How well does voice interaction work in space?

Voice interaction can assist crewmembers in the space environment in completing tasks by allowing hands-free control of supplemental equipment while they are restrained at a workstation task. This paper describes a voice interaction system evaluation. Both a hardware evaluation of a Macintosh Powerbook 170 portable computer system with an Audio-Technica PR08 Microphone and a software evaluation of the Voice Navigator software package were completed. The purpose of the study was to test, in a microgravity environment, the Electronic Procedures experiment hardware and software ready to be flown aboard STS-57 (Space Transportation System) SpaceHab 1 in April 1993. This evaluation was conducted by the Crew Interface Analysis Section of the Flight Crew Support Division at Johnson Space Center aboard NASA´s KC-135 aircraft. This aircraft simulates a “weightless” environment that is similar to the shirt sleeve space flight environment. Four subjects participated in this evaluation. The evaluation, results and recommendations are discussed