply to Email by Voice
Internet, almost no interface
The Question Box provides Internet-based information through a live agent. The user just presses a button on the box, which connects via intercom to the computer-equipped agent, who may be in another town. The user asks a question, the agent does a search, and reads back the result. Designed for communities without computers or connectivity, the Question Box certainly has a forgiving, low-demand interface.
Question Box: the Internet for remote places, no literacy or keyboards required - Boing Boing
Told ya so: Mobile phone photos rescue lost hikers
We’ve been talking for years about using camera phones to help people navigate better; the first recorded example just happened, out in the wilderness. The hikers got disoriented, snapped their environs, and sent the photos to the park rangers. The rangers identified one of the peaks and used mapping software to narrow down where the hikers were. Now, let’s roll this out to all those who could benefit from it because of visual or cognitive impairments.
Dial “M” for Memory
A new free-for-now service called reQall lets you dial a toll-free number and leave a to-do message for yourself (such as “Investigate why we’re running out of letter ‘u’ to follow ‘q’”). Their technology transcribes the message and send it to you by email SMS, RSS, NASS (Native American Smoke Signal), either one at a time or as part of a daily agenda. Fast, flexible, and mostly accurate. Great for people who need reminders, and those who can’t use visual to-do lists.