Speech Recognition 101

Speech recognition products have been called by many names from the beginning: voice activated software, voice recognition software, automated speech recognition software and computer dictation software to name a few. Though somewhat confusing, all of these terms simply relate to products that send voice command to machinery.

Speech Recognition: From TV to Today

Speech recognition was widely advertised on a television a few years ago. The main focus of these promotions was that the technology is simple and effective. Unfortunately, most people were disappointed. From there, speech recognition products became attractive shelf ware, as the initial crave subsided and the software was left in the box.

So where is speech recognition today? Has the technology made any improvements? The answer is a definite yes. New speech recognition products have put emphasis on solving the technical issues of old. The latest version of Dragon Naturally Speaking, for instance, allows a beginner to speak clearly through a decent microphone and get very good results. And while the software and hardware play a huge role in overall accuracy, the most important factor is the actual person using the product.

Ideal Circumstances of Speech Recognition

Despite the advancements, there are still a few users that manage to end up frustrated with failed results. Those who succeed are most likely to do so because they are motivated by the following:

- They have a disability of some sort
- They have difficulty typing
- They work in the field of assistive technology
- They have to do a lot of writing
- They have the patience to learn something new

Additionally, a person is more likely to be successful with speech recognition if they:

- Can speak fluently
- Use a broad vocabulary
- Have an understanding of word processing and punctuation
- Can effectively use the software while composing text

The points listed above are important, yet not all are essential. If you can learn to perfect one element, it can then overcome another and make speech recognition much easier. For instance, people with dyslexia tend to have difficulties with word retrieval, yet are still able to master the software. The more you train the program and practice at it, the better speech recognition will work out for you.

Getting Speech Recognition Assistance

Someone new to speech recognition has a lot to cover: their diction style, adjusting the microphone, voice commands, punctuation and making corrections. It's safe to assume that many people who failed did so because of a lack of training and support.

If speech recognition is still giving you the blues, you may find that it helps to have somebody around who knows the technology. This person could guide you through the process and reduce some of the frustration that comes along with training the software. By spending time with someone who knows what they're doing, you can make a few small modifications that make a huge difference. Without properly training the system and yourself, you just could be wasting time and never get the results you're after. If you could fit it into the budget, an expert trainer will help you save time and get off on the best start.