Apple may be adding voice command and control to some of its devices, including the iPhone. Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple is working on an enhancement to its SpringBoard application, which is used as a launcher and which will support the recently announced iPhone OS 3.0 software, a source told Ars Technica.
Sources have uncovered references to voice-control codes that appear to be accessible only by Apple and not by third-party developers. The references may provide support for voice dialing on both current and future iPhone devices.
Under the code name Jibbler, it appears that the technology may provide not only voice synthesis, but also voice recognition when iPhone OS 3.0 launches this summer.
Apple recently introduced a VoiceOver feature in the new iPod shuffle. Users press a button and the iPod tells the user what song is playing and who is singing it. The feature also tells users the names of playlists.
Sources believe Jibbler may be controlled in the iPhone headset by squeezing a button used to record short voice messages, which would then be interpreted by Jibbler. Voice synthesis could be used to give the iPhone user a response, similar to the new iPod shuffle.
Apple regularly files for patents and speculation continues to swirl around the company’s every move. Because of this, rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, according to Interpret analyst Michael Gartenberg.
“Like everything else it may or not make it into the product, but one thing that would be clear to me if they would add something like command and control to the mix is to make sure it is there not gratuitously but for user benefit,” Gartenberg said. “When it comes to voice user interfaces, it comes down to accuracy and implementation.”
Voice command and control, in particular, has been a problematic concept,…