By Yves Juliaan Imagine if you can write as fast as you can speak. Would that not be amazing?

Of course it would!

Well, now it is possible all thanks to amazing speech to text voice recognition programs. Using such program is a huge advantage compared to writing with a either pen or computer keyboard.

Writing with a keyboard is not that hard to learn, but it does take some time before you start to write with an average to good writing speed. It took me at least one to two years to write with a speed I am proud to admit. But, I am still not capable of leaving a remarkable impression with my English teacher, who is trained at speed writing.

But now that I use a specific voice recognition program for writing my articles I am way faster than him!

This is actually my first article I write using this tremendously easy and user-friendly application helping me write down an formative, entertaining article. I really hope you like reading it as much as I like writing it – or should I say dictating it?

That is of course the biggest benefit. No more typing. But, …

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At one time, the concept of speech recognition software existed almost exclusively in the world of science-fiction films. Remember the classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey? This was probably the film that first popularized the concept of talking to a computer. When people first viewed this film, they look at speech recognition programs as pure fantasy. Today, they are a reality and can be used with your home and office computer.

There are two forms of speech recognition software. The first is text to speech and it involves highlighted text that is then “read” out loud over the computer’s speakers. The second version is speech to text, which is also commonly referred to as dictation software. This type of speech recognition program listens to a person’s dictation and then types it out on a word processing program. Only a few short years ago, these very helpful programs were quite expensive. Today, their prices have come down significantly and they are much more accessible for personal and business use.

There are a number of “unintended” benefits that using speech recognition software provides. One of these benefits is reducing the tension and stress that is commonly placed on the wrist and finger joints when typing for extended hours. Those who suffer from the very painful condition of carpal tunnel syndrome will attest to the discomfort that such pain can cause. In the past, there was no way to reduce such stress because their profession required significant amounts of typing. With the advent of Speech to Text and Text to Speech programs, the ability to perform the same amount of work with less physical exertion is possible.

Actual, the phrase “same amount of work” may not be an accurate one. The use of speech recognition software can lead to a significant increase in productivity. Quickly dictating into a speech to text program can lead prove to be much quicker than typing out lengthy documents or reports by hand. Also, the text to speech program can greatly enhance the ability to multitask. Rather than sitting and reading a webpage or document on a computer, the speech recognition program can read it to you while you are working on something else at the same time. For those who never seem to have enough time in the day, both text to speech and speech to text can help you get more work accomplished.

Some may wonder if these speech recognition programs are user friendly. The answer is yes as long as you properly install the programs and follow the necessary steps to acclimate the program to your voice. The programs offer an option to dictate a pre-written script that the program will use to determine you pattern of speech and pronunciation. Once completed, the speech recognition program will understand the way to talk and this will reduce dictation errors. In terms of the text to speech program, you will have the option of altering the program’s voice. This way, you can make the program clearer and easier to understand.

Yes, speech recognition programs have arrived and they have the potential to forever alter the way you interact with your computer. Yes, the space odyssey has now moved to the earth.

To find out more about Emerging Technologies, its voice recognition products and solutions, please visit the company’s website at http://www.em-t.com

Introduction

The term AI cannot be explained in a few words or sentences. It is an amalgamation of logic, philosophy and computer technology. Even though man has been included under the category mammals, his status is an elevated one. This is primarily due to the fact that human beings are blessed with intelligence. It can be seen that only few animals like the ape have been endowed with a small percentage of intelligence. A human being on the other hand has a personality, habits, traits, memory etc, which could be horned to a higher degree. This is where humans differ from other creatures. For example, we may be able to recognize a person even after twenty years. This is because an image of the person, his mannerisms, voice etc may have been recorded in our brain and lay dormant for years. The memory can be triggered which produces brain waves to bring forth the image or thoughts that may have been stored for over a long period of time. This is an extremely complex process which happens in the brain. All the events that follow have not been completely understood. This explains why advances in the area of artificial intelligence are yet to produce a machine which can simulate the human brain.

It may be an easy task for a three year old to move among toys strewn across a room without touching it. A robot may not be able to do this with the same ease and effectiveness. A human being has sense organs, which recognize sights, sounds, smells etc that are transmitted through neurons to the brain at the speed of light. This is the reason why we react to sensations. The muscles of the leg may be activated which result in more blood being pumped so that the person can escape from a dangerous situation such a fire or from the scene of a bomb blast. These actions take place due to stimulus sent from the brain which activates the leg muscles. Simulation of such an action requires a lot of sophisticated hardware and software. This is the area where robotics and artificial intelligence play their role. We can recognize a person by sight, sound etc. This is done by images sent by the optic and olfactory nerves to the brain. A robot on the other hand uses a pair of cameras in place of the eyes and software coupled with moving parts like an artificial limb.

Areas of application

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