Voice control interface will be all the rage in new vehicles, according to an analyst comment from Frost & Sullivan.
It predicts that about 16million vehicles with have basic voice interface, including steering wheel controls and multi-functional knobs, in Europe by 2017; with seven million to have an advanced voice interface.
Voice is seen as a form of communication that does not distract the driver but allows all in-vehicle functions to be used in a safe way. However, there are still stumbling blocks to the widespread use of the technology, such as acquiring the user’s speech and creating a dialogue system that does not require the driver’s full attention.
The analysis states that steering wheel controls, which are linked to voice control interface, will be found in 16.5million vehicles in Europe by 2017 with multi-functional knobs enjoying a steady penetration in luxury segment automotives – around 1.5million vehicles inEuropewill have the knobs by 2017. In addition, the market for these multi-functional knobs is driven by premium European automotive manufacturers such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
Driver safety is still seen as the top priority for selecting an HMI solution – all options have limitations, so a single HMI option will not be sufficient to access all in-vehicle functionalities. This means a multimodal approach will be needed so that the options will complement each other and play an equal role in vehicle functionality.
