Wearable Intelligent Reporting Environment

Ret10Echo · 08-29-2007, 05:48

I have my own opinion on this...

Lockheed Martin's Spoken-Language-Understanding Technology to Aid Warfighters and First Responders

August 28, 2007: 09:36 AM EST

CHERRY HILL, N.J., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin today announced the development of the Wearable Intelligent Reporting Environment (WIRE), a spoken-language-understanding system for military mobile and dismounted operations and potentially for first responders.

Patrolling warfighters typically report items of interest via radio or they rely on memory upon return to base. In some instances, radio is ill suited to effectively transmit certain types of reports. And relying on memory for details -- often hours after return to base -- may introduce error into the planning and intelligence-gathering processes. Even using the emerging digital notebook requires hands on and eyes down attention, which may jeopardize safety and mission success.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...28082007-1.htm

nmap · 08-29-2007, 06:26

Fascinating technology - though I cannot help wondering how it will work in real life.

A program I'm rather fond of, Dragon Naturally Speaking, converts speech to text or commands fairly well. However - it's necessary to train the program for each speaker. And if the user's voice is distorted by excitement, stress, or mild illness, the accuracy diminishes. Of course, the Lockheed version is sure to be superior in many ways...

On the other hand, if it works really well, I wonder if a few years hence we might not replace the human element in a variety of business applications. One that comes to mind is the drive-up window at fast food places. And putting one of these on a police officer or physician might also be helpful.

Interesting times! Thank you for posting it, Sir!

SF_BHT · 08-29-2007, 07:33

OK I love gadgets and have used USG software that is speech related (Dragon Naturally Speaking) but ..........

As a Soldier today you already have a lot of items that you carry and need on the battle field today. Why do I need to get wired with another. They did not show the item and I can only imagine that it is a little case with mic's and a wired camera (another cable harness to put on). I assume that with this I just talk and it paraphrases into a salute format info as they mentioned. Well what if it is on during other activities like #$$#^#$ at your team mates or your interview with a guy who just tried to blow your head off. It might record a bit of info that may not replay well back in the rear or if you are injured higher gets it and reviews it and opens a Article 32 on you for a perceived misconduct that they perceive.

I have found that my little digital recorder worked well to make notes at the right time and I prepare the info later when you return from the Opn and stand down/Debrief. Also nowadays everyone has a little digital camera so the pictures are solved. Now that I am in a LEO job I understand their mindset ref recordings. When the buy-bust starts going bad and the Cav starts coming through the door some one always trips over the power cord which turns off the recorder.

This could save you a lot of heart ache later. There are too many ACLU types that would love to rake you thought he coals. Just look at the 2 SF guys from ASTAN on their Article 32 that is going on. You bet that if this device is fielded that you will not have access to download or review Just like LEO's and their car cams. Big brother (Higher) wants control because he does not trust you. Just my thoughts.
Some time low tech is the answer not lets wire everyone up and play war games. Sure Lockeed Martin wants to sell it, I deal with them all the time and they are only in it for the $$$$$$.

kachingchingpow · 08-29-2007, 08:30

For quite a while I managed a software development team for one of the leaders in the call center monitoring market ("your call may be monitored for quality assurance purposes.") A layoff scattered several of us, but a group of close friends started a company that is in the same technological space as the Lockheed technology. Their target market is direct sales training. A sales person wears a recording device, and at the end of the day drops the device in a cradle in the backoffice. The data is pushed to a remote facility where the data is then analyzed and acted upon. Again the purpose here is more for sales training, making sure that a sales person is doing what management wants them to do. The device they started with was an Ipod, but I believe the new device is small enough act as both a name/id tag as well as the recorder.

Voice recognition technology is pretty cool, and is definately within site of widespread use. They've sold a multi-million dollar contract to the GA National Guard for recruiters to use. The guard will use it to improve their recruiting techniques and reduce MEPPS turnbacks.

PM if anyone is interested in co. names, etc.

**Razor** · 08-29-2007, 08:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ret10Echo

Lockheed Martin's Spoken-Language-Understanding Technology...

Gee, I wonder why they used the WIRE acronym instead of the obvious.

**The Reaper** · 08-29-2007, 09:08

Not a fan of this device.

Soldiers are not cops.

Big brother (or sister, in President Hillary's case) will be watching, and telling you what to do.

Remember Aliens?

TR

Ret10Echo · 08-29-2007, 09:12

Kaching...

"making sure that a sales person is doing what management wants them to do. "

That says a LOT about intent and is exactly what bothers me about this...

"ANYthing you say can and will be used...."

Talk about the Monday morning quartebacks coming out of the woodwork.

(where is that off switch)

**Peregrino** · 08-29-2007, 09:40

Ranks right up there with the cameras slaved to the sniper scopes. Not something I consider a good idea. I use DNS and I've used micro cassette recorders as memory/translation aids. I appreciate the assistance they provide; however, I control the final product. Ret10Echo said it best: "anything you say can and will be used". Definitely not a fan. Peregrino