| Give your thumbs a well-deserved rest, without | | | | commands. However with Vlingo on the scene, |
| having to worry about your productivity suffering | | | | nothing could be further from the truth. |
| for it, for smartphones just got smarter. | | | | As it turns out, users of the new Vlingo |
| On June 25, a Cambridge company that's been | | | | speech-recognition software will be pleasantly |
| working on developing speech-recognition | | | | surprised (maybe amazed even) to discover that |
| software for mobile devices unveiled an application | | | | they need not change how they speak or what |
| for RIM BlackBerry smartphones, making it the | | | | they are saying to control their smartphone's |
| first company and the first mobile device to | | | | operations with their voice. That's the whole point |
| deliver a completely voice-powered interface. | | | | of Vlingo's efforts - to make smartphones |
| Vlingo Corp's new BlackBerry app allows users to | | | | capable of understanding the human voice and |
| send text messages and emails, surf the internet, | | | | human speech, the way people actually talk, what |
| open applications on their devices (such as | | | | they say and how they say it. |
| BlackBerry Maps and BlackBerry Calendar), search | | | | And of course, users can also integrate voice and |
| and browse contacts, dial phone calls, and send | | | | typing controls into their use of their devices, |
| themselves memos - all using thei power of their | | | | without having to give up one for the other. This |
| own voice. | | | | is especially useful when performing operations |
| This last utility - sending oneself voice memos - is | | | | that may simply work better with the soon-to-be |
| provided in a novel (and long-awaited) new | | | | archaic power of touch. |
| feature called Note2Self. | | | | The Vlingo speech-recognition application for |
| This progressive new development in | | | | BlackBerry's will be made available free of charge, |
| telecommunications technology will no doubt make | | | | though wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon, |
| it easier, quicker, and safer for people on-the-go | | | | Sprint, etc.) may decide to charge fees of their |
| to get their work done anywhere they go, | | | | own for using the service. |
| without having to focus all of their attention | | | | Vlingo's entry into the voice-recognition arena |
| squinting at their tiny screens and fumbling with | | | | started with a similar product developed for use in |
| their awkward keyboards. Voice-recognition | | | | the oneSearch mobile portal provided by Yahoo! |
| technology promises to make smartphone usage | | | | Currently, the new app for BlackBerries supports |
| more efficient and economical. | | | | only the latest models - the BlackBerry Curve, |
| Skeptics about voice-recognition technology might | | | | the BlackBerry Pearl, and the BlackBerry 8800 |
| decry that the software will no doubt require | | | | series. Vlingo has also announced that they are in |
| people to alter the way they speak to make sure | | | | the process of developing voice-recognition |
| their devices understand them and learn and | | | | applications for Windows Mobile smartphones, the |
| memorize a whole new "vocabulary" - a verbal | | | | Apple iPhone, and Google's upcoming Android OS. |
| shorthand of sorts for controlling the various | | | | |