Dictation Equipment

This year, after decades in development, continuous speech recognition burst on the scene. The technology allows users to speak naturally and have software turn their words into text.

You could dictate directly into a computer before, but the technology required discrete speech, which. means. you. had. to. talk. like. this. when. you. were. dictating, or the computer couldn't make sense of what you were saying.

Your Exact Words

Two companies rule this field: IBM and Dragon Systems. Their software works in similar ways: Installation takes about 10 minutes. You then read some assigned text into the headset with noise-filtering microphone (which is included) so the software can learn how you talk. The more you use the machine, the better it becomes at understanding what you're saying.

Both companies claim their software is 95 percent accurate. But in tests, PC Magazine found them to be just under 90 percent accurate, making them not quite ready for prime time; Dragon Systems' NaturallySpeaking edged out IBM's ViaVoice. (For full test results, click here. But it shouldn't be long before the 95 percent claim is true of this fast-changing technology.

NaturallySpeaking goes for around $160; ViaVoice retails at about $75. Competition is hot right now, so prices are constantly changing and likely to go down. More souped up (and expensive) versions of both packages are available. Some let you control your computer-open applications for example-with voice commands.

The programs demand a hefty computer to operate. Depending on the version, you'll probably need a Pentium II 133 or higher with a 2G hard drive, 32 MG of RAM and Windows 95 or NT. Also, be sure you have the right sound card before you invest in the software.

Philips Electronics still holds the leader's spot in natural language dictation technology for specialized fields like law, medicine and insurance. The company's SpeechMagic works on a PC, a network or with SpeechPad, its portable dictation recorder.

For now, a keyboard and mouse will still serve most of us better than these software packages. But for those who must dictate while they're moving around, such as doctors or inspectors, or those who have carpal tunnel syndrome or other disabilities, speech recognition software is a great leap forward.

And Beyond

Speech recognition technology has infinite uses beyond dictation. It probably has touched your life already, if only in the form of the "for what city?" robot who
answers when you dial 411 for directory assistance. Other applications allow you to use your voice and a phone to make reservations; get into a database; retrieve voice mail, e-mail and faxes; check on a UPS package; dial the phone (safer when driving); and to browse the Web, to name a few.

What's more, some programs go the other way. They convert text on a computer screen into speech-another boon for workers with disabilities.

Portability

Recorder manufacturers and software publishers are getting cozy-good news for those who dictate on the run. For example, Olympus has a digital voice recorder that comes with IBM's ViaVoice. You can then transfer your work to a PC for editing and formatting, or, as with other voice files, you can e-mail it or send it via network. More and more of these files are stored only as voice records; there's no need to transcribe them. The D1000 model weighs only 5.5 ounces and retails for about $300.

A search of GSA's online shopping mall, GSA Advantage, turned up eight dictation machines and many versions of IBM's ViaVoice software.

Contacts

Dragon Systems
(800) 825-5897

IBM
(800) 825-5263

Olympus
(800) 622-6372