The launch of Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) speech response technology to provide motorists with enhanced navigation, safety and convenience has been announced by ATX Technologies, Inc., a telematics service provider to the automotive market.

Responding in real time to natural voice requests or commands received through interactive dialogue with the driver or passengers, IVR provides an automated means of receiving a variety of information including routing assistance, traffic reports, e-mail, stock quotes, news, weather, sports, or any Internet-based information.

Drivers can keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel and not have to use a keypad, console buttons or watch a dashboard screen to navigate or access information. Motorists always have the option of talking directly with an ATX response specialist, according to Steve Millstein, president and CEO of ATX Technologies, Inc.

"Motorists want a simple, voice-based system that reduces driver distraction and gets them where they need to be or the information they must have," Millstein said. "Interactive voice delivery is the most critical step in providing motorists with a safe and convenient mobile portal."

ATX has selected IBM's Direct Talk voice processing platform and ViaVoice speech recognition technology as the foundation for IVR.

How IVR Works

Through global satellite positioning and up-to-date streetmap and address directory databases, IVR offers motorists multiple routing options. Drivers in unfamiliar territory can feel confident with the highly accurate directions, according to Millstein.

IVR can also be used to locate needed services such as gas stations, ATM machines, and restaurants. "Conversational computing anytime and anywhere is here now with ATX's innovative use of IBM's voice solution," said Ozzie Osborne, general manager, IBM Voice Systems. "Becoming lost or confused while driving to a destination will be a problem of the past, and motorists will wonder how they ever got along without the safety and convenient feature of voice navigation."

According to Millstein, ATX plans to launch additional IVR services in the next several months.