Is 2012 the Year for Voice Control?
By Julie Jacobson
There’s nothing funny about voice control technology anymore. So stop referencing 2001: A Space Odyssey and start implementing it.

Few aspects of “smart home” technology have been lampooned as much as voice control. Consumers who think they’re really hip still love to cite, “Open the pod bay doors, HAL.” Very clever, like all those stale references to the Jetsons.

More recently, voice recognition has been famously skewered by Howard Stern and the sitcom The Big Bang Theory.



In the real world, though, it’s not that funny anymore. Why? Because we’re so used to barking orders at our cell phone to “dial so-and-so” or “play such-and-such.” And we think nothing of people wandering around seemingly talking to themselves instead of a phone friend through a nearly invisible ear bud.

It’s hardly laughable anymore when we ask our friendly GPS for directions to the nearest McDonald’s, even when we have to clarify (i.e., scream) “McDONALDS!” a few times.

Voice control is gradually losing its stigma - just like driving ugly, wimpy energy-efficient cars. It’s becoming an acceptable and downright laudable behavior.

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