F 700 Innovative display concept with voice control

Mercedes-Benz sets the benchmark with its HMI solutions in its research vehicles, too. In the F700 an innovative concept is applied involving voice control with an avatar. Complex interactions that up until now had required numerous individual steps – such as for instance destination input – are communicated directly to a virtual assistant in the central display, the voice-operated avatar.

Enlarge

Superb long-distance saloon – the F 700

In the F 700 a completely new display concept is applied, representing a further development of the tried and trusted COMAND control concept, to which it adds a series of cutting-edge innovations. These include the following:

Enlarge   „SERVO-HMI” – an innovative operating concept As a contribution to stress-relieving safety the research engineers have developed the SERVO-HMI. The driving and vehicle information which it displays appears at the bottom edge of the windscreen but, optically, appears a bit further away. So when viewing the displays the eyes do not have to shift from far to near vision to the extent usually required today, and therefore are subjected to much less strain.

For the more complex input procedures there is an innovative support for the driver in the form of an individual assistant, called an avatar in computer language. The avatar in the control system of the F 700 takes the shape of a young woman. This virtual person enters into contact with the driver through a voice dialogue – in the menu item navigation, for example, it asks for the desired destination and confirms the voice input. Selecting someone to talk to from the phone book or a desired radio station works in a similar way..

This kind of dialogue simplifies voice control for the driver, and enhances voice recognition by the system. In addition, the scope of dialogue assistance functions can be enlarged almost without limit. For instance, the avatar as virtual assistant could access online databases from the vehicle via internet link and, let us say, get the addresses and phone numbers that go with certain names, could update the driver's appointments book, or could read aloud important e-mails. Operation by voice dialogue minimises distraction.