February 19, 2013 – Wolfson Microelectronics, a global leader in the delivery of high performance mixed-signal semiconductors and audio solutions for the consumer electronics market, and Sensory, a leader in speech technologies for consumer electronics, have today announced the availability of Sensory’s TrulyHandsfree Voice Control and audio detect front-end on Wolfson’s latest ultra-low power platforms for mobile phone audio channel processing. This combination of leading-edge embedded software and DSP technologies enables unprecedented performance for voice activation and hands-free operation of mobile devices.
Wolfson and Sensory have implemented Sensory’s TrulyHandsfree on Wolfson’s industry-leading WM5110 High Definition (HD) Audio System on a Chip (SoC), as well as on Wolfson’s WM0010 and WM0011 digital signal processor (DSP) products. The WM5110, with advanced DSP, is one of the most powerful and efficient HD Audio Processors on the market, delivering exceptional HD Audio performance to portable consumer electronics devices, including smartphones and tablet computers. The WM5110, or Wolfson’s WM0010 and WM0011 products, combined with Sensory’s TrulyHandsfree solution, delivers speed, accuracy, reliability and noise robustness in a very small and low power footprint, with minimal impact to handset standby time, enabling a true ‘always on, always listening’ experience for the first time.
Advances in speech recognition technology and cloud computing have made voice user interfaces “must-have” features in today’s mobile phones. However, all of these still require either a touch to activate – which can be difficult if the user has their hands full, as well as dangerous and increasingly illegal while driving – or the use of an ‘always on, always listening’ mode which risks using up the device’s battery. Now Wolfson and Sensory have a solution for TrulyHandsfree at ultra-low power consumption.
Rash Sahota, VP of Audio Solutions at Wolfson Microelectronics, said: “This technology from Wolfson and Sensory represents a crucial breakthrough in the way that voice control for mobile phones is used, removing the need to activate it through touch and ensuring that it becomes a successful communication solution in real-world situations.”
Bill Teasley, VP of Engineering at Sensory said: “Sensory and Wolfson have created an unparalleled solution for ultra-low power high accuracy speech recognition on portable devices. Mobile phones can now include voice control, intelligent voice search and utilise voice assistants without the user having to touch the phone or wear down the battery.”
Wolfson’s compelling audio demonstrations will be shown at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, February 25th-28th, on stand 2A62, hall 2.
TrulyHandsfree is a trademark of Sensory, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are those of their respective holders.
About Wolfson Microelectronics plc
Wolfson Microelectronics plc is a global leader in the supply of high performance, mixed-signal semiconductor devices and audio solutions to the consumer electronics market. In the home, in the office and on the move, Wolfson’s innovative technology can be found at the heart of many of the world’s leading digital consumer goods, including premier hi-fi equipment, mobile phones, tablet computers, MP3 players, flat panel TVs, digital still cameras and portable navigation devices.
The company’s headquarters is located in Edinburgh, UK. Wolfson’s customers are located worldwide, and so is Wolfson, with design centres, sales offices, applications teams and engineering expertise across Europe, the US, Australia and Asia.
Wolfson Microelectronics plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WLF.L).
For more information about Wolfson Microelectronics, please visit: http://www.wolfsonmicro.com.
About Sensory, Inc.
Sensory, Inc. is the leader in speech technologies for consumer products, offering a complete line of IC and software-only solutions for speech recognition, speech synthesis, speaker verification, music synthesis and more. Sensory’s products are widely deployed in consumer electronic applications including Smart Phones, Automotive, Bluetooth™ products, toys, and various home electronics. Sensory’s customers represent the leaders in consumer electronics, including such companies as AT&T, BlueAnt Wireless, Hasbro, JVC, Kenwood, Mattel, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Uniden, VTech, Samsung and Sony.
For more information about Sensory, Inc., please visit: http://www.sensory.com or contact press@sensory.com
Wolfson Press Contacts:
Chris King
EML Wildfire
Tel: +44 (0) 208 408 8000
Email: wolfson@emlwildfire.com
Laura Moore
Wolfson Microelectronics plc
Tel: +44 (0)131 272 7000
Email: laura.moore@wolfsonmicro.com