"Majel"--Google's answer to Siri

[shivkala]

It's no secret that Google is looking to copy Siri for Android users and developer's are working on it under the codename "Majel," after Majel Barrett-Rodenberry:

I wrote about Google’s response to Apple’s Siri voice assistant several months ago and over the last couple weeks I received further details about the secret project. For starters it is codenamed Majel, which comes from Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, better known as the voice of the Federation Computer from Star Trek.

Google’s Matias Duarte had previously given hints about the future of Android’s voice actions in an interview with Slashgear. Matias said, “Our approach is more like Star Trek, right, starship Enterprise; every piece of computing surface, everything is voice-aware. It’s not that there’s a personality, it doesn’t have a name, it’s just Computer.”

Nice of them to throw in a homage, even if they don't release the final product under that name.

 

[Sky]

I really really would love it if they released it under that name.

 

[FordSVT]

I really, really would love it if they released it with her voice as an option.

I mean, how fucking COOL would it be for real life to imitate art like that again? I'm sure it would be possible, there is such a massive catalogue of her voice acting available that they could probably derive her phonemes and create any word necessary.

 

[BrotherBenny]

That would be brilliant, and I'm sure she's watching from her starship with a smile on her face.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If it can't actually use Majel's voice, I say leave it be.

I mean, sure, Majel herself wouldn't mind, but I wouldn't see the point of it if it doesn't actually sound like her...

 

[Psion]

For years I've been wondering if there's a set of algorithms that could be developed that would allow a computer to simulate any person's voice just as there are algorithms that allow a computer to simulate the path of light to illuminate a 3D model in CGI.

A sort of voice equivalent to raytracing.

This would be tremendously useful for the entertainment industry, espionage, extortion, politics, and my answering machine.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I have little interest in smartphones, but I have to admit this is pretty effing epic.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

If for whatever reason her voice can't be used, maybe they could ask Jodi Durand, who did the voice for DS9's Cardassian computer.

 

[Ronald Held]

I would use it if it used Majel's voice.

 

[Sky]

Yeah, I would buy it if it used Majel's voice.

 

[Hound of UIster]

The Android already has Iris.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

I can't help but think after seeing Siri on the iPhone4s last year and videogames using voice command like Mass Effect 3 and others using XBOX360's Microsoft's Kinect (and rumors of the next Playstation 4 including one) for physical motion movements that we are getting closer to a Star Trek Computer-like interface.

Google's voice command software and Apple's Siri in 3 more generations or in 10 years will be a lot closer to the Star Trek computer in TNG, DS9, VOY.