One of the irksome things about voice-recognition technology is that it often doesn’t recognize voices very well.
That makes Moshi’s line of voice-controlled clocks particularly attractive. In only one instance out of 10 did its travel alarm clock fail to understand a spoken command.
You speak a few simple phrases, like “set time” and “set alarm,” and the clock responds by asking you for the times you want. The company says its voice recognition works because it has combined two separate voice-recognition technologies and sampled 1,000 voices across the Northern Hemisphere.
Why would you want a voice-activated clock? If you’ve ever tried to set the alarm on a hotel’s clock radio as you prepare to fall asleep, you could appreciate this type of product.
And if you’re blind or have limited sight, setting a clock by simply speaking commands (and then having the time read to you) could be a godsend.
Moshi’s clocks range in price from $25 to $40. Features include indoor temperature readings, multiple wake-up sounds and the ability to change background colors. Eric A. Taub
