2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class navigation system

309 Control systems
Voice Control introduction
Voice Control introduction
The Voice Control System gives you the ca-
pability to control the following systems on
your vehicle using spoken commands:

Telephone* (
page 313)


Navigation (
page 320)


Address book (
page 330)


Audio (
page 334) (AM/FM radio,
CD/DVD changer, MP3 player)You control these systems using spoken
commands. Moreover, controls such as
the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 311) allow you to keep your
hands on the steering wheel.
The command vocabulary consists of
approximately 300 ready to use phrases.
The Voice Control System recognizes com-
mands and number sequences, irrespec-
tive of the speaker. To optimize speech
recognition for your voice follow the indi-
vidualization process (
page 355).
You can use the Voice Control System to
call up all of COMAND’s main menu items,
with the exception of the main menus for
“Vehicle” and “Navi”.The commands and digit sequences can be
spoken without pausing between the indi-
vidual words. If an unavailable or incorrect
command is used, the Voice Control Sys-
tem will prompt you for a new command by
asking “Please repeat” or “Please repeat
your entry”.
In order to provide for a safe and comfort-
able dialog, the Voice Control System ac-
knowledges important commands.

310 Control systemsVoice Control introductionSpelling
You may not need to spell the entire name
(street, intersection, city or point of inter-
est) especially if the name is lengthy. Spell-
ing the first three to five characters of the
name should be sufficient for the system
to recognize the name provided it is avail-
able on the navigation DVD.
The selection appearing on the COMAND
display is sorted based on your recognized
voice input and a matching algorithm.
You can use the commands “Next page” or
“Previous page” to scroll up or down in the
list.
Use the command “Correction” to start
over by again spelling the name.
Speak each character as clearly as you
can, especially when they sound very simi-
lar (d or e).
Command types
The Voice Control System commands can
be categorized as:

General Commands
These are commands always available
to you as soon as the Voice Control
System is activated (for example
“Help” commands).


Local Commands
These are commands specific to the
currently active system shown in the
COMAND display (for example com-
mands to control the CD/DVD chang-
er).
For a complete list of commands
(
page 340).
Active System
The active system is the system currently
shown in the COMAND display.
If, for example, you listen to the radio while
the telephone system is active on the
COMAND display, you have to switch to
the radio using the command “Radio” be-
fore you can operate the radio.
i
During Voice Control System operation visu-
al help windows also appear in the COMAND dis-
play (page 312).

312 Control systemsVoice Control introductionSetting volume level
Activate Voice Control.

Speak a command, for example “Help”.

Pressæ orç. The volume is in-
creased or decreased during voice out-
put.
or

Set volume for voice output using the
COMAND volume thumbwheel on the
lower part of the front center console
(page 98).
Displays
COMAND Display
In addition to the acoustic help function,
a visual help function (
page 261) is avail-
able on the COMAND display.
Upon activating the Voice Control, the
most important available commands for
the currently active system appear on the
COMAND display.When the Voice Control System requires
additional information from the user, a se-
lection list is shown on the COMAND dis-
play in the address book and navigation
system.
1COMAND display
Multifunction display
For example: telephone numbers are
shown on the multifunction display while
dialing when the main “Telephone” menu
is selected in the instrument cluster con-
trol system.1Multifunction display
Symbols
The following symbols are found in follow-
ing Voice Control System pages:s
This symbol stands for commands
and voice entries you are speaking.
t
This symbol stands for voice output
by the system.
u
This symbol indicates that informa-
tion is available on the COMAND
display.

320 Control systemsVoice Control navigationImportant notesWarning!
G
For safety reasons, you should only select a
destination when the vehicle is stationary.
While the navigation system provides direc-
tional assistance, the driver must remain fo-
cused on safe driving behavior, especially
attention to traffic and street signs, and
should utilize the system’s audio cues while
driving.
The navigation system does not supply any
information on stop signs, yield signs, traffic
regulations or traffic safety rules. Their ob-
servance always remains in the driver’ per-
sonal responsibility. DVD maps do not cover
all areas nor all routes within an area.
Traffic regulations always have priority over
any route recommendations given.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 13.5 m) every second.
During route guidance, you will not receive
information on:

traffic lights


stop and yield signs


parking or stopping zones


one-way streets


narrow bridges, or


other traffic regulation data.
You should therefore always strictly observe
traffic regulations while driving. Drive care-
fully and always obey traffic laws and road
signs, even if they contradict navigation sys-
tem instructions.
Warning!
G
Please do not use the Voice Control System
in an emergency, as the tone of your voice
may change in a stressful situation. This
could cause a delay in completing your
phone call in a timely manner. This could
distract you in an emergency situation and
cause you to be involved in an accident.
Warning!
G
Navigation announcements are intended to
direct you while driving without diverting
your attention from the road and driving.
Please always use this feature instead of
consulting the map display for directions.
Consulting the symbols or map display for
directions may cause you to divert your at-
tention from driving and increase your risk
of an accident.

321 Control systems
Voice Control navigation
Navigation operation
The Voice Control System allows you to

enter a state or province


enter a city


spell the name of a city


spell the name of district or center


spell the name of a street


spell the name of an intersection


enter a house number


enter a complete address


select one of your last destinations


enter a POI (point of interest)


select one of your last destinations


save a destination


navigate to a destination stored in the
destination memory of the address
book


start route guidance


display the map


zoom in or zoom out of the map


listen to the destination memory


cancel route guidance


turn guide instructions on or off
Before you can operate navigation using
the Voice Control System, you have to ac-
tivate the Voice Control System
(
page 311).
Selecting navigation mode

Press!.

Speak the command “Navigation”.

Press!.

Speak one of the navigation com-
mands.
Navigation commands
For a complete list of commands
(page 340).
“Help navigation”/“Help”
Use the command “Help navigation” or
“Help” to read out an option list of avail-
able functions and commands that can be
used in conjunction with the navigation
system.
“Enter state”,“Enter province”
Use the command “Enter state” or “Enter
province” to select a different state or
province on the navigation DVD.
i
You cannot start the route guidance until all
necessary address data has been entered.

322 Control systemsVoice Control navigationSample dialog:s
Enter state
t
Please say the name of the state
s
New York
u
The system shows a numbered list
of states recognized by the system
t
Please select a line number
s
Number two
or to accept, say
s
Yes
t
State accepted
The selected entry is adopted from the list.
“Last states”
Use the command “Last states” to select a
state or province from among a number of
last selected states or provinces.
Dialog for entering a complete address
“Enter destination”
Use the command “Enter destination” to
enter a complete destination address.
The system guides you through the dialog.
As soon as a valid address has been en-
tered, you can start route guidance or save
the destination. For information on spelling
(page 327).
Sample dialog:
s
Enter destination
t
Please spell a New York street
name
s
B-R-O-A-D-W
u
The system displays a numbered
list of matching street names on
the COMAND display
t
Please select a line number
s
Number two
t
Number two accepted
t
Do you want to enter a house num-
ber?
s
No
t
Do you want to enter an intersec-
tion?
s
No
t
Do you want to spell the town’s
name?
s
Yes
t
Please spell the town name
s
N-E-W-Y-O-R-K
u
The system displays a numbered
list of matching city names on the
COMAND display
t
Please select a line number
s
Number one

323 Control systems
Voice Control navigation
t
Number one accepted
t
Do you want to start route guid-
ance?
s
Yes
t
Starting route guidance
The system calculates the route and, upon
completing route calculation, starts route
guidance.“Points of interest”
Use the command “Points of interest” to
select a point of interest (POI) such as air-
ports, railroad stations, gas stations etc.
Sample dialog:
s
Points of interest
u
The system shows the following list
on the COMAND display:

current position


other town/city


Global POI
t
Please select a line number
s
Number one
u
The system displays a numbered
list of available POI categories:
Select POI category menu
t
Please select a line number
s
Number one
u
The system displays a numbered
list search categories: Find menu
t
Please select a line number
s
Number one
u
The system displays a numbered
list of airports sorted by distance
t
Please select a line number
s
Number one
t
Point of interest accepted
t
Do you want to start route guid-
ance?
s
Yes
t
Starting route guidance
i
You may not need to spell the entire name
(street, intersection, city or point of interest) es-
pecially if the name is lengthy. Spelling the first
three to five characters of the name should be
sufficient for the system to recognize the name
provided it is available on the navigation DVD.
i
The selection appearing on the COMAND
display is sorted based on your recognized voice
input and a matching algorithm.
You can use the commands “Continue” or
“Back” to scroll up or down in the list.
Use the command “Correction” to start over by
again spelling the name.
Speak each character as clearly as you can, es-
pecially when they sound very similar (d or e).
i
Depending on the number of categories and
POI’s available for a given area, the system may
display several lists on each of which you may
h a v e t o m a k e a s e l e c t i o n b y s p e a k i n g t h e d e s i r e d
line number or you have to spell the name of a
POI.

324 Control systemsVoice Control navigation“Next POI”
With the commands

“Next gas station”


“Next parking lot”


“Next Mercedes-Benz service”


“Next restaurant”


“Next hospital”
you can select POIs in your vicinity.
Sample dialog:
s
Next gas station
u
The system shows a numbered list
of gas stations on the COMAND dis-
play
t
Please select a line number
s
Number one
t
Number one accepted
t
Do you want to start route guid-
ance?
s
YesThe system calculates the route and, upon
completing route calculation, starts route
guidance.
“Last destinations”
Use the command “Last destinations” to
select a destination from among a number
of destinations last navigated to.
“Save destination”
Use the command “Save destination” to
save the current destination in the address
book. Sample dialog:
s
Save destination
t
Please say the name
s
John Smith
t
Please repeat the name
s
John Smith
t
Where do you want to save: home
or work?
s
Work
t
The destination has been saved
i
The Voice Control System may recognize
names even if not saved in your voice. For best
possible call-up performance, however, you
should speak and save the names you intend to
use yourself.
If an entry is already available in the address
book, the system will ask you if you would like to
add the address to the available entry.