Google asks, “Can you hear me now?”

Posted by Jim Stroud

April 15, 2006

Google is getting into voice-related search! How do I know that? Well this little patent they recently filed gave me a heads up. Here is a snippet…

Filed: April 11, 2006

Title: Voice interface for a search engine

Abstract: A system provides search results from a voice search query. The system receives a voice search query from a user, derives one or more recognition hypotheses, each being associated with a weight, from the voice search query, and constructs a weighted boolean query using the recognition hypotheses. The system then provides the weighted boolean query to a search system and provides the results of the search system to a user.

My speculation: I think they may be trying to allow voice-search of their search engine from cell phones. Dial a number, speak “search,” (say) pizza (then say) 90210. Google responds with an audio ad that says, “Joe’s Pizza is the best! For more info say - Joe. For more results, say “more.”

Of course, my two cents is neither here nor there. (Or is it?)