Aloha from the Portal

This was on my black box short list. The time frame seemed right, and the kind of device seemed to match what Mulligan was talking about in the spring.

First got leaked/announced during CES earlier this year.

They got pretty quiet about the idea after hubbub about privacy earlier this year.



Digit

Tech Crunch

Hidden code confirms Facebook 'Portal' Smart Speaker and 'Aloha' voice recognition tool

Code dug out by a tipster confirms that Facebook is developing a speech recognition tool named Aloha. The code further confirms the name for Facebook's smart speaker in development.




Facebook is reportedly working on its own speech recognition technology called 'Aloha'. More information about Facebook’s ongoing efforts to develop a smart speaker with a display and a dedicated speech recognition tool has been outed by TechCrunch via frequent tipster and mobile researcher Jane Manchun Wong. 

Digging into the code of the Facebook and Messenger Android apps, Manchun found references to ‘Aloha’, a speech recognition tool which will help users dictate messages in Messenger as well as operate other Facebook services. Facebook is aiming this tool for its apps as well as external hardware, most likely, the rumoured Portal smart speaker that the company is said to be developing.

Dubbed ‘Aloha Voice Testing’ the feature is said to facilitate speech-to-text-to-speech conversion, allowing Messenger users more ways to interact with each other on the platform. The code found by Manchun shows a prototype of Aloha’s user interface in use on Messenger. A blue volume indicator can be seen in the form of a bar as words are dictated to Aloha and typed out in Messenger. This transcription tool can ease Messenger usage for older people and those with disabilities.