Siri has transformed the way iPhone users get answers to everyday questions, using voice commands to hear driving directions or listen to weather reports. Now, an enterprising Seattle startup is bringing that same type of functionality to bible verses.

eBible, led by former Google engineer Colin Wong and backed by Seattle angel investors Andy Liu, John Cunningham and others, just introduced a free Android application that it describes as the “world’s first voice-enabled bible.” Like Siri, users simply speak into the app, saying verses such as “John 3:16” or “Matthew 6:33.” Then, a male voice — at least in the examples I’ve heard — says the verse out loud.

“We believe this will totally change the way people access the Bible on their mobile devices, especially for folks on the road,” Wong tells GeekWire.

How does it work technically? Wong said it is similar to Siri.

“We encoded intelligence into the voice recognition and tied it back to scripture location and then pulling the appropriate audio from the English Standard Version Bible translation,” says Wong, noting that an iPhone version of the app is in the works.

You can see the app in action below or listen to a clip here:


Previously on GeekWire: A match made in heaven: ooBible buys eBible.com

 

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