New research suggests that some devices in the Apple, like the HomePod, can begin to identify sounds around people. The brand is investigating how to use audio to estimate the distance to a user’s speech.
The HomePod from Apple already performs well at identifying the sound of voice, even when music is playing loudly. Two new separate patent applications show that the Apple wants to increase capacity listening devices at a higher level. One of them, “Learning-Based Distance Estimation”, that is, using audio not only to recognize the user, but to find out where they are.
“It is often desirable for the device to estimate the distance from the device to the user using its pair of microphones,” the patent application reads. “For example, the device may adjust the playback volume or response of a smart assistive device based on the estimated distance of the user from the device.”
“Therefore, if the user is too close to the device, the sound or speech will not be played at a high volume,” he continues. “Alternatively, if the user is far away, the media playback or the response of a device can be adjusted to a higher volume.”
Therefore, it is possible to compare this idea with a system of Apple, where all devices try to identify the sound “Hey, Siri”.
According to Apple “devices may coordinate or arbitrate among themselves to decide which one or more devices should respond to a query based on the distance of each device from the user.”
Identifying relevant sounds in everyday life
“Systems and methods for identifying an acoustic source based on observed sound” is about doing some devices recognize sounds from other places and react to them for us.
“Many home appliances, such as microwave ovens, washing machines, dishwashers, and doorbells, emit sounds to alert the user that a condition of the appliance has changed,” states the second patent. Apple.
“However, users may not be able to hear an audible alert emitted by an appliance for a number of reasons,” it continues. “For example, a user may have a hearing impairment, be out of the room (or in another environment), or the appliance may emit a muffled sound from a room in the home.”
In addition to being a “timer”, this project by Apple will also identify sound in places such as “public spaces (government buildings), semi-public spaces (offices), and private spaces (homes or business buildings).”
Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. AppleInsider.
