Google aims for Star Trek with Cambridge speech firm

 

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By Nicole Kobie

Posted on 6 Dec 2010 at 14:30

Google has bought Cambridge-based speech technology firm Phonetic Arts.

Google said it planned to use the company's technology, which analyses speech to create more natural sounding computers, to improve voice-based interaction between devices and users.

In Star Trek, they don’t spend a lot of time typing things on keyboards — they just speak to their computers, and the computers speak back

"In Star Trek, they don’t spend a lot of time typing things on keyboards — they just speak to their computers, and the computers speak back," said Mike Cohen, manager for speech technology, in the Google blog. "It’s a more natural way to communicate, but getting there requires chipping away at a range of hard research problems."

He noted that Google has made improvements in voice input, such as speaking to search the web, but admitted more needed to be done to improve computer responses.

"There are already places you can hear this in action today — for example, Google Translate 'speaks' translated text in multiple languages, and you can listen to navigation instructions as you drive — but there’s still a lot to do," he said.

Phonetic Arts said it was excited to join Google. "We see great opportunities integrating with their technologies and products, and look forward to being part of their world-class speech team," the company said. "Most of all, we are excited about the great opportunities in speech technology that lie ahead."

The buy, worth an undisclosed amount, is the latest in the web giant's spending spree this year, which also saw it acquire Seattle-based anti-piracy company Widevine over the weekend.