The first integration of Amazon’s well-known Alexa AI with LG hotel TVs using the powerful webOS smart TV platform has been co-developed by LG Electronics and Amazon using their respective strengths in the hospitality market.
“We believe the intuitive and accessible nature of voice and Alexa has the potential to help and delight customers in many scenarios, in and outside of the home,” said Liron Torres, Head of Alexa Smart Properties, Amazon. “We’re excited to extend the Alexa hospitality experience customers already love across technologies that work together, seamlessly.”
Later this year, hotel owners can upgrade both new and old LG hotel TVs running webOS 6.0 or 5.0 to provide visitors access to a personalised Alexa solution via LG’s far-field microphone array attachment.
According to Richard Lewis, vice president of technology and research at LG Business Solutions USA, the new microphone solution enables hotel operators to provide a natural language interface for TV and music navigation while allowing guests to connect with specific hospitality functions like ordering room service, pulling up a personalised weather report, or integrating with in-room devices for smart lighting, motorised window shades, and climate controls.
“As leaders in our respective disciplines, LG and Amazon have combined our strengths and experience to deliver hospitality operators a premium voice-controlled TV and media solution that matches or exceeds the capabilities guests are accustomed to in their homes,” said Lewis. “In addition to elevating the in-room experience for guests, this integrated TV solution simplifies property-wide system design and maintenance by eliminating the need for separate voice activated devices in the hotel room. With fewer total devices that require their own network connection, new installations can even achieve cost savings compared with existing multi-component voice-controlled solutions.”
A new solution was created to protect the guests’ privacy and security. Voice recordings are not accessible to properties, and the service is anonymous. Thus Amazon is not given knowledge of the speaker’s name.
The far-field microphone array solution is compatible with LG TV networks running Pro:Centric Direct software. This eliminates the need for a separate control system by turning the TV into a central hub for controlling compatible wireless smart devices.
The idea gives staff another method to alert visitors of essential information while saving properties money on gadget installations. According to Torres, customers will get a premium, simplified experience across all devices in their room without giving up any usefulness. For instance, hotel owners may create unique announcements for events, check-out reminders, and more that combine voice and on-screen information.
The microphone attachment fits the top of the TV and is powered by the USB port of the device. When visitors use the Alexa wake word to activate LG’s far-field microphone array upon arrival, it is immediately ready to answer requests, unlike other voice-controlled systems like push-to-talk remote controls. In addition, a mute button provides a handy option to disable voice control for those who would instead use a conventional remote.
The premier guest-room smart platform in the hotel sector, Amazon’s Alexa for Hospitality allows visitors to access services and amenities more quickly and conveniently with only their voice. According to Omdia, LG Business Solutions has a 61 per cent market share for the first quarter of 2022 in the US hotel in-room TV market. This outcome follows an excellent 2021 performance in which LG’s market share increased to 54 per cent for the whole year.
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