Why did GPS systems change from a computer voice to a human voice?
I am looking for any statistics or articles on what happened when GPS systems incorporated a human sounding voice. Did sales increase? I am researching the importance of voice tone and i thought GPS might be a good example.
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what would you rather hear?
Some of the reasons I have heard were:
1. Easier to understand
2. Less intimidating
Much like how many GPS systems have a female voice option; people feel less intimidated by a female voice.
Weird huh? It’s amazing what we learn about humans over time.
For systems that repeat a certain number of set phrases, a human voice works better because it’s easier to understand. An actual human voice can be recorded digitally and stored in a ROM chip, and this is simpler than a voice synthesizer (I was going to say it’s cheaper but they probably cost about the same).
A voice ROM can only repeat certain words and phrases that were recorded into it, so it has a smaller vocabulary. A voice synthesizer can say -anything-, but GPS’s don’t need that much vocabulary, just simple directions like ‘turn left’, ‘turn right’ ,etc.
Im assuming sales did increase otherwise it wouldnt have been done. Everything in business is done on the basis of profit