VOICE CONTROL FOR BARRIER-FREE DRIVING GOES INTO PRODUCTION

Language technology facilitates physically handicapped driving: The joint project of EML European Media Laboratory and Mobilcenter Zawatzky in the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) has now been successfully completed. The first barrier-free vehicles with voice control have already been sold.

Thanks to today`s technology, inclusion for physically disabled drivers is fortunately not just a slogan; People with a physical disability can drive a car independently. Mechatronic systems allow for steering, accelerating or braking. However, individuals, depending on the nature of their disability who wants to turn on the blinker or adjust the air conditioner, has to rely on costly additional productions. For such so-called secondary and comfort functions, language proves to be practical management tool.

Therefore, the EML European Media Laboratory GmbH and Mobilcenter Zawatzky GmbH jointly developed voice control for secondary and comfort functions. The project was (ZIM) under the Central Innovation Program SME by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. ZIM is a nationwide, technology and market open support program for SMEs and industrial research facilities. The Zawatzky vehicle conversion center located in Meckesheim has many years of experience in the field of vehicle adaptations for people with disabilities. The Heidelberg IT companies EML has a high level of expertise in the field of human-technology interaction and language technology.

"The technical innovation of the ZIM project consisted of a combination of local and server-based speech recognition," explains EML research and development Chief Dr. Siegfried Kunzmann." Our language technologists have developed speech recognition for the project, so that even in high noise situations, it recognizes spoken commands to control the so-called secondary functions, such as horns, turn indicators or to control the remote light with a high level of safety. In one test, Oliver Fleiner from the association enthusiastically showed, "The handicapped - accessible voice recognition works really great, impressed me very much." (See Test video). The Mobilcenter Zawatzky GmbH provides the system now for several vehicle types. "By the end of last year already, the first orders for vehicles were already built with voice control." Managing Director Andreas Zawatzky, said, very pleased. "Meanwhile, we have already sold a few cars with this additional function. " 

In the next version of the speech recognition system, it will offer the driver with even more comfort: the EML team is working to realize the voice control over the Internet. Convenience functions such as navigation systems, weather report queries or the dictation of short messages will be possible. A first prototype of the voice control, including the convenience functions has already been presented in late 2013 as part of the annual meeting of the "European Mobility Group".

The EML European Media Laboratory GmbH is a research and development company in the field of applied IT, headquartered in Heidelberg, which was launched by SAP co-founder Klaus Tschira. Under the motto "Experience IT - Intuitive Technology" the EML developed software and new methods in the field of automatic speech processing. The Donors` Association for German Science now awarded the company for his outstanding commitment to research and development with the seal "Innovation through Research".


Mobilcenter Zawatzky GmbH
Mobilcenter Zawatzky exists as a company for vehicle conversion, specialist vehicle adaptations, and disabled conversions for 50 years. From driving a car with a joystick, to pedal extensions and the swivel seat to the disabled driving school the family covers the full range of mobility for people with disabilities. Company founder Rudolf Zawatzky was recently awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for his outstanding commitment.