Voice Operated Switch

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What Does Voice Operated Switch Mean?

A voice operated switch (VOX) is a switch used in telecommunications that operates when a sound is detected and exceeds a certain threshold. It is often used to turn a transmitter or recorder on when a user speaks and off when a user stops speaking.

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Instead of using a push-to-talk switch, recording devices commonly use a VOX to save storage space.

This term is also known as a voice operated exchange (VOX).

Techopedia Explains Voice Operated Switch

A VOX is commonly used as part of video conference or telepresence equipment. It is also used in cellular phones to preserve battery life. Cellular phones, two-way radios, phone recorders and tape recorders often have VOX as an option. On intercom systems, a VOX on the main console is often used in a room with a speaker, which serves as both a speaker and a microphone to monitor sounds such as conversation.

A VOX circuit takes only a voice or other sound to trigger it. It remains on as long as the sound remains above a certain volume or decibel level. The circuit automatically turns off when the volume drops below the minimum decibel level (after a short delay).

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.