A Legacy in Voice Activation
Nearly 25 years ago, I was immersed in the cutting edge of computer telephony. At a tech startup called Sound Advantage, LLC, I worked on something groundbreaking for its time: SANDi, short for Sound Advantage Natural Dialogue Interface.
SANDi was designed to do what we now take for granted with Google Assistant:
- Read and respond to emails
- Manage calendars and reminders
- Provide directions and event information
- Interact with users through natural dialogue
Back then, I was doing Visual Basic programming, Microsoft SQL Server database design and administration, and a bit of Java, all running on Lucent Technologies servers. That early experience gave me a front-row seat to the evolution of voice activation long before it became mainstream.
Was I “the SANDi”?
The product branding for SANDi featured a blonde woman with a headset. Since my own name is Sandy, it became a running joke at the company—people constantly asked me if I was “the SANDi.”
I always laughed and explained: “No, I’m not the voice of SANDi—I’m the software engineer and database administrator.”
While the image suggested a friendly assistant waiting on the other end of the line, the real innovation was happening in the code, databases, and server rooms where our team worked.
Startup Roots That Shaped My Path
Both Sound Advantage and my earlier role at Performance Telecomm were tech startups, and both in computer telephony, and interactive voice response, and that’s where I first learned how startups operate—the fast pace, the bold risks, and the thrill of building something new.
That culture of innovation has never left me. It’s one of the reasons I eventually founded Galacxia, Inc., where I’m building the Life Backup Plan app today.
The Lasting Power of SQL
One thing that surprises people is how much of my early skillset I still use. At Sound Advantage, I designed and administered SQL Server databases for voice and call data.
Fast forward to today, and SQL Server is still the backbone of the Life Backup Plan app. That continuity is proof that strong fundamentals can outlast even seismic shifts in technology.
Voice Activation Then vs. Now
When I look at what Google Assistant offers today—voice-controlled email, calendar syncing, contextual reminders, directions, even movie times—it feels like déjà vu.
The difference? Back then, SANDi was limited by hardware and bandwidth. Today, cloud computing and AI-powered natural language processing enable smooth, human-like interactions at scale.
That’s why I’m so excited to bring voice activation into the Life Backup Plan app. Although its not in the current version, its very high on the list of future features. We want to enable people to do voice authentication for security purposes, as well as to be able to say voice codewords to IoT (internet of Things) smart devices, and summon help immediately. Imagine checking on a loved one, logging health data, or discreetly summoning help in a dangerous situation—all with your voice. It’s a direct continuation of the work I started nearly 25 years ago, with technology finally powerful enough to meet the vision.
Timeline: From SANDi → Google Assistant → Life Backup Plan
(Insert a timeline graphic here, e.g., “2000: SANDi → 2003: AVST merger → 2025: Google Assistant mainstream → Today: Life Backup Plan app”)
- 2000: SANDi (Sound Advantage Natural Dialogue Interface) launches with Lucent servers, Visual Basic, and SQL Server
- 2003: Sound Advantage merges into AVST, advancing unified communications
- 2025: Google Assistant delivers seamless voice-powered services
- Today: Life Backup Plan app integrates voice activation for health, safety, and caregiving
Closing the Loop
When I left Sound Advantage in February 2001, I couldn’t have imagined how much that experience would shape my career. Nearly a quarter of a century later, it’s incredible to see the features we once struggled to implement now standard in platforms like Google Assistant.
But more importantly, those early projects didn’t just predict the future—they prepared me to help build it. And now, with the Life Backup Plan app, I’m bringing that journey full circle, harnessing modern health-tech innovation to empower safety, caregiving, and peace of mind.