A new University of Utah study funded by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that, when compared to talking to a live person on a cell phone, using speech recognition technology to command devices while driving resulted in “a relatively high level of cognitive distraction,” according to MyStar. Based on this study, MyStar, a marketing company that provides branded personal assistance service to auto dealerships, feels that its service has once again been proven to be a more effective alternative to voice-recognition apps.
“Last year, a J.D. Power quality study reported that drivers are frustrated by voice-activated navigation systems because they have problems understanding commands,” said Ken Ferguson, president of MyStar Personal Assistant. “Now this new study shows that using voice-recognition apps can be very dangerous. These reports are indicating what we have always known: using a live assistant to help with directions and other searches is not only more effective than using automated technology of any kind, it’s also much safer.”
According to MyStar, nothing compares to speaking with a real human being. Devices that can’t recognize vocal commands are not only frustrating, it has now been proven to be distracting and dangerous. That’s why the company has been helping dealerships and OEMs provide live personal assistant service to drivers successfully for years. Its professional assistants understand exactly what drivers are saying, and help them with whatever they need 24 hours a day so they can safely focus on the road.
“For almost 10 years, MyStar’s live branded personal assistance service has been an integral part of the success of major dealerships and OEMs in the United States and Canada,” added Ferguson. “Including our world-class service with the purchase of every car helps distinguish them from their competition. It’s a valuable—and effective—addition to their ‘why buy here’ story.”
Dealership customers can access the 24/7 personal assistance service by cell phone in and out of the car to get answers on any topic or have tasks performed for them. At the same time, the branded service keeps the dealership’s name in front of customers long after they purchase a car. When customers dial their dedicated toll-free number, a friendly assistant greets them by name and delivers the dealership's customized greeting. At the end of the call, customers hear the dealership's name again with a tagline, slogan and custom message. The program also includes a MyStar mobile app branded in the dealership’s name that makes contacting an assistant even easier. One major OEM recently programmed access to the MyStar service into its telematics system. So now drivers can contact a live MyStar agent quickly and safely with the touch of a button.
For more information on MyStar, call Ken Ferguson at 877-235-1411 or visit mystarauto.com.
