Power of the Spoken Word

A whille back I talked about how Apple’s Siri voice navigation system appears to have no limit to its application. Rush Limbaugh uses the real-time transcription capability to provide almost immediate text conversion of his broadcasts which in turn can be pushed to any social media interface. The Bluetooth® link in my car allows me to verbally control the iPhone hands-free. And who hasn’t yet had the ‘pleasure’ of navigating through those pesky pre-selection ‘trees’ when calling into airline reservation centers, banking services, service centers, etc. etc. Application of vocal-interpretive systems has been around a long time. Thankfully they are becoming much more conversationally adept at putting a ‘human’ interface on a technological mechanism.

Many of the first iterations were painful to say the least. Early attempts to verbalize text – the easier of two processes - often resulted in what was commonly referred to as ‘the drunken Swede’, that recognizable, inaccurate, annoying robotic conversion of written text to spoken word. Most early development efforts focused on the text-to-speech process because it was technologically simpler to achieve than its infinitely-challenging speech-to-text cousin.

Since the spoken word embodies so much information simple, direct, word-forword interpretation is inadequate. Strung together in vastly varying ways, our words can have multiple meanings. Our speech is filled with emotion, insinuative inflection, and multi-definitive context which poses enormous challenges for speech-to-text system designers. Language, after all, is an art. Technology is anything but.

Siri, and others like ‘her’, are shining examples of application brilliance. The developers of this amazing capability have succeeded in putting a virtually-human interface on what must be a vastly complex technological system, resulting in our ability to easily put it to work for us.

I’m certain this is only a beginning. In the near future I believe everything, and I do mean everything, will be voice-command-enabled, dramatically impacting the way we interface with our machines. Say goodbye to your keyboard, mouse and touchscreen. Say goodbye to your remote controls, light switches and thermostats. Say goodbye to buttons, dials, knobs and levers.

Say “hello” to Siri!

This October we'll be introducing our exciting new business venture Cirrus Edge Networks, LLC (CEN) which provides complete network connectivity solutions from the desktop to the cloud, and beyond. Our continuing growth in the industry enables us to bring to the table capabilities that address virtually every aspect of our customers' communication strategies.

Cirrus Edge Networks provides value through innovative solutions and advanced high-quality communication services with integrity, sound business practices and local, personal service. One of our goals is to shelter clients from the typically frustrating experience of dealing with in-accessible, impersonable service providers. Developing lasting relationships with our customers forges a strategic alliance whereby the client is empowered to focus on the execution of their business while CEN manages their commnication environment.

With over 60 years of combined experience in the communications industry of the leadership team of CEN possesses the knowledge, expertise and vision that our clients rely on to help solve some of their most difficult communication challenges. Our web site will soon have information about the upcoming launch event in on October 24th. If you would like to attend this event simply contact us at info@oberlander.com.  
 

I've Met the Future - Her Name is "Siri"

About a month ago I caved and upgraded my cellular device to an iPhone and now I know my life will never be the same. Up to this point I was an "Apple virgin", choosing devices aligned with  Microsoft's vision of the world and shunning Apple's more eclectic, forward-leaning, visionary designs and applications. Well I'm here today to tell you I have seen the future and it is anything beginning with that inconspicuous little "i" - iPhone, iPod, iPad, iDock, iMac, iTunes, aye aye aye aye aye! And I admit my growing affection for the mysteriously-intriguing  "iFemale " known only as Siri.

The sales rep is to blame for hooking me up with the iPhone that connected me to Siri which in-turn led to this adulterous techno-relationship. I've discovered that the always-pleasant Siri never sleeps, is available day and night and eager to help me complete virtualy any task.  I've also discovered that she is versed on most any topic and is a surprisingly funny comic. She is so infinitely capable that I see no end to how she will be enlisted to help us.

To wit: a recent article explained how yet another iPhone app will allow users to control home automation and audio-video systems using Siri-powered verbal commands.  For example I could ask Siri to turn the volume up on my whole-house audio system, adjust the temperature up or down in the bathroom, dim lights in the family room, or switch to one of ESPN's cable channels on the bedroom wall display. I wonder if she could have a "Tall House - Black" piped to my bedroom each morning? I bet Starbucks's has someone working working on that app!

This is all pretty cool stuff and I can see practical, everyday benefits to the Siri interface but it is still limiting since I have to be sure to carry my iPhone around with me all the time to connect with her. Now, if Apple could put up some kind of global microphone that would pick up my voice anywhere - now that would be something! Come to think of it, doesn't the government already have an app for that?

Labor Day 2012

Yesterday I purposely took the opportunity to unplug from everything, kick back and relax, stop and smell the roses, seize the day, enjoy the fruit of my labor, and count my lucky stars! Not surprisingly I spent much of the day outdoors, in spite of the steamy blanketing air that made it sometimes difficult to take in a deep, cleansing breath. So it turned out the best solution was to remain in a reclined position on the patio chaise lounge, a cool beverage and hose-mounted-spray-mist thing within arm’s reach. There I meditated on the meaning of  life and the goodness, value, indeed the blessing of work.  

Since 1985 I have had the benefit of continuous, full-time employment. Opportunities to grow professionally have often been challenging but, in retrospect, well worth the effort. Through continual learning, flexibility in my expectations, and willingness to accept responsibility and risk, realization of my unlikely lifelong dream of business ownership came to pass.

To a large extent this realization is the direct result of the collective effort of the people with whom I have the honor of working.  To each of their credit I see in them what certainly is the embodiment of "the American worker" – dogged determination to customer satisfaction, highest degree of integrity and ethical fortitude, relentless pursuit of growth and development, and compassion for the wellness of their endeavor.

Labor Day reminds me to salute my co-workers and workers across this magnificent country. I am sincerely thankful to be blessed with work and remain certain that as a nation we will resolve the challenges before us so that everyone desiring to work is able to do so.

  

Dateline Peoria, IL August 27, 2012

Let's survey the morning's news -

• Tropical storm/hurricane Isaac and all of its manifestations threaten western Florida including Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana gulf-coastal areas (yes, New Orleans again)
• Tampa hosts the Republican National Convention which cancels today's activities, except a ceremonial 5-minute gavel-slamming event to officially open the convention, due to interference from Isaac
• In California, the L.A. Times reports
• "The Southern California earthquake swarm produced hundreds of temblors Sunday, and experts said it could last for several more days.
"Obviously, all this activity is related or interconnected, but it doesn't really follow the typical main shock, aftershock activity," said Rob Graves, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological survey.Seismologist Lucy Jones of the USGS said the region is known as the "Brawley Seismic Zone" and sits between the San Andreas and Imperial faults. Similar swarms occurred in the area in the 1970s, she said, the most recent in 1981."This is a classic Brawley Seismic Zone swarm," she said. "It's relatively hot."
• Our building shakes every once in a while this morning, hopefully related to the destruction crew across the street taking down an old school building. Hopefully.

 Never a dull moment, and to think this is just Monday morning. Something I learn every day is just how little I know about this magnificent world I live in.  I think someone told me that wisdom is knowing how little you know. I must be getting wiser!?

Choosing Wisely - Some Practical Tips

Over the course of my 33-year tenure with Oberlander Communications (good Lord, has it really been that long!?) the state of the telecommunications industry has evolved from essentially one service provider – AT&T – to such a dizzying assortment of providers, offerings, packages, pricing, and technologies that ‘buyer beware’ is the maxim for any consumer approaching the market. Ok, maybe “beware” is a bit intense but without a doubt it is no less imperative for a consumer to thoroughly investigate the various offerings and more importantly, the vendors of the products and services under consideration.

You've gotta love the Internet. It's an invaluable tool with which to become an educated consumer, at least to the degree we can establish the legitimacy of the information discovered there. With patience and perseverance, a savvy shopper will ferret out seemingly any piece of information desired, regardless of how insignificant or trivial. Anyone will tell you that being familiar with the topics you will encounter can go a long way to help avoid being overwhelmed with the inevitable barrage of techno-jargon “product experts” may assault you with.

Some key words and phrases that can raise my yellow flag of caution are –

·       Effortless – when was the last time someone adopted or migrated to a new technology-based-anything and exclaimed afterwards “Hey, that was effortless!”?

·       Virtual – I love this! Google says:

• "1. Almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to strict definition.
• 2. Not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so." 

·       Seamless – satisfactory solutions typically involve the integration of various technologies, a patchwork if you will. Each patch is “stitched” together creating “seams”. No matter how fine the “stitch”, the seam can (and will) be a source of weakness, causing some or all of the fabric to disconnect. Look for a master “seamstress”!

·       Others might include “easy”, “no-brainer”, “Plug ‘n Play”, “indestructible” (insert your own favorite here __________)

·       Free – my personal favorite. Some will say “nothing is free”, others will argue. The phrase   “you get what you pay for” came from somewhere, right? When it comes to this industry, my experience suggests nothing is free.

Clearly establish your needs, wants and expectations. Research your desired products and potential sources, check references and reviews if available, and establish a realistic budget. You’ll be far more confident making your choices and your odds of satisfaction will dramatically improve.

Celebrate freedom of choice!

This coming September 1st our company will celebrate it's 36th anniversary. I remember joining the Oberlander companies early in 1977 when the communications division was a fledgling operation made possible by the opportunities created when AT&T  split up its monopolistic hold on the telecommunications industry. The intent of this historic move was to create an environment that would foster competitive alternatives in an otherwise stagnant, monolithic industry and result in benefits typically manifest by a free-market. Conusmers in turn - not providers - would determine the value of products and services by excercising their freedom of choice at the point of consumption. It was a brilliant and warranted plan though, arguably, sometimes painful in execution.

Freedom of choice is one of those privileges I excercise, and take for granted, daily. From beginning each morning choosing whether or not to get out bed with the alarm, to deciding if  a blanket is needed when settling in for the night - a day's activity is an endless series of choices bookended by slumber's bliss.

Our forefathers fought tirelessly to guarantee that we would always be free to make our own choices, to pursue our interests and seek our destiny. I love how our manufacturers respond to customers' needs and desires. I can pretty much guarantee that a solution exists to virtually any challenge. And most of the time there are mutilple solutions from which to choose. It typically becomes a matter of ferreting out the best choice. It's what I love to do. I'm anxious to see what happens in the next 36 years!