Technicolor Connected Home is integrating Google’s far-field voice technology into its latest generation of set-top boxes.
The feature enables users to change channels and discover content hands free, using the Google Assistant with far-field voice recognition.
It’s the first time that far-field voice recognition has been available within a set-top box. It was previously only available on devices such as soundbars and TVs. The move integrates the management of smart speakers, home security automation and other IoT applications.
“The integration of far-field voice within the set-top box is an exciting evolution in how consumers can manage the growing range of new services emerging in the connected home. The new generation of smart, multi-featured set top boxes introduced by Technicolor Connected Home is increasingly seen by NSPs — and their subscribers — as a natural, central point of technology and service integration. Operators around the world are expressing growing interest in incorporating far-field voice into their CPE, with major commercial deployment announcements expected for this summer,” says Brian Jentz, vice president, video product unit, Technicolor Connected Home.
Far-field speech recognition can recognise and act-on speech in a range between one and ten metres.
“Consumers tend to develop confidence and trust with the devices that they use the most to access the digital services they desire. For millions of consumers around the world, the STB is that device. The partnership with Technicolor Connected Home to provide hands-free voice capabilities with Google Assistant on STBs empowers consumers to search and interact with the content of their choice without the need of a remote,” says Joshua Stults, director for Android TV at Google.
Technicolor Connected Home’s objective is to partner with companies that help it build a connected home ecosystem.
