Sky Q to add voice control and cutting edge sound support this year

Full voice control will represent a huge forward step

Dolby Atmos is a high-end, object-based surround sound format that positions sounds precisely in a specific 3D space

Sky is set to bring voice control and Dolby Atmos support to Sky Q later this year.

Voice control functionality will arrive shortly after Sky Q launches in Italy, according to an “innovation pipeline” for 2017 infographic presented to investors and spotted by WhatHi-Fi.

No further details are included, but voice control would be a major addition, allowing users to navigate Sky Q’s user interface more easily than ever.

The touch remote has an inbuilt microphone for voice searches, which are set to launch soon, but full voice control represents a far bigger step.

(WhatHi-Fi (WhatHi-Fi)

After that will come support for Dolby Atmos, a high-end, object-based surround sound format that positions sounds precisely in a specific three-dimensional space for a more immersive experience.

For instance, when a helicopter appears overhead on the screen, Dolby Atmos will make it sound like it’s actually flying over viewers’ heads.

BT Sport is bringing support for the audio technology to its 4K customers tomorrow, with the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield first in line for the Dolby Atmos treatment.

Sky recently announced that it will let people watch all of its TV channels without a satellite dish from 2018.