Experience the MLOVE!

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxLm739bhsCGDEPimrZIRJVvogHVRyj7JSNXIuXmbLu3sBrUdpymV0_1vg-xbkHV9E_J8Scv89-iHaMKw6OOOuLvJluSDc8LN6p1hXS7kZ5JfizjRT0yErNQQo4lrHFz5Hi5HrQn2Nj4/s1600/justin_moon_qnx_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxLm739bhsCGDEPimrZIRJVvogHVRyj7JSNXIuXmbLu3sBrUdpymV0_1vg-xbkHV9E_J8Scv89-iHaMKw6OOOuLvJluSDc8LN6p1hXS7kZ5JfizjRT0yErNQQo4lrHFz5Hi5HrQn2Nj4/s1600/justin_moon_qnx_photo.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Justin Moon</b></td></tr></tbody></table>The Monterey Peninsula is arguably one of the most inspiring backdrops for a conference on the planet. I couldn’t think of a better place to hold this year’s <a href="http://www.mloveconfestival.com/">MLOVE Confestival USA</a>. MLOVE brings together thought leaders, business innovators, and forward thinking engineers in the mobile space for three days of inspirational talks and thought-provoking workshops. The goal of the conference is quite simply to inspire attendees and spark innovation. This year the QNX team pulled out all the stops — not only did we have a speaking slot but the <a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.ca/2013/01/its-bentley-guided-tour-of-new-qnx.html">QNX technology concept car</a> (a specially modified Bentley) was front and center throughout the entire conference.<br /><br /><b>Day 1</b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFda5buc8sHJBtF2pJ_HX70RBfFjuHrE8I4ZDU_bSPBIeOb7p8QvmRenUZWUKQklO4kupssuwuBxlje5QjnOaxK6L_3BdjQEuSogX2umSmn1Z9w69Sc_vGy2EUF-oiWeEQKMnGeuhn3M/s1600/mlove_logo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFda5buc8sHJBtF2pJ_HX70RBfFjuHrE8I4ZDU_bSPBIeOb7p8QvmRenUZWUKQklO4kupssuwuBxlje5QjnOaxK6L_3BdjQEuSogX2umSmn1Z9w69Sc_vGy2EUF-oiWeEQKMnGeuhn3M/s1600/mlove_logo.JPG" /></a>MLOVE was the first outdoor public demonstration of the Bentley, so <a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.ca/2012/11/from-out-behind-curtain.html">Mark Rigley</a> and I started the day by putting the car through its paces. Connectivity? Check. Screens visible in the sunlight? Got it. Input, voice, touch, media? All good! In the afternoon we demonstrated the Bentley to delegates from a wide range of mobile companies. Kudos to our talented concept development team for flawless execution. <br /><br />The evening’s festivities were in the key of inspiration. A very engaging talk by Maurice Conti of Autodesk on future trends was the opening salvo. Steve Brown, producer and director at Spark Pictures, introduced a feature film that showcases passion and empowerment during the <a href="http://www.burningman.com/">Burning Man Festival</a>. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QRHNk4VBSwRlaTchlZg10tEF499-GHYlvROc_n1Zy0tMWwlRbdyD9rUu92wTsOOXBuAh7sGdQYkFNNG9bAGFVMbzmNowEiGrbDRthVyxfM8pN8jShxLmRKHYU7Z-_SDwD3yQFkhxCeQ/s1600/QNX_concept_car_Bentley_center_stack_3d_navigation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QRHNk4VBSwRlaTchlZg10tEF499-GHYlvROc_n1Zy0tMWwlRbdyD9rUu92wTsOOXBuAh7sGdQYkFNNG9bAGFVMbzmNowEiGrbDRthVyxfM8pN8jShxLmRKHYU7Z-_SDwD3yQFkhxCeQ/s1600/QNX_concept_car_Bentley_center_stack_3d_navigation.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Inside the Bentley</b> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Day 2</b><br />The second day was jam-packed with presentations, an open space interactive ideation session, and even a startup competition. The focus of the day’s presentations included the internet of things, wearable computing, artificial intelligence, and transformational media. Highlights included discussions not just on the digitization and connectivity of things, but on the over-arching experience contained within the idea. We also learned what space startup <a href="http://www.nanosatisfi.com/">Nanosatisfi</a> is doing with lightweight, inexpensive satellites (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CubeSat">CubeSats</a>) that users can rent for experiments. Talk about the Internet of Things! Each break in the action saw the Bentley come back into focus with engaging conversations as well as demonstrations.<br /><br /><b>Day 3</b><br />Connected Vehicle day! Day 3 saw a very passionate set of presentations focusing on connected vehicles and how we will interact with them. Topics included direct interaction (the fusion of mobile and automotive technology), inter-vehicle communication, and interaction with city infrastructure. I had the opportunity (and the pleasure) to deliver a talk around reshaping the mobile and automotive user experience. The exclamation point to my presentation was the seamless interaction between my mobile device and the Bentley, which was just outside the conference area. Not only did I speak about the possibilities, I demonstrated them.<br /><br /><b>Moving the needle</b><br />MLOVE is about innovative people coming together to discuss future trends in mobility, to figure out what needs to be done to move the needle, and generally to be inspired by the experience. Ideation was abundant and minds were blown. Thank you MLOVE — now I have so much more to think about! In all seriousness, great conference, great ideas, great people, a great experience.<br /><br /><br />

Experience the MLOVE!

Justin Moon The Monterey Peninsula is arguably one of the most inspiring backdrops for a conference on the planet. I couldn’t think of a bet...

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Meet the QNX concept team: Alex James, software engineer

<div style="text-align: right;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac2dDanX3agaKuHFmPPEXXADh82yL-WZ8rxe4w1vEdXXZj1WzMTn8DxuuSHxrSPOBeUFGG13Uj_Vh003vitrfPisEy_KJSL05pYB8pPtarF5IijedNJ_fPmRsGa17kt4YqLu0YwIVu88/s1600/kim_cairns_title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac2dDanX3agaKuHFmPPEXXADh82yL-WZ8rxe4w1vEdXXZj1WzMTn8DxuuSHxrSPOBeUFGG13Uj_Vh003vitrfPisEy_KJSL05pYB8pPtarF5IijedNJ_fPmRsGa17kt4YqLu0YwIVu88/s1600/kim_cairns_title.jpg" /></a>We continue our spotlight on the QNX concept development team with Alex James, who gives us his impressions of the Bentley and the buzz at 2013 CES.<br /><br />Besides attending CES, Alex worked on the latest <a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.ca/2013/01/its-bentley-guided-tour-of-new-qnx.html">QNX technology concept car</a> from conception to launch — an amazing experience for any software engineer. <br /><br />Working with bleeding-edge technologies sometimes brings unexpected challenges, along with interesting opportunities, as Alex discovered. <br /><br />If you haven't had a chance to meet the other team members, you can read their stories<a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.ca/search/label/Concept%20team"> here</a>. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UYUedfRLIRc?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />

Meet the QNX concept team: Alex James, software engineer

We continue our spotlight on the QNX concept development team with Alex James, who gives us his impressions of the Bentley and the buzz at 2...

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Fortune Profiles QNX Software Systems

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMqLMG4uRYIBGHO_3EDY2l-iA8U4UATEJI14VuO7seVxXDG0UBieY2wn8FytPx2bk10ZjtSCLZRunqR3XZRomweUnUPM2-xOZeELd-4odUyKQVZyLg5ILBybAS3eG1gRSNIWqDsm2GNM/s1600/andy_gryc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMqLMG4uRYIBGHO_3EDY2l-iA8U4UATEJI14VuO7seVxXDG0UBieY2wn8FytPx2bk10ZjtSCLZRunqR3XZRomweUnUPM2-xOZeELd-4odUyKQVZyLg5ILBybAS3eG1gRSNIWqDsm2GNM/s1600/andy_gryc.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the latest issue of Fortune magazine, Kurt Wagner takes a look at the history of QNX and specifically highlights our leadership in the automotive industry. In the article, Kurt mentions the automotive companies we are working with — including Audi, Toyota, BMW, Porsche, Honda and more — and also provides a look at the technology concept car we unveiled at CES 2013, based on a Bentley Continental GTC.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To quote Kurt, “…the $191,000 luxury vehicle quickly became a must-see attraction, not for its curvaceous sheet metal but for its futuristic dashboard inside, featuring a massive 17-inch touchscreen, 3-D maps, even videoconferencing.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can read the full article in the April 8 issue of Fortune or on the web <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/21/technology/qnx-auto-software.pr.fortune/index.html?pw_log=in" target="_blank">here </a>(requires a subscription). Want to see more of this gorgeous technology concept car? Go behind the scenes and take a full<a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.com/2013/01/its-bentley-guided-tour-of-new-qnx.html" target="_blank"> tour</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rvaSWqxMg6k" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>

Fortune Profiles QNX Software Systems

In the latest issue of Fortune magazine, Kurt Wagner takes a look at the history of QNX and specifically highlights our leadership in the au...

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Hello, Bentley: Using Sensory speech technology to create a natural user experience

<i><b>By Bernard Brafman, Sensory Inc., and Justin Moon, QNX Software Systems</b></i><br /><br />In-vehicle infotainment systems are becoming more and more complex, and integral to the overall driving experience. As this trend continues, it will become increasingly important to create systems that support multiple forms of user interaction. If you’re driving, the last thing you want to do is enter a destination manually, or search for your favorite artist in a playlist by using a touch screen, jog wheel, or other manual input method. Drivers want and require a user experience that is both simple and natural; integration of speech recognition technology goes a long way toward achieving that goal.<br /><br />In fact, speech recognition is a key component of the latest <a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.ca/2013/01/its-bentley-guided-tour-of-new-qnx.html">QNX technology concept car</a>, a modified Bentley Continental GT. The speech rec system lets you plot a route or select your favorite artist using natural speech, but it goes even further by letting you simply ask the car to perform an action. Leveraging Sensory’s FluentSoft SDK, more specifically the <a href="http://www.sensoryinc.com/products/trulyhandsfreevoicecontrol.html">TrulyHandsfree</a><small>^TM</small> Voice Control technology, the QNX concept development team implemented keyword spotting techniques to interact with the vehicle.<br /><br />So how does this work? Well, let’s say you’re in Vegas and need directions to the Wynn Casino. To engage the cloud-based Watson speech system, you simply say “Hello Bentley” — no need to push a button. You then complete the request by saying “Take me to the Wynn Casino.” FluentSoft, along with the architecture of the advanced speech recognition system included in the <a href="http://www.qnx.com/products/qnxcar/index.html">QNX CAR platform</a>, allowed the team to create this seamless, easily implemented, and well-executed voice interaction experience.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eJyUCkLUKIeZrN1MoheZMFav6gkhAHxm0l9bP8zwW5eLt3BtaTef4KlTV-JniWGnY2AhVzoLMH1BOxpnh4-ZS2r_vlOWH5PefmEGEQgUggDonAT-LKgriVtcRRBPC74Oz1hS-MGdcmY/s1600/bentley_speech_rec_activated.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eJyUCkLUKIeZrN1MoheZMFav6gkhAHxm0l9bP8zwW5eLt3BtaTef4KlTV-JniWGnY2AhVzoLMH1BOxpnh4-ZS2r_vlOWH5PefmEGEQgUggDonAT-LKgriVtcRRBPC74Oz1hS-MGdcmY/s1600/bentley_speech_rec_activated.jpg" /></a> <br /><b>When you say “Hello Bentley,” the QNX concept car displays a visual prompt at the top of the screen, indicating that the speech rec system is now listening for natural speech or directed commands.</b><br /><br /><b>Multiple triggers</b><br />The team plans to further utilize Sensory technology in future concept car releases. The current implementation has the single “Hello Bentley” trigger, which engages the speech system. But TrulyHandsfree Voice Control supports multiple active triggers as well as a robust recognition vocabulary to create a rich command-and-control user experience that doesn’t require prompts or pauses. Thus, it’s possible to create a hybrid system that is seamless and transparent to the user. For instance, “Hello Bentley air 68 degrees” or “Hello Bentley what time is it in Tokyo?” can both be executed flawlessly, regardless of which speech rec system is engaged.<br /><br /><b>A matter of choice</b><br />For an even more personalized experience, this technology can allow drivers to create their own custom trigger with a simple one-time enrollment process that verifies their identity as a voice password or identifies one of several previously enrolled. This creates a custom experience not only by letting you choose your own trigger phrases (come on now, who hasn’t named their car at some point?), but also by recalling individual preferences such as seat position, steering wheel position, and multimedia presets.<br /><br />Look for these enhanced features in concept cars to come!<br /><br /><hr /><br /><i>Bernard Brafman is vice president of business development for Sensory, Inc., responsible for strategic business partnerships. He received his MSEE from Stanford University. Contact Bernard at <a href="mailto:bbrafman@sensoryinc.com">bbrafman@sensoryinc.com</a><br /><br />Justin Moon is a global technical evangelist for the automotive business development team at QNX Software Systems. </i><br /><br />

Hello, Bentley: Using Sensory speech technology to create a natural user experience

By Bernard Brafman, Sensory Inc., and Justin Moon, QNX Software Systems In-vehicle infotainment systems are becoming more and more complex, ...

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Designing interfaces from the outside in

<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE-fzF4aHr43I4C4B7ADcfOfyqUo138zCpAcup3Vg-o_fSEmlzW6ZsuY6WLeCXyFrJwpgsXCGBOzXy7YPOrPqUecngxY4BlhuhE8O935cTCDTf_AeEbWx8TczSDFtuzuU3hifz_Acq3U/s1600/nancy_young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE-fzF4aHr43I4C4B7ADcfOfyqUo138zCpAcup3Vg-o_fSEmlzW6ZsuY6WLeCXyFrJwpgsXCGBOzXy7YPOrPqUecngxY4BlhuhE8O935cTCDTf_AeEbWx8TczSDFtuzuU3hifz_Acq3U/s1600/nancy_young.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">User interfaces are a pet peeve of mine.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m one of those people whose VCR always blinked 12:00. Not because I couldn’t figure it out but because I resented that I had to.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Basically, I have neither the time nor the inclination to read manuals. If I’m paying good money for a consumer-facing product then it better not require an engineering degree to use it.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not surprisingly, then, I think UI design is every bit as important as product; maybe even more so. Because if your user experience sucks, make no mistake; I will be walking and talking to your competitors.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It wasn’t until I entered the glamorous world of software development that I came to the following conclusion: Interfaces are complicated because development tools require an engineer (or similarly brilliant individual) to use them. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course this is a sweeping statement and I’ll gladly debate it but the point is this: Someone with unique skills and knowledge about user-centric design should be creating interfaces. Not someone who knows the product from the inside out.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know in a traditional model this can create a lot of churn but companies like Crank Software have come up with a way to decouple the roles of embedded engineer and UI designer, allowing them to work in parallel while focusing on their individual core competencies.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I spoke to several members of the <a href="http://qnxauto.blogspot.ca/search/label/Concept%20team">QNX concept development team</a> when they were heavily embroiled in creating the latest technology concept car. It was<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>obvious when talking to the engineers and the UI designers that <a href="http://www.cranksoftware.com/products/crank_storyboard_suite.php">Crank’s Storyboard</a> made both jobs that much easier and the process a whole lot quicker. The end result, achieved in a very short time frame, speaks for itself.</span></div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OV6hSAyck9c" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is great news for people like me who curse like sailors whenever using a remote, microwave, GPS, treadmill, camera, and so on. Indeed, I'm counting on teams like QNX and Crank to ensure the digital car is an enjoyable and intuitive  experience. If not, I do know who I'm gonna call.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>

Designing interfaces from the outside in

User interfaces are a pet peeve of mine. I’m one of those people whose VCR always blinked 12:00. Not because I couldn’t figure it out but be...

Read more »