The New Mercedes-Benz C-Class and its new Command APS

Mercedes-Benz has further enhanced the safety of the C-Class not only by boosting the quality of its Mercedes parts like Mercedes alternators but also by adding speech solutions that would provide drivers with a new level of comfort and safety especially when using the car’s navigation, audio, and communication systems. DaimlerChrysler has previously presented its offerings for the new C-Class which includes in-vehicle navigation application and voice activated user interface as an option for the new C-Class at the recently concluded 2007 Geneva Car Show.

The great thing with the new speech features of the Command APS is that it makes interaction with the car’s navigation, audio, and telecommunication systems much faster and easier. Using the Command APS, drivers may place calls by voice, control the audio systems, enter the destination for their navigation system---all accomplished through voice command and that’s not all, they may also listen to their text messages.

The new Command APS that will be equipped on the C-Class is powered by Nuance VoCon, a type of embedded speech recognition software that allows the driver to control in-car functions via voice commands. In addition the Nuance’s RealSpeak text-to-speech software is used to convert text to speech which enables the driver to listen to his/her incoming text messages or turn-by-turn directions.

Another special feature of the new Command APS is that drivers are given the freedom to formulate their speech commands in any way they want without requiring the need to use small set of precise commands or to abide by a multi-layer menu structure. The new Command APS is designed to comprehend different languages that include US and UK-English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, and Spanish. Drivers may simply select a language on-the-fly.

Here are the features of the new Command APS powered by Nuance speech solutions:

• The voice-activated destination entry allows drivers to simply say their destination address instead of the usual typing it on a touch-screen keypad. The voice interface will then read out all the information which includes street names as well as traffic information. The US system has an additional feature which allows users to enter the street name first so in an estate like California which has over 200,000 street names in its vocabulary such extra feature really comes handy.
  


• The Command APS voice-activated, hands-free calling enables drivers to simply press the “Push to Talk” button located on the steering wheel and then say the name of the person you wish to call. The system will automatically connect with the names in the mobile’s phonebook list without requiring any pre-enrollment of the names.
  


• The audible text messages is the systems special feature that converts incoming text messages to audio and then reads them out aloud. The system is so sophisticated that it can even translate commonly used text messaging expressions such as “LOL” short for laugh out loud.
  


• The new Command APS also feature voice activated music which allows drivers to command and control the audio as well as the video system of the vehicle. Selecting a radio station is made easy through such system. The driver needs only to speak the number of the frequency or the name of the radio station. Playing the CD is also made effortless, the user or the driver needs only to say the tract that he/she wants to play and then it will be played.
  

Dwyane Thomas is a part time cook and full-time auto-enthusiast. This 31-year old Civil and Environmental graduate is a consultant at one of the engineering firms in Pennsylvania.