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While Apple’s keen to make sure nobody ever uses the iPhone’s slide-to-unlock system, Google seemingly couldn’t care less. It’s filed a patent listing a whole heap of news ways to unlock your phone — including voice commands.
Patently Apple report that Google has filed a patent that describes new ways to unlock mobile devices, which would allow users to simultaneously execute commands, like calling a specific contact or launching an application. In fact, some Android devices already allow something similar — my HTC Sensation allows me to open one of four applications as I unlock my handset — but this patent also explains how different commands could be used to the same effect.
Most interestingly, the patent discusses using voice commands to unlock handsets. While in principle that sounds great, the idea of an always-on mic make me feel slightly uncomfortable. Still, it’s only a patent: let’s see if anything comes of it before we start worrying about privacy too much. [Patently Apple]
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The interesting question (to me) is if Apple wanted to use siri to unlock the iPhone would it fall foul of this patent or would it be covered by existing patents it has.
So that means lots of regional accented people will end up with locked phones?
Google Voice has been around for years and has way more languages and recognition of accents than Siri, so I don’t think this should be a huge issue.
Of course that doesn’t mean it can’t happen, Google Voice is by no means prefect.
And if this is a problem I’m sure you can disable it and select another way to unlock your phone.
Yes I know, I was just pointing out that it is a far from perfect technology. I have humans who sometimes can’t understand me – But funnily, the dog always knows what I am saying. Walkies, Food time, Sit, Lay, Get Out stinky, leave my toes alone.
In my experience Google’s voice recognition is pretty much perfect. Certainly I’ve not heard of people having Siri like problems with it. Google have been gathering voice data for a lot longer than Apple, so that probably explains it.
I can tell you now – I’m a geordie and it’s no where near perfect. FAIL
Thanks for letting me know, I shall now read any of your future posts in a geordie accent. I guess as someone who speaks generally clear and unaccented English I’m not a tough test for any voice recognition system.
Yep, I’m afraid it’s true, I choose to hang onto my accent at Uni, whereas everyone else tried their hardest to loose theirs. True though – adding an accent to any text, can give it an extra dimension. Don’t you do it when reading a book?
If you choose to not have Google Voice understand you that’s your own fault
There’s no real guarantee that any of this will come to anything. Google’s just making sure Apple can’t slam them for it down the line if it does – or if anything similar ever does. Patenting’s not about innovation, features or products any more, it’s an offensive or defensive move (depending on the company…) in a dirty anti-consumer war.
Indeed
Meh, Apple’s patent is bullshit anyway, there are plenty of examples of prior art for slide to unlock.
Why do manufacturers insist on coming up with ever-more complex and gimmicky ways of providing basic functions?
The problem is, when they come up with ideas such as face and voice unlock, they start to get into the realms of “it’s security not just a screen lock” and people start to believe that they have a more secure device in their hands. But it’s bollocks, as face unlock with a photograph has proved.
All I want is to be able to pocket my phone and not have it accidentally do things. Want to provide prophylactic security? Develop proper AV software for the purpose.