For the past few weeks I’ve been working on an interactive checklist feature for FlightView, our iPad-based EFIS. This checklist feature lets you create lists containing items which FlightView can display and also play as an audio prompt. (Think: “Flaps to 20 degrees.”) You acknowledge the list item by either tapping a button or by saying an acknowledgement word. (Think: “Check” or “Twenty”.) I wasn’t sure how well this would work out, since in most cases speech recognition requires an Internet connection, which can be hard to come by at 10,000 feet.
Fortunately, Apple managed to surprise and delight by introducing a new feature in iOS 13. Offline speech recognition is now a standard feature available on all iOS devices equipped with an A9 or newer processor. This is a game changer: the same technology will ultimately allow us to build a comprehensive voice assistant into FlightView. (Think: “Artoo, plot a course to KRHV” or “Hal, open the pod bay doors.”) Cool stuff!
In the long term this will make FlightView an even better EFIS, which is great. However, the number of people who can use FlightView is fairly limited (for now) so I decided to build a stand-alone app that anyone can use. The Chekov app runs on all recent iPhones and iPads running iOS 13. iPad Multitasking lets you to use it concurrently with your favorite EFB app.
You can install Chekov now from the App store:
As with all of our products, we appreciate your feedback. If you try Chekov and have suggestions or questions please drop us note or open a trouble ticket.
And finally, a tip of the hat to our namesakes:
“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”
– Anton Chekhov (author)
“Excuse me. I am looking for the nuclear wessels?”
– Pavel Chekov (space ensign)
