ST launches voice-over-Bluetooth for wearables

12 August 2015 Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT News

Voice control that can make wearable technology simpler and more battery-friendly just became easier to add with software-based innovations from STMicroelectronics.

The wearables sector is taking off, with the arrival of sophisticated new products such as smart watches. Research firm IHS predicts the market will reach 135 million units by 2019 and will see designs becoming smarter and more sensor-rich to support advanced functions. Ease of use and extended battery life are already important points for buyers to consider, and voice control can enhance both by minimising touchscreen usage.

With ST’s new BlueVoice software, designers get all the drivers and libraries they need to implement voice transmission over a Bluetooth Low Energy connection in systems built around the company’s STM32 microcontrollers, BlueNRG ultra-low-power network processors, and digital MEMS microphones. All these are available in stackable development boards for easy prototyping.

Bluetooth Low Energy also offers advantages alongside Wi-Fi and ZigBee in remote-control units (RCU) for home automation systems. ST’s development platform with BlueVoice software is ideal for implementing voice and gesture control using a MEMS microphone and motion sensors, to implement a more intuitive and natural user interface.

Based on the STM32Cube platform, the new osxBlueVoice middleware and BlueVoiceLink software development kit (SDK) are part of the open.AUDIO licensing program, which supports designers working with ST’s MEMS digital microphones. open.AUDIO is linked to the STM32 Open Development Environment, which provides powerful support for designers using STM32 ARM Cortex 32-bit microcontrollers in embedded projects.

The BlueVoiceLink SDK can be downloaded free of charge for evaluation and development at www.st.com/bluevoicelink-nb. Activation is easy using the licensing wizard tool included in the distribution package, and volume-licence terms are straightforward and business-friendly for use in competitively priced end products.

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