Motorola Announces Speech and Handwriting Recognition on OS-9 from Microware
PALO ALTO, Calif. — September 16, 1996 — Motorola's Lexicus Division (NYSE:MOT) announced today both its QuickPrint(TM) handwriting recognition software and CrystalTalk(TM) speech recognition software were ported to OS-9 Real-Time Operating System from Microware Systems Corporation.
For the first time, this enables product managers to design handwriting and speech recognition capabilities into consumer products with embedded operating systems.
The Challenge
As devices get both smaller and smarter, it becomes more difficult to use keyboards and to design user interfaces. Today's announcement enables designers of consumer products to enhance or replace keyboards on small, smart consumer devices such as:
– set-top boxes – PDAs and organizers – avionic guidance systems – digital answering machines – in-car navigation systems – smart phones – electronic toys – other consumer and industrial electronic devices
Opportunities
Ronjon Nag, General Manager of Motorola's Lexicus Division said "Developers now have an opportunity to design small consumer products with smart user interfaces. With Motorola recognition technologies running on Microware's sophisticated, low memory operating system, it is now much easier to develop handheld products with innovative user interfaces."
"Why not add something to a device that the average consumer already knows how to use? Voice and character recognition are intuitive interfaces and those companies who target these ease-of-use features in their products will be the clear winners," said Mike Burgher, Executive Vice-President and General Manager at Microware.
The Technologies
Motorola Lexicus QuickPrint(TM) handwriting recognition software enables users to enter text into small handheld devices using a stylus. Written in C programming language and having extremely small memory requirements, Lexicus QuickPrint software can be ported to many different operating systems and chips, including OS-9 from Microware. OS-9 supports memory protection and preemptive multi-tasking that forms a reliable foundation for Lexicus QuickPrint software.
Ported to OS-9, QuickPrint software can run on any of Motorola's MC68000 family of microprocessors, including Motorola's MC68328 processor — code named the "DragonBall".
Motorola Lexicus CrystalTalk(TM) speech recognition software was designed specifically for noisy environments, such as driving on a freeway with the windows open. CrystalTalk software is a noise-robust, small vocabulary, speech recognizer that works for any language. CrystalTalk software is currently running on OS-9 on a PowerPC platform. As portable C code, CrystalTalk software can run on many platforms.
Embedded Systems Conference
Motorola's handwriting and speech recognition software will be demonstrated at the Embedded Systems Show in San Jose Sept. 17 – 19 at the San Jose Convention Center. Microware will be demonstrating Motorola's handwriting and speech recognition running on Microware OS-9 in booth No. 428. Motorola will be demonstrating CrystalTalk software in booth No. 516.
Motorola's Lexicus Division
Motorola's Lexicus Division is one of the world's leading providers of handwriting and speech recognition software for desktop, mobile and embedded systems. Lexicus products include cursive and print recognizers for English and Chinese, and noise-robust speech recognition subsystems.
Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors, advanced electronic equipment, systems, components and services for worldwide markets. Products include two-way radios, pagers, personal communications systems, cellular telephone and systems, semiconductors, defense and space electronics and computers. Sales in 1995 were $ 27 billion.
Microware
Microware Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MWAR) develops, markets and supports sophisticated real-time operating system software and high-level language compilers for advanced consumer, communications and industrial products, including devices for the emerging digital television and wireless communications markets. Microware is the first real-time embedded operating system provider to receive ISO 9001 certification for its software development quality assurance methodologies.
In 1995, Motorola acquired 11% of Microware's common stock along with the option to acquire additional shares over five years.
Note to Editors: Motorola and the Motorola logo are registered trademarks and QuickPrint and CrystalTalk are trademarks of Motorola, Inc. Microware and OS-9 are registered trademarks of Microware Systems Corporation. Note the statements in this press release concerning the outlook for QuickPrint and CrystalTalk are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including successful and timely development and customer acceptance of the products.
CONTACT:
Motorola
Brenda Scariot, 415/833-8062
[email protected]
http://www.mot.com/lexicus/
or
Microware
Steve Simpson, 515/223-8000 ext. 342
[email protected]
http://www.microware.com