Holy free app! Robin could be an Android packin' driver's best friend
According to the developer, Robin is supposed to be like KITT from Knight Rider as it will eventually be able to learn the driver's usual driving patterns and proactively report on traffic, navigation and speed traps. Robin will even learn the user's preferences in jokes and news as this functionality is added. Just keep in mind that this is not Siri or even S Voice for that matter. In fact, don't even try to ask Robin to do some of the things that Siri does. For example, we asked Robin to set an alarm and received a response that it was "pissed" that we asked because it is not yet programmed for such a task.
Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) June 16, 2012
Robin is designed with drivers in mind, aiming to provide them with relevant information, guidance and content via a natural voice / gesture interface. In the car, this interface becomes key, enabling a completely eyes-free interaction: voice in, voice out. Importantly, Robin's powerful dialogue engine allows a natural and smooth conversation flow, always keeping track of the implied context. Starting a dialogue is as easy as "waving hello" in front of the phone's screen, so one never has to look away from the road.
At the moment, Robin is available in beta across the US, offering features such as local search (including Yelp reviews), navigation, real-time traffic and parking information, gas prices, weather and more. And for those getting bored behind the wheel, Robin can narrate personal Twitter news (with more content reportedly coming soon) and even tell jokes.
According to Magnifis, the company behind Robin, these are just the first steps. Drawing inspiration from the famous KITT of the "Knight Rider" fame, Robin is poised to emerge as a very personal kind of assistant that becomes increasingly helpful as she gets to know her "master" better. For instance, Robin will be able to proactively alert drivers about traffic or speed cameras, based on her knowledge of one's schedule and driving patterns. And the two-way communication will make it easy for the drivers to share information, e.g., about traffic (Waze style). She will also serve as "personalized radio", narrating relevant news aggregated from a variety of sources and even learn the individual's taste in jokes.
"Today, people still think of a car assistant primarily in terms of navigation," says Magnifis co-founder/CEO Ilya Eckstein. "But in fact, we don't use navigation much, as most of the time we know our way around. What we really need in the car is someone to watch out for us as we go and be there when we need... well, just about anything. That, and being able to remain fully connected and empowered behind the wheel. To not miss out on a single important bit of life, even when you are not staring at the screen. And that is exactly what Robin is meant to help us with."
About Magnifis
Based in Palo Alto, Calif., Magnifis is a leading innovator in speech interfaces, machine learning and location-based services. The company is using proprietary multi-language understanding technology - already powering a major service in Israel - and is backed by private investors. For more information, please visit: http://www.magnifis.com.
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