Commentary

Talk To The Headphones

I couldn't help myself. What a classic line: "Talk to the headphones." That's how this wireless on-ear headphones brand describes the voice search feature for the FIIL Diva Pro. The headphones are just one in thousands of products where consumers will search for content and information with their voice.

Chinese rock star Wang Feng created the headphones, which not only provide voice search, but motion sensors and 3D audio.

Saying "Hello FIIL" wakes up the voice search function. Commands like "search for Alan Jackson's 'Gone Country'" will search and then play the song. It can store up to 4G worth of music files—about 1,000 files—in the headphones.

Voice search lets the user search, play, and change or replay songs. They also can pause music and adjust the volume by running their finger on the outside of the headphone along sensors.

Wang Feng's now launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise $50,000 in 35 days as part of an effort to take pre-orders for the product. This project will only be funded if at least $50,000 is pledged by Tue, Oct 4, 2016 5:34 AM PDT. Even if this isn't funded there will be others that follow.

How many devices will marketers see by 2020? The weird and wacky world of predicting the future seems to have hit a snafu. Like Amy Nordrum from IEEE Spectrum writes "If you follow discussions about the Internet of Things, you’ve probably heard this stunning prediction at least once: The world will have 50 billion connected devices by 2020."

Now in 2016, of course we're not anywhere near that number. Nordrum estimates that the current count is somewhere between Gartner’s estimate of 6.4 billion, International Data Corporation’s estimate of 9 billion, both of which excludes smartphones, laptop and similar devices, and IHS’s estimate of 17.6 billion, which includes all the devices.

The move to voice search should have marketers thinking about optimization of content and advertisements. One marketer at the past Search Insider Summit told me it wasn't top of mind because the technology has yet to directly affect the brand.

The marketer's role in the transition to voice search will be one of the topics experts will discuss at the next Search Insider Summit this December in Park City, Utah. Join us.

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