HARMAN Professional Solutions and IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) unveiled Voice-Enabled Cognitive Rooms.
Using IBM’s Watson artificial intelligence (AI) technology and HARMAN AKG microphones, JBL speakers and AMX AV control and switching systems, the companies bring connected experiences to medical facilities, corporate offices, hotels, cruise ships and other hospitality environments.
HARMAN is part of IBM’s cognitive collaboratories based in its $200 million Watson IoT global headquarters in Munich. In this facility, HARMAN is demonstrating the capabilities of its in-room cognitive concierge in a conference room setting. HARMAN team is also working with IBM designers, researchers and others to put IoT into the hands of enterprise customers.
IBM’s cognitive technologies are embedded into HARMAN soundbars and alarm clocks with other form factors being developed, that users can interact with using natural language. Consumers can ask questions or issue commands with their voice when in a room.
Requests can be sent to the Watson cloud and Watson IoT services, which work with HARMAN’S technology to allow people to easily control their in-room subsystems without having to physically perform any manual tasks and trying to figure the new systems out.
These capabilities are used by customers in including Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where patients can interact with in-room speakers that are connected to the IBM Watson IoT Platform. They can enhance their hospital experience by operating lights and window blinds without any manual assistance while asking questions about the hospital facilities.
“We’re solving a distinct problem in hotel, hospital and conference rooms, where people experience unfamiliar environments yet need to perform very simple tasks, such as changing room temperature, adjusting the lighting, opening the blinds, initiating conference calls or launching a presentation,” said Kevin Morrison, senior vice president of Enterprise Solutions for HARMAN Professional Solutions.
Leveraging HARMAN’s expertise in API integration, users can even employ Watson for service requests, including amenity replenishments, restaurant reservations, late checkout, room service, shuttle service and more.
“The result of this collaboration is simple, we are leveraging Watson and AI to bring connected environments to a multitude of locations, from hotels to hospitals and offices where they are transforming every day experiences,” said Harriet Green, general manager, Watson Internet of Things, Customer Engagement and Education, IBM.
Leveraging key Watson APIs such as Natural Language Understanding and Speech to Text, these rooms provide users with limited mobility and vision impairment a closer level of interaction with their environment. With Watson, guests can speak to the system without rigid syntax requirements, using simple commands like “would you turn off the lights?”
