FREE ESSAY ON VOICE RECOGNITION

VOICE RECOGNITION

The future is here! Computers deciphering speech, cars commandeered by satellite and
miracles of miniaturization are a reality. Are you ready to take advantage of this
technology? Voice recognition along with these other new advances in technology are going
to vastly increase the accessibility and function of personal computers.
As viable working speech recognition software reaches the people the way we work with
computers will be transformed. This hands-free technology will allow our words per minute
to be dictated by our ability to express coherent ideas verbally, versus our typing
skills. At first we may have to tolerate some clunky or limited command interactions but
as the software evolves we can expect to see even greater accessibility for people of
lesser computer skills. For those who use computers daily, hand held computers with voice
input will increase their own ability to multitask. We'll soon be able to walk, talk,
word-process and chew gum all at once.
The miniaturization of technology is putting greater power in our grasp daily. The
personal computer will soon be off our lap and in our palm. What used to take up the
space of a desk may soon be no larger than a Walkman. This technology is bound to put a
dent in your pocketbook, however we can expect that competition in the market will
eventually lower prices.
Advancements in heads up display, or HUD technology will further integrate the computer
with our everyday lives. Developed early on for fighter pilots, the military now has a
lightweight headgear unit for the foot soldier. This marriage of information at a glance
and sustained interaction with the non-virtual world will be a breakthrough for ease of
use in the civilian domain. If you thought Walkmans were annoying, we may now have to
listen to the chatter of these people walking around with their computer headsets. Those
with the latest in guidance and navigational technology in their automobiles will now be
able to compute on the commute.
As these couplings of advancement in technology become a reality an even broader segment
of the population will have access to these tools. Whether or not these advancements will
increase a connectedness through communication amongst people or further detachment in
the first person remains to be seen. I personally am excited at the thought of having
this technology at my side in the not so distant future.
How soon will we have the voice recognition software? Three companies; Dragon Systems,
Lernout & Hawspie and IBM, are selling remarkably good software that lets you speak into
a microphone to dictate documents and control your PC. The programmers certainly have
their work cut out for them. Will we forgive them if we dictate Recognize Speech and it
comes out, wreck a nice beach? I believe as the technology continues to be refined, voice
interfacing will become par for the course.
Technology advancements have brought us an ease of use, which with continuing development
promises to draw more people closer yet to their PC's. Fifteen years ago computers were a
hobby at best for the public at large. The early Tandy's and Commadore 64's had little
practical application and multi-tasking was a gleam in the BASIC programmer's eye. With
the rapid pace of advancements, one can only imagine what the next fifteen years hold in
store.