Can You Hear Me Now? Dragon ID Lets You Log In by Voice

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For years Nuance, makers of Dragon Dictation, Dragon NaturallySpeaking and, although unconfirmed, the force behind Siri, has been collecting data on how we speak, what is different from one voice to the next etc. Data collection is a big deal but, unlike Google collecting data so they can better target ads and generate revenue off you, Nuance has been collecting data in order to advance their voice-recognition technology. (Of course they want to advance their voice recognition technology in order to generate income but that middle step is an important one.)

In recent weeks we have seen Nuance begin to roll out the next generation of voice recognition. They announced a new initiative that will take automotive voice recognition their Dragon Drive in to take on distracted driving. Now they are moving things forward with an advance that will let your voice “quickly and easily unlock mobile devices and consumer electronics just by using their voice”.

As Nuance’s press release states:

People rely on their mobile devices and tablets to hold contact information, text messages, work and personal emails, notes and photos, confidential documents. To access devices, people rely on cumbersome passcodes and pins – or worse – nothing at all. According to a recent consumer survey by Nuance, 96% of respondents stated they often make mistakes typing their passwords on their mobile phones.

With Dragon ID, people can “forget” their passwords and simply create a spoken password or passphrase, offering a secure and convenient way to “wake-up” and access devices. For instance, just saying “Hello Dragon” can securely turn on a device and instantly launch a personalized home screen with favorite apps and content – even on shared devices like tablets or PCs.

Dragon ID brings even more intelligence to a device by enabling it to know who you are by the sound of your voice, or more specifically, your voiceprint. In fact, Nuance’s voice biometrics authentication technology is already relied upon by the world’s leading enterprises, carriers, banks and government institutions, with over 20 million voiceprints enrolled globally.

As Michael Thompson, executive vice president and general manager, Nuance Mobile notes

Consumer devices and the experiences they deliver are incredibly personal – and with that comes a need for greater security. Nuance’s innovative Dragon ID further humanizes the mobile experience, leveraging a person’s unique voice to secure and access their device, and keeping the content they rely on each day private and personal.

We will see Dragon ID roll out later this year and hope to have a closer look at it in action soon.

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.