CHAPTER 5 Input/Output: Computers in Action
The Voice Portal The applications of voice recognition software are about to expand enormously. Several companies are offering telephone-based Internet access. People can use their telephones to call a voice portal to get news, stock quotes, e-mail, and/or specific information. They do this by voice or key command input. Information is read to the user by both synthesized speech and recorded speech. There is, of course, concern that such portals will be cumbersome and slow. However, on the up side, these portals open Internet access to virtually everyone, although in a limited way.
Speech Recognition Software Now in the StudentŐs Backpack Drexel University may be the first college to give all students an opportunity to use speech recognition software. Students can now use their notebook PC, which is required of all students, to dictate directly to their PC. Instructors and students feel that improved efficiency in text entry will have a positive impact on learning efficiency. Some people have likened the move from keyboard to voice entry to the move from the cumbersome slide rule to calculators in the 1970s. Students are sure to save a lot of time, especially those with limited keyboarding skills.
The Audio Search A new speech-recognition technology from Compact Computer Corporation, called speechbot, enables a search of audio files, such as archived radio shows. For example, you can search archived programs from National Public Radio's popular "Car Talk" show for conversations relating to "Ford Taurus" and "cooling system." The SpeechBot database has indexed thousands of hours of radio shows and is updated daily. Until now, radio research has been cumbersome because researchers would literally have to listen to every minute of every radio show to find specific instances of topics of concern. Users can pick from a list of successful "hits" of their search then they can play the actual audio clip.