FAQ agroscience for Android

smatrix requires at least the following hardware for smooth and reliable operation:  smartphone or tablet with Android 8, 4 GB RAM and 500 MB free system memory (when using a language). For optimal perfomance we recommend Android 12 or higher, 6 GB RAM and 1 GB free system memory.

Any device that meets the hardware requirements and your own specific requirements (price, battery life, outdoor use etc.).

Typical smartphones and tablets that our customers use are:

• Samsung Galaxy A52
• Samsung Galaxy XCover series
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Active series
• Other IP67 or IP68 certified devices

smatrix has no influence on the GPS localisation/location detection of your device or third-party software. It is not possible to navigate to individual test plots using GPS, as the accuracy is not sufficient to do so.

Only a few headsets are suitable for both, speech recognition and rough working environments.. We therefore recommend the following features:

• a microphone with active noise cancellation
• a microphone foam windscreen (can be purchased separately)
• USB connection type C/Micro-USB, as jack plugs can rotate in the socket and impair the speech recognition, or Bluetooth headsets with HD-Audio
• the frequency range for voice input (microphone) should be at least 12 kHz (better still 16 kHz)

• optional: built-in controls including a mute button on headset/cable

You can find further information in our headset recommendations.

smatrix was developed for applications in rough working environments (field trials, climate chambers, etc.) where background noise is present. The prerequisite for interference-free speech recognition is a headset with sufficiently strong noise cancellation.

There are only a few headsets that are suitable for use with voice recognition software as well as for use in rough working environments. Therefore, we recommend wearing the headset under a waterproof hood when it is raining and using a windscreen (e.g., made of foam) when it is windy. It should be a headset used where microphone is equipped with a sufficient noise cancellation. If necessary, the headset drivers should be kept up to date.

Yes – when a call is received and answered, smatrix automatically pauses speech recognition so you can take your call in peace.

To delete hierarchy levels/traits, click the trashcan or swipe the hierarchy level/trait to the left.

ATTENTION: A deleted trial cannot be restored. Make sure that important data has been exported and stored elsewhere before deleting!

1. While the trial is open and you are in the grid (spreadsheet), click the three dots in the top-right corner, then on 'Delete'.
2. If you are in the trial overview, swipe the trial to the left then click the red trashcan.

smatrix for Android automatically saves after each individual data entry. If the Android device should switch off due to an empty battery, all data is stored until the last successful entry.

Smatrix offers various options for the export / further processing of your data:

• Export of the data via our DCI interface to one of the market-leading trial management systems (ARM, EasyBreed, Piaf, PRISM)
• Export of the trial structure for another smatrix user
• Export as Excel spreadsheet

Click here for more information about the options for data exchange.

In the trial overview, swipe a trial to the left and click 'Copy'. 

Alternatively, when a trial is open, click the 'Three Dot Button' in the top right corner and then on 'Copy'.

The info fields, hierarchy levels and traits will be copied. Values entered into the trial will not be copied.

In the "Complementary data" area, additional information such as location data, processor, BBCH, trial date or many other pieces of information relating to the trial as a whole can be maintained.

When exporting, this data is transferred to the generated table as header data.

In addition, you can also enter predefined comments (no free text) directly by voice. Simply use the option to create comments as a new trait and create a ‘wordset value range’. You can now enter your predefined comments as ‘word’ and thus record comments per trial unit.

The order of traits and hierarchy levels may be edited in the 'Edit trial' menu. Simply use the double-arrow button on the left side of the screen to drag a trait or a hierarchy level upwards or downwards to the desired position. 

ATTENTION: If you change the order of the hierarchy levels, the structure of the trial also changes (e.g. from 10 plots with 5 plants each to 5 plants with 10 plots each).

Subsampling is activated by clicking and opening the "Subsamples" tab when editing the trial. Subsequently, a number of samples per test unit can be defined there for each individual trait (see also here Manual smatrix agroscience for Android ➝ 10.5 Subsamples).

When subsampling is activated, the progress between cells changes. Please refer to the examples in the manual. (Manual smatrix agroscience for Android ➝ 11.6.3 Progress).

The following voice commands are available additionally when using subsampling:

• "Fill with <value>" fills all subsamples of the currently active trait with the specified value
• "Fill trial unit with <value> / unavailable" fills all traits of the current trial unit (e.g. plot) with <value> / unavailable

Yes, is “Position feedback off" there is a subsampling countdown which announces after every ten subsamples how many subsamples remain for the current trial unit (e.g. plot). It also announces the fifth-to-last and last samples and confirms when all subsamples have been performed for the current trial unit.

Yes, you can configure the number of subsamples per trial unit (e.g. plot) for each individual trait.

You can choose between “Collect together” and “collect individually”. The manual refers to examples (Manual smatrix agroscience for Android ➝ 12.6.3 Progress).

smatrix is available in many different languages:

• German
• English: American, Australian, British and Indian English (US/AU/UK/IN)
• French 
• Italian
• Spanish: European and Mexican Spanish (ES/MX)
• Dutch
• Portuguese: European and Brazilian Portuguese (PT/BR)

With a subscription of smatrix you get access to all these languages.

No, however, after switching to another language, the trail remains in the original language.

Yes, smatrix learns to handle the individual characteristics of every voice through its unique speech technology. This makes smatrix easy to use for anyone with an accent or dialect or speaking a non-native language.

If you are in a trial, click the three-dot-symbol in the top-right corner and then on the menu entry “speech commands”. Alternatively, click the ‚settings button’ in the top-left corner in the trial list and then click ‘Help’ and ‘Speech commands’.

Yes, with the voice command "Correction <new value>" the last entered value is replaced by the <new value> (e.g. "Correction 50" replaces the last entered value with 50).

If you use the voice command "Correction" without a new value, the cell where you last entered a value is selected. This value is not deleted but can be overwritten by entering a new value.

Another option is the "Undo" command. This will undo the last operation that modified values. This also works after commands that write multiple values at once, such as "five times unavailable". All five values entered would be reset to their previous value. With "Redo" you restore the same state as before the "Undo" command.

Yes, with the "Echo" option, smatrix repeats back the recorded value. To toggle this setting at any time, use the voice command "Echo on" or "Echo off".

Yes, the option "Position on/off" allows a read out of the trial unit and the trait of the selected cell each time you move cells (by automatic progress or direct speech command).

In addition, you can make smatrix read out the trial unit and the trait of the currently selected cell at any time using the speech command "Where am I?".

Deactivate smatrix's voice recognition by saying "Pause" or clicking the microphone button.

If you are using a headset with a mute button, press it to mute the headset microphone.

If the speech recognition is not working as smoothly as expected please check:

1. Check that the headset is not muted (mute button).
2. Check that the microphone of the headset is pointing towards the user's mouth.
3. Check that smatrix is in "Listen" mode.
4. If you are using a headset with a microphone that has no or inadequate noise cancellation, smatrix may not be able to understand you when there is loud background noise or wind. It is therefore essential to use a headset with noise cancellation and a windscreen (see Headsets).
5. Check whether the "Barge in" option is activated. If "Barge in" is deactivated, no voice commands can be given or data entered while smatrix itself is reading something out (e.g. the input echo or the current position after cell change). This means you have to wait for smatrix to finish speaking. If you speak too early, parts of your voice command / data input will not be recognised by smatrix, leading to false entries or failure to understand. So please wait for the beep or the voice feedback to end, then speak.