Voice Activation communication
Voice Operated Transmission (VOX) is a great example of where technology is an integrated, non-intrusive means to enhance worker’s efficiency, safety and communication ability.
Benefits of hands free communication are seemingly endless. The ability to talk to someone in the same manner as if they were right next to you without any push-to-talk (PTT) action, is where VOX technology excels.
This type of operability allows the user of VOX to talk freely using speech as a trigger for voice transmission. All the user has to do is start talking and it will instantly transmit the voice of the user and cut off when the user stops talking, leaving both hands free to work and increasing workflow.
Where safety is concerned, VOX allows workers to communicate while having four points of contact (their hands and feet) instead of three. Whether it is climbing a ladder, working on a production line or where the situation requires all hands and feet for a task, VOX will enable safe communication practice.
There are two different types of VOX operability.
One is MOTOTRBO VOX, which utilises a voice activity detector to qualify the audio received at the VOX microphone as voice. Only voice like audio at particular frequencies will cause the radio to key-up (transmit). Any non-voice like audio is ignored, ensuring background noise doesn’t create a false trigger of radio transmission.
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For the Motorola Professional Series (WARIS) two-way radios, VOX differs because it transmits when the audio signal reaches an absolute threshold or specific volume, activating transmission. This means the microphone will pick up an audio signal if it’s loud enough and in close proximity to the microphone itself.
Another feature of VOX for WARIS two-way radios which differs from MOTOTRBO VOX is the user can introduce a trigger word to start transmitting.
This means the user will pre-programme a word that will activate VOX to start transmiting. In high noise environments, MOTOTRBO VOX is ideal, as its voice activity detector has been designed to exclude background noise as a trigger for radio transmission.
There are some usage considerations when using VOX. If the radio operator is in close proximity to another person speaking loudly, their voice may trigger the system and transmit audio. The user’s radio behavior must change slightly, as anything that is said will be transmitted while using VOX. It’s also necessary to position the VOX microphone where ambient noise is minimised and where the microphone will pick up voice effectively. Users can also switch between VOX or standard PTT operation easily if they choose.
After these easy practices have been implemented VOX integrates seamlessly into a working environment, meaning you can focus on the task and not on your communication system. |
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