This is your voice control calling: Volkswagen Golf gets an upgrade to beat glitches

Most of them work well enough but when voice control goes a bit awry in a car the results can be hilarious.

he system deciphers your words and translates them into action.

I mostly use it to phone people.

I’ve had the misfortune to end up calling someone I hadn’t spoken to for years and had to apologetically explain why I was doing so late at night.

Technically it was my fault because I should have shut it down, but it seemed to have a mind of its own.

Nowadays you get a chance to shout ‘cancel’ before rousing someone from their slumber, but there are still glitches, not helped by accent or diction.

Anyway, the Volkswagen Golf has just got an improved system. The company claims the enhanced version takes things to a new level.

It says there is quick recognition of the commands and precise responses.

The new software and hardware upgrade performs a range of functions – heating, entertainment, navigation and telephone – and responds up to four times faster.

Significantly, Volkswagen claims that “numerous customer requests have been incorporated”. In other words, there were complaints to be taken on board.

All you have to do is say “Hello Volkswagen” and you’re off.

It understands phrases such as “I’m cold” and will no doubt suggest a rise in the heating.

It also recognises whether the driver or the passenger is speaking so it can activate the air con for the person making the request.

“Comprehension rate has improved substantially, now reaching a level of around 95pc,” the company said.