A key indicator that technology innovation has reached another major milestone is when science fiction begins to be seen, or in the case of Natural Language Voice Control (NLVC) technology, be heard in our everyday lives. Google’s and Apple’s entry into natural language voice command technology for use in the home may have thrust this technology past such milestone–moving it a significant and discrete step forward in consumer acceptance while previous progress might be described as being slow or emerging.
New Jersey startup, What Are Minds For, Inc. (WRM4) based in the NJIT Enterprise Development Center business incubator in Newark, specializes in the customization of natural language voice controls. NJIT EDC also houses health and wellness startup BGmetrix. The entry of tech giants Google and Apple into Voice Command Technology may be helpful to startup competitors such as WRM4 who work with NLVC, but lack the necessary resources to directly impact consumer behavior and acceptance. It may be a case of a rising tide carrying all boats. Apple and Google’s entry into NLVC products propels industry growth, while smaller entrants such as WRM4 establish their position as a strategic competitor.
WRM4 CEO and founder Michael Liguori explains their advantageous position, WRM4 partners with large and mid-sized corporations seeking to retain their own brand. They look to us for assistance in integrating NLVC’s into their own product lines. We offer these partners expertise and customized solutions that will enable them to either compete with those tech giants or produce NLVC products and services not in direct competition.
WRM4 has developed a voice comprehension system called Vognition that is designed to understand the way people naturally talk. The system comes in a hub for installation in homes and workplaces that can be used for functions such as lighting and thermostat control. Customers can access the Vognition system through WRM4’s cloud API.
Liguori feels WRM4 is set apart from other voice recognition systems by the ease and naturalness with which consumers (end-user) can use the system. Rather than following a strict set of commands or function activations, Vognition is a solution that integrates speech recognition, natural language processing, contextual awareness, and text-to-speech. The customer is essentially talking to the system rather than adhering to the system’s predetermined set of commands.
WAM4 has had some key achievements in the four short years since its start. They regularly showcase live demonstrations of their products. They are now solidifying contracts with customers and partners. Consumer trials are being set up, wherein companies are able to test out WRM4, while WRM4 simultaneously has the opportunity to place their products in real-world environments.
WRM4 has also assembled a team of experts with significant experience in the fields of advanced technology. A current advisor is a former Microsoft executive and another who just joined their team is the past chief technologist for OnStar. Liguori sums up his thoughts on these developments, In the last few months we have seen so much of our hard work pull together, and the fill out of our team with highly accomplished tech executives is timely— which I foresee greatly impacting our efforts going forward.
