Lernout & Hauspie's Automotive Solutions Group Announces New Approach for Mobile Speech Recognition
IEPER, Belgium/BURLINGTON, Mass.--May 16, 2001--Distributed Speech Recognition (DSR) technology makes wireless-based
information and services more readily accessible from automobiles
L&H Automotive Solutions Group, a business unit of Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products NV (Nasdaq Europe: LHSP; OTC: LHSPQ) (`L&H' or `the Company'), a world leader in speech and language technology, products and services, today announced that it has introduced Distributed Speech Recognition (DSR) technology to the automotive market. DSR greatly enhances the performance of mobile communications devices and primarily addresses the automotive market, giving drivers greater access to information and transaction services via wireless systems such as telematics.
L&H's client-server based DSR allows mobile devices themselves, such as vehicle-based GSM communications devices, to recognize spoken commands. These commands are then converted into digital data and transmitted via a wireless link to a server, where processing is completed or the desired information, such as email messages, is returned. DSR employs L&H's unique noise-robust data processing modules, which ensure a high level of accuracy in recognizing voice commands, and offers two distinct benefits:
| - | No loss of information as speech pre-processing and data compression occur at the source; |
| - | The processing of the user's request takes place on the server and therefore requires less processing power from the mobile device |
Both of these advantages give users of mobile devices access to a broader range of information and wireless-based services, with the added benefit of lower transmission costs due to the reduced airtime required when using DSR.
L&H's DSR technology can be supported by a vast array of today's mobile devices, including PDAs, hybrid PIM telephones, mobile phone handsets, telematic systems, as well as remote-controlled devices for the home and industry. With the introduction of DSR, a greater number of telematic-based services in particular, such as mobile commerce and enhanced emergency vehicle assistance, will be more readily available to consumers.
Commenting on DSR, Scott Pyles, vice president of sales and marketing at L&H Automotive Solutions Group, said: "Safety and convenience for the driver are the primary focus of automakers with respect to automotive products and services. Distributed Speech Recognition will allow more automakers, mobile device manufacturers, and service providers to offer drivers the safety and convenience of a speech recognition interface. DSR-based interfaces give greater access to the wireless information and services that today's drivers are increasingly demanding. In addition to lowering operating costs, DSR allows drivers to use their mobile devices without taking their eyes off the road or removing their hands from the steering wheel. Overall, DSR gives automobile owners a richer and safer driving experience." Mr. Pyles added, "DSR is one of many examples of L&H's ongoing commitment to deliver proven, progressive speech technologies to our automotive customers and further develop the global market for speech technology in the automotive sector."
About L&H Automotive Solutions Group
Focused on meeting the needs of the automotive industry and its customers, the Automotive Solutions Group is the largest provider of complete automotive solutions from the broadest array of technologies designed to be integrated onto one platform and serving one application. Speech recognition, speaker verification, information content management, and text-to-speech provide solutions to OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and aftermarket product manufacturers in the growing markets of navigation telematics, multi-media entertainment, and hands-free communication. In addition to providing custom engineering development, the Automotive Solutions Group is a valuable source of consulting for platform, architecture, audio circuit, and application development.
About Lernout & Hauspie
L&H is a global leader in advanced speech and language solutions for vertical markets, computers, automobiles, telecommunications, embedded products, consumer goods and the Internet. L&H is making the speech user interface (SUI) the keystone of simple, convenient interaction between humans and technology, and is using advanced translation technology to break down language barriers. L&H provides a wide range of offerings, including: customized solutions for corporations; core speech technologies marketed to OEMs; end user and retail applications for continuous speech products in horizontal and vertical markets; and document creation, human and machine translation services, Internet translation offerings, and linguistic tools. L&H's products and services originate in four basic areas: automatic speech recognition (ASR), text-to-speech (TTS), digital speech and music compression (SMC) and text-to-text (translation). For more information, please visit L&H on the World Wide Web at www.lhsl.com.
This Press Release contains forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties, including statements about L&H's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Actual results may be materially different than those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks, including the uncertainties associated with the L&H's recent chapter 11 filings in the United States and similar proceedings in Belgium, uncertainty of new product development, the risk that newly introduced products may contain undetected errors or defects or otherwise not perform as anticipated, the reliance on the Internet and related wireless systems as intermediary mediums, the early state of development of the speech and language technology and mobile communications technology markets, the ability of L&H's customers to successfully integrate and commercialize L&H's technology, the retention of key technological and other personnel, currency and other risks related to international operations, rapid technological change and intense competition, as well as other risks set forth in L&H's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this Press Release. L&H expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in L&H's expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
L&H is registered trademarks or trademarks of Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. or its affiliates, in the U.S. and/or in other countries.