What is Speech Recognition?

VOICE (SPEECH) RECOGNITION IS THE PROCESS OF CONVERTING DIGITALLY RECORDED VOICE INTO EDITABLE TEXT. THERE ARE TWO FUNDAMENTAL TYPES OF VOICE (SPEECH) RECOGNITION METHODS AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPANIES EMPLOYING SPEECH RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY. THE MOST NOTABLE IS NUANCE’S DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING. BELOW WE WILL EXPLAIN, IN DETAIL, HOW THE TWO TYPES OF SPEECH RECOGNITION WORK.

THE TWO TYPES OF SPEECH RECOGNITION:

1) Front End Speech Recognition: This is where the person speaks and the voice is translated into text immediately on your computer screen. Though this method is functional and amazingly accurate these days, it can be time consuming and inconvenient for professionals such as doctors and attorneys who often do not have the time to sit and wait for the software to process his or her voice and produce a text document and then make the corresponding corrections if necessary. It may be convenient for quick notes or dictation memos but can also work fine for long dictations. It depends on the user’s willingness to learn the software. It is simply a personal preference thing. Some are willing to do it and some are not.

2) Back End Speech Recognition: This is a more productive method and requires no input from the person dictating other than the actual dictating. The person will dictate a letter, note, matter etc., and the completed voice file will be sent automatically to a Speech Recognition Server which will process the voice file, create a text document and send it to a location where a typist can retrieve the text file along with the actual voice file and have footpedal controls with play, FF and rewind controls. They will do it all from their computer. After the typist finishes making necessary corrections, the file is sent back to the server for acoustic and/or contextual adaptation so the system will continue to learn and become more and more accurate as time goes on regardless of whom is dictating. This is the preferred method in an enterprise environment such as a hospital or medium to large law firm or other types of firms such as insurance or law enforcement who may have interest in speech recognition.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional enables busy professionals to create documents and e-mails, fill out forms, and streamline workflow tasks—all by speaking! Dragon NaturallySpeaking can be about five times faster than typing, and up to 99% accurate. Talk to your computer and your words instantly appear in the full Microsoft® Office® Suite, plus Microsoft Internet Explorer, Corel® WordPerfect®, Lotus® Notes®, and virtually all other Windows®-based applications. And even better, you can create voice commands that execute multi-step computer tasks instantly—imagine the time you’ll save! Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional 9 is section 508 certified, and offers complete hands-free use of the PC for users with disabilities. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional 9 also includes optional tools for network deployments, such as support for Citrix thin clients.


KEY BENEFITS

AMAZINGLY ACCURATE!
More accurate than ever before, Dragon NaturallySpeaking® 9 is often more accurate than typing. Dragon NaturallySpeaking never makes a spelling mistake, and it actually gets smarter the more you use it!

FASTER THAN TYPING!
Many dictators speak up to 170 words per minute, but type less than 30 words a minute. Dragon NaturallySpeaking lets you create letters and e-mails about three times faster than typing by hand!

SO EASY TO USE!
You’ll be dictating letters, e-mails and surfing the web by voice right away! No script reading required to get started. We even include a full set of on-screen tutorials, and a Nuance approved noise-canceling microphone.

USE WITH ANY WINDOWS PROGRAM!
Use your voice to dictate, edit and control virtually any Windows application, including the full Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Corel® WordPerfect®.

NETWORK READY!
Use Dragon NaturallySpeaking from any PC on your organization's network, including a Citrix thin client.

BLUETOOTH SUPPORT
Use Dragon NaturallySpeaking with Nuance-approved Bluetooth headsets. Convenient to use with a Tablet PC system!

MOBILE
Dictate into any Nuance-certified handheld device for automatic transcription when you synch with your PC.

HANDS FREE
Dragon NaturallySpeaking is Section 508 certified to give people with disabilities complete hands-free use of the PC. It is the ideal tool to assist people with carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive stress injuries.