Voice recognition: Consumers see a big need for improvement among digital assistants

Munich – 29 December 2017 – People are increasingly willing to also let machines help them in their everyday life: According to a representative survey commissioned by Infineon Technologies AG, every fourth consumer in Germany would put a digital assistant in their living room. Among the men surveyed, one in three, and among the women, only around one in five would use Amazon Echo (“Alexa”), Google Home or Apple HomePod (“Siri”). The digital helpers are being slowed down from taking their place in the homes of German citizens by reservations about controlling the devices: For 15 percent of those surveyed, the voice control still lacks sufficient sophistication; 17 percent are concerned about data protection and therefore prefer to do without the support of the devices.

Better results wanted from Alexa and Co.

This is why Germans also see the greatest need for improvement in these two areas. Hence, 24 percent also want commands to be recognized more precisely. “The problem with voice recognition today is that the software always hears the loudest noise in the room,” as Andreas Urschitz, President of the Power Management & Multimarket Division at Infineon, explains.

Combinations of sensors provide more convenience

Eight percent of Germans would appreciate it if the devices could not only be voice-controlled, but also by hand signals. “The issue of man-machine interaction is gaining pace. Nevertheless, dealing with the digital assistants needs to become more intuitive and convenient,” says Andreas Urschitz from Infineon. Combinations of sensors, such as highly sensitive microphones and radar chips that combine gesture and voice control, can contribute to that. The Munich-based chip company has already developed a solution with the British company XMOS that recognizes the person speaking in a loud environment and aims the microphones specifically at that person. That extends the radius in which the device provides reliable results.

As the survey also shows, many of those surveyed see potential in how the digital helpers answer. 23 percent want the digital assistant to respond more intelligently to queries. At least ten percent would also put a voice assistant with a camera in their living room, especially if the device then recognizes who is in the room, and the digital assistant makes suggestions that match the profile.

“All the data, unless specified otherwise, has been provided by YouGov Deutschland GmbH. 2,036 people took part in the survey between 19 and 21 December, 2017. The results were weighted and are representative of the German population (aged 18+).”