iPods Talk Back

It’s not here yet, but Scotsman News and others reports that Apple Computer has taken out a patent for an iPod with a voice. The idea is to make it possible to choose your music without looking at the screen. Apple won’t comment, but the patent application gives safety reasons as a prime motivator for this enhancement. The idea is to make it easier for listeners to find their music in situations where they wouldn’t be looking at their iPods, such as while driving or crossing the street.

This patent won’t apply just to iPods. Apple made it clear that they expect the technology to be used in other devices as well, such as mobile phones.

According to the patent application, Apple does not want to limit itself to just a single computer voice. The intent is to use a range of voices, including voices of famous actors. They want to make the voice warm and as human-sounding as possible.

Text-to-speech technology has been notoriously difficult to master. A major hurdle that Apple apparently feels it can conquer is the ability to pronounce even the more difficult and unusual words, such as uncommon names. According to the patent application, the new technology will master this skill.

Writers of several articles express the opinion that the ability to talk will give iPod yet another edge in the MP3 market. Judging by online comments, consumer reaction is mixed.

Though the patent talks about making iPods safer in situations where people should not be looking at their iPods, the population to benefit the most will be those who cannot see their iPods in the first place. Visually impaired consumers won’t have to sort through a myriad of songs by ear if this technology works. They will use their clickwheels as usual while a computer voice gives them the name of the song or album through their headphones.

Quite a few iPod users are hoping they will get to pick a voice. The idea of using famous actors sounds great, but if you don’t like the actor, it could become annoying. Many are hoping for the option to turn the voice off.

Several suggested that it might be better to allow users to talk to the iPod. They like the idea of just telling their iPods what song or artist they want to hear. (“Yo, iPod, I’m in the mood for Evanescence.”) Initially that sounds like a good idea, but the reality could be almost as much of a nuisance as listening to people talk on their cell phones.

It would be nice if people just used a little common sense when operating their iPods in situations where they should be watching something else. In other words, they should keep their eyes on the road. Unfortunately, they don’t. I’m not sure that voice technology will make it any safer, though. Numerous studies show that cell phones are unsafe because users are distracted. Scrolling through an iPod while listening to their choices would seem to have the same distractibility element.

What do you think? Are we better off with or without talking iPods? Apple won’t comment, but the patent application makes it clear that this will be an option one day if the technology is as good as Apple suggests. Given the option, do you prefer a talking iPod or the one you have now?

I welcome your comments.