What's Next for Audible Text Messaging?

Now that Ford and Microsoft have taken on audible text messaging with the SYNC® connectivity system, it seems we're entering a brave new world where gadgets do even more work than they've done in the past. If audible text messaging becomes universal, you won't have to worry about cramping your fingers over tiny keys when you want to ask your best friend how her day went at work.

Audible text messaging is still very much in its infancy. With SYNC®, for example, you can hear the text messages you receive through the system, but you can't type back a custom message. You can only send off a generic message if you need to make a quick reply.

The most immediate issue concerning audible text messaging, however, appears to be safety. If you are able to write a text message using only voice commands, for example, drivers won't be tempted to try to type out messages by hand while they are driving. The same goes for "reading" text messages sent by someone else; the goal of audible texting seems to keep drivers' eyes on the road.

However, like all other forms of technology, this one area of audible text messaging is likely to expand and infiltrate other areas of communication, not the least of which being services for the disabled. Audible text messaging would be of significant value to blind individuals who are unable to read messages by sight. If a blind person could operate his or her cell phone exclusively with voice commands, life would be considerably enhanced. The same goes for paraplegics and quadriplegics who are unable to use their hands to operate these types of devices.

According to the Miami New Times, Blackberry is currently working with Ford and Microsoft on the SYNC® system to enhance audible text messaging. Currently it is only useful on the receiving end of texts, but the future certainly holds upgrades in voice recognition software used on mobile phones.

Of course, the future of audible text messaging also holds some unanswered questions about user's privacy and other legal issues. Already, e-mails and other electronic communication is made available during discovery for civil and criminal proceedings, and many people do not understand the consequences of communicating in this way.

The benefits of audible text messaging to law enforcement and prosecutors are enormous, but this also means that people will have to be more careful about how and when they disclose certain information such as trade secrets, for example. I've written before about how slow the law is to catch up to technological advances, and this is just one part of the picture.

Furthermore, it will be a while before audible text messaging is sufficiently intelligent to accurately relay messages back and forth. If you are trying to send a text message using voice commands, for instance, and you misspeak or the software misunderstands you, this could wreak havoc in your personal and professional life. It is important to be wary of new technology and to rely on old methods until new ones are well-developed.