Linguatronic: Product-Level Speech System for Mercedes-Benz Car

2. LINGUATRONIC In the S-Class car of 1996, Mercedes-Benz introduced the first generation of Linguatronic. Linguatronic is the brand name used in Europe of a speech dialogue system that allows completely hands-free operation of the car’s mobile phone, including number dialing (with connected digit dialog), number storing, userdefined telephone directory entry name, name dialing, and directory editing. Linguatronic I has a vocabulary of about 30 speaker-independent words (digits and control words). The second version has a vocabulary of about 300 words, and, in addition, allows for operation of comfort electronics (radio, CDplayer/changer, air condition etc). The system is now available for German, US English, UK English, Italian, Spanish, French and Swiss-German. Japanese and Dutch are currently under development. 3. ORGANIZATION The basic algorithms incorporated in Linguatronic are developed by the Speech Understanding group of DaimlerChrysler Research and Technology in Ulm, Germany. These algorithms then are taken up by the Speech Processing Division of DaimlerChrysler’s TEMIC business unit and put into products. These products are first marketed exclusively to the Mercedes-Benz premium brand of DaimlerChrysler, but in time, they are available to other brands and manufacturers as well. This reflects the Mercedes-Benz philosophy that safety-enhancing technology should be deployed by everybody. Thus, the speech technology from Temic is currently also available in BMW’s and Audi’s, with other car makers and suppliers to follow shortly with their top products..