But if PCs get too much more intelligent or whiny, it'll be like having a teenager in the house. Even if you're not a Trekker, you might be familiar with the relaxed, almost intimate relationship the crew has with the computer on their starship. Kirk, Spock and the others speak to it as if it were human, and its silky, feminine voice responds in kind. Advances in processing power, coupled with new, clever programs, mean that soon the mouse and keyboard will seem as outdated as medicinal leeches. But computers are beginning to do more.
Spoken commands activate the headlights, windows, door locks, stereo and more.
It usually worked, as long as the music wasn't cranked up to 11. IBM plans to wrap this speech technology up into a virtual backseat driver called the Artificial Passenger. Plugged into your dashboard, it aims to detect drowsy drivers, a significant source of accidents. Referring to your stored personality profile, AP's artificial voice will ask you about your anniversary, dog, God or other, presumably invigorating, topics. Slur your words or hesitate too long before answering and the AP springs into action.