Home Smart 100 2014 OTTO (VIC) — 2014 SMART 100

OTTO (VIC) — 2014 SMART 100

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This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.

1. THE BEGINNING

This innovation came to life when…

I became increasingly frustrated with the amount of technology available to us in the car that was not user-friendly and safe for a driver. Phones, SMS, music, Facebook! All potential forms of distraction, not so much because of what they are but how you have to use them. What if there was a way to send an SMS safely without taking your eyes off the road or your hands off the wheel?

2. WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

The purpose of this innovation is to enable drivers to stay connected to people, information and entertainment, safely! So rather than introduce fines and pretend that drivers won’t try to access their phones, accept that they will but find a way for them to do it safely.

It does this by…

It does this by creating an ecosystem within an Android app that allows for many of the often used functions such as SMS, calling and radio to be accessed and controlled purely through voice. OTTO is always listening and responds to conversational dialog so there are no buttons to push or screens to look at.

3. PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

OTTO is always listening and unlike SIRI for the iPhone, does not require a button to listen like a walkie talkie. The other critical difference is that you can move between functions just by asking OTTO. So if I have just listened to some news articles, I can then ask OTTO to play some music or read my emails.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Being able to concentrate on driving without distractions. It also means that if you are on a drive for a considerable time, you are able to still remain connected via email, SMS, Facebook, Twitter, etc. whilst continuing to drive.

4. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

In the past, this problem was solved by either pulling over to the side of the road and delaying your trip to safely perform these functions or commonly people accessing their phones illegally in their lap whilst driving. Some voice apps like SIRI and Google are attempting to address these issues but they still require some level of physical interaction with the phone.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

SIRI is probably the most well known virtual assistant that does some tasks very well but still does not cater for the driver’s needs. Google’s voice recognition engine is improving on this with Google Now but not there yet.

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5. TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

It is made for anyone who drives a car and has a need to be connected to the Internet for information, entertainment or communication. Initially aimed at end-users, OTTO will also be tailored to vertical markets such as taxi and logistics companies, car hire and then into other segments that include home automation, smart appliances and in wearable tech.

It is available for sale through…

OTTO will be available initially as an Android app through the Google Play Store followed by an iOS version for Apple devices.

Our marketing strategy is to…

OTTO will be available via the app stores for FREE. This is to enable as many people as possible to at least download and try the software. A publicity campaign will drive users to the stores. Once we receive a strong install base, the app will remain free to download but will include some premium features as in-app purchases.

Your Turn — VOTE!

The Readers’ Choice Index was created to provide an opportunity for Anthill readers to vote on SMART 100 applications, in one of three ways:

  1. Tweet it: Top left of each page (3 points)
  2. Trigger a Reaction: Facebook ‘Like’, etc (2 points)
  3. Leave a Comment: Anonymous comments excluded (1 points)

We’ll use your vote to create the 2014 SMART 100 Readers’ Choice Index.

FINE PRINT
This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.