Amazon plans to let Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices record before wake word
A newly-revealed patent application from Amazon shows that the e-commerce giant is planning to let Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices to record what is said even before a wake word, like "Alexa".
A newly-revealed patent application from Amazon shows that the e-commerce giant is planning to let Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices to record what is said even before a wake word, like "Alexa". Currently, Alexa-enabled devices do not understand commands when the wake word is spoken in the middle or end of the sentence.
With this patent, the company clearly seems to be looking for ways to expand the capabilities of its voice recognition technology, BuzzFeed News reported on Friday. If implemented, the feature could let devices respond on commands with the wake word in the middle or at the end of the command.
"While such phrasings may be natural for a user, current speech processing systems are not configured to handle commands that are not preceded by a wake word. Offered is a system to correct this problem," as per Kurt Wesley Piersol and Gabriel Beddingfield, who developed the patent.
According to the patent application, after a wake word is detected, Alexa may "look backwards" to determine if the command came before the wake word, and use pauses in speech to identify the beginning of the command. However, if approved, this technology could arise several security concerns among users. According to an Amazon spokesperson, the company files several patents that are not ultimately implemented into consumer-facing products.
"The technology in this patent is not in use, and referring to the potential use of patents is highly speculative," the report quoted the spokesperson as saying. The patent revelation comes just weeks after some US Senators and a group of 19 consumers and public health advocates accused Amazon of recording and saving conversations that take place around its smart speakers, urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the case.
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Gold and Silver rate today (May 14, 2024): Precious metals trade in green; yellow metal above Rs 72,000 once again, white metal near Rs 85,350
RCB vs CSK IPL 2024 Ticket Booking Online: Where and how to buy RCB vs CSK tickets online - Check IPL Match 68 ticket price, other details
SIP Returns: How Rs 3,000, 5,000, and Rs 10,000 SIPs can help you build retirement corpus of Rs 1.06 cr, Rs 1.77 cr, and Rs 3.53 cr
Women loco pilots speak about their struggle; many men have to be informed even for 'washroom break' in a moving train
Bandhan Bank Q4 FY24 Results Preview: PAT, interest income likely to grow in almost double digits; asset quality may improve
Gold and Silver rate today (May 16, 2024): Yellow metal futures subdued; white metal hits record high breaches Rs 87,000 mark
07:13 AM IST