Customer Experience

Storm ATP microphone has microphone activation sensor to address privacy concerns

Logo provided.

September 2, 2020

The Storm ATP microphone activation sensor features a visible and tactile microphone icon that indicates the presence of an active recording system, according to a press release. This addresses concerns about privacy as self-service terminals with voice recording, voice recognition or speech command features have been deployed in public locations.

The device also includes an infrared proximity sensor that can be used to activate a microphone for speech recording or voice commanded applications.

When a microphone is activated (live) the microphone icon is illuminated with a bright white light. An audio tone or message can also be triggered to indicate the mic is now "live." A confirmation key press or screen tap can also be requested to confirm agreement.

"It is our objective to provide high-fidelity voice reception within a strictly limited field of reception designated as the addressable zone," Peter Jarvis, senior executive vice president, said in the press release.

"This beam focusing technology limits voice reception or voice recording to the zone immediately in front of the terminal. Only when that zone is occupied by an informed (microphone aware) terminal user will the microphone be activated."

This defined field of reception and confirmed presence of a valid user also reduces the amount of non-relevant voice data analysis. As an example; consider a drive-through food ordering point. If the beam focused microphone can be automatically muted when there is no one in the addressable zone, then the system is not required to continuously analyze or differentiate between traffic noise, barking dogs and a human voice to correctly interpret a valid food order.

This method of targeted voice analysis can be achieved by use of the mic activation sensor used in combination with Storm's beam focused far field voice array microphone.

Image courtesy of Storm Assistive Technology Products.