BMW Introduces Voice Control Hands-free System

In most new cars, voice command systems are seemingly one of the more popular technologies. The ability to operate various systems hands free is not only a big convenience, but it also reduces driver distractions and helps improve safety. Ford Motor Company and Microsoft teamed up to offer one of the most popular voice command systems called SYNC®, and now this fall, BMW will add its own system called BMW Voice Control. Other luxury automakers such as Infiniti and Audi already provide its drivers with voice-activated, hands-free controls, but BMW’s system is more advanced and intuitive allowing drivers to issue spoken demands at the push of a button to control the navigation, audio and infotainment systems. Voice Control will be available in BMW vehicles starting this September, but model availability and pricing have yet to be announced.

Currently, most automakers use some sort of hands-free, voice-activated prompts, but instead of being limited to basic computer-generated prompts, Voice Control allows the driver to speak freely to find the destination or song track he or she is looking for. Other than Lincoln vehicles using SYNC®, BMW’s Voice Control system will be one of the most advanced hands-free systems available from any luxury automaker. Voice Control will work in tandem with BMW’s iDrive system to provide one of the most intuitive and easy to use vehicle systems in the industry.

One of the most innovative features of BMW’s Voice Control is the ability to enter a whole address or find individual songs with a single command. Instead of saying separate commands for a street number, street, city and state for a particular address, the driver just says the whole address as a single command. When inputting an address, the driver pushes the button on the steering wheel and can say “1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC” for example to get to the White House instead of having to input each part of the address individually. Even better, the driver can simply say a destination and Voice Control can determine the place, street and street number on its own. This all helps to make the system easier to use and less of a burden which is one of the main draws to such a device.

Another useful feature of Voice Control is the ability to search music files by artist, title and even genre. After pushing the button on the steering wheel, the driver can say an artist name, a song title or a music genre and Voice Control will find all available files and play them. Initially, this feature of Voice Control will only apply to songs saved to the hard disc, but by next Spring the system will also be able to search files saved to an external media player connected to the car.

Between the navigation and infotainment systems of modern cars, drivers have probably never had more distractions in the existence of automobiles. BMW hopes that its Voice Control system can help reduce driver distractions without sacrificing such useful technology. In BMW’s press release video, it showed the Voice Control system being used on the all-new 7 Series (2009 model pictured), but this feature will most likely be available on all 2010 model BMW vehicles starting this fall.