Speechly Releases Free Tool to Help Developers Scale Voice Experiences From Alexa Skills

Speechly, a voice technology startup from Finland, launched a new developer tool that lets users convert an Alexa skill into a Speechly application that work across the web and mobile applications. The Speechly application can be used to enable Reactive Voice User Interfaces across all major browsers and in mobile apps. The announcement was made live on stage, during the second day of the 2021 VOICE Summit in Arlington, Virginia. The tool was released as a public beta, with plans for quick iteration in partnership with users.

As voice controls are fast becoming a primary interaction modality of choice in-vehicle, Strategy Analytics identified that context is key in user experience. Automakers of all types have largely aligned on touchscreen and voice control as the primary modalities for infotainment HMI. While touch-and-voice-centric HMI has achieved a majority market penetration in all major markets, China in particular spearheads voice as the primary modality in many verticals.

For those product categories that require simple voice interfaces completely implemented on-device, or for developers at the testing stages of a new voice UI, there is now a fast, free and flexible solution. Sensory, the Silicon Valley company pioneering AI at the edge and the de facto standard for enabling a voice UI on apps and devices, unveiled VoiceHub, a new online portal that enables developers to quickly create wake word models and voice control command sets for prototyping and proof-of-concept purposes.

Voice-enabled devices are quickly becoming commonplace in nearly every region and for every consumer demographic. Whether making cloud-connected or offline products, OEMs need to understand what’s driving this demand for voice. Unlike some new product features, adding a voice interface requires product architects to make a number of highly-impactful, interconnected design decisions. Development teams don’t have it easy either, as integrating microphones in a product introduces another layer of complexity.