Speech applications forecast to triple

As individuals around the world become more accustomed to using mobile computing devices, the market for speech recognition is expected to grow quickly within the next five years.

In the report The Proliferation of Innovative Speech Applications in Mobile Computing, independent market analyst Datamonitor predicts the global market for advanced speech recognition (ASR) in mobile handsets will increase from $39m in 2009 to $120m in 2014.

The market for ASR in-vehicle telematics is expected to grow at a similar rate, from $77m in 2009 to $250m by 2014.

Speech applications in mobile computing typically enable the user to vocally control the device’s functionality - a feature known as command and control. Other common applications include voice dialling and voice search, in which a search engine can be controlled by voice and voice input, in which the user verbally inputs data into the device.

Hands-free laws are being implemented around the world, restricting the use of mobile devices while operating vehicles. Countries as diverse as Australia, Britain, Chile and the Philippines, among others, have enacted legislation prohibiting heavy interactions of mobile handsets while driving.

Fifteen states in the US restrict handset use while driving, while allowing for the use of hands-free systems.

Vendors have been pushing command and control and SMS transcription applications to alleviate these issues.

Providers of in-vehicle telematics, which are entertainment or navigation systems factory installed in cars, use a combination of ASR and text-to-speech (TTS) technologies. Common functions include address input, music playlist management and address readout.

“Traditionally, the personal navigation device (PND) has been a strong contender for speech applications,” said Datamonitor associate analyst Ryan Joe, the report’s author. He said that the expected reduction of speech applications in PNDs is symptomatic of the flagging popularity of the device and attributes this decline to a number of factors.

“The global recession has caused an overall decrease in consumer spending,” he said. “Additionally, we have to consider that the proliferation of GPS applications in mobile handsets and the fact that factory-installed telematics are becoming standard features in motor vehicles are disruptive to PNDs. In short, PNDs no longer own the in-vehicle navigation market.”

Currently, most speech applications use embedded ASR - that is, speech recognition integrated directly into the device itself. However, there has been an increased number of applications that use networked-based ASR to improve recognition rates and to speech-enable internet searches.

Datamonitor notes that the advent of application stores, such as the one associated with Apple’s iPhone, offers a viable channel-to-market for smaller providers of speech applications and increased visibility for speech applications.

Mobile applications in the future are likely to use a hybrid of embedded and network speech.

“Vendors are offering speech application as suites instead of as point applications,” said Joe.

“To harness the full capabilities of mobile devices, we’re going to see solutions that combine embedded speech for features such as command and control and network speech that enables internet search.”