speech to text software

speech to text software

The Benefits of Speech to Text Software

1. Introduction

To the modern-day workers, time is everything. Time is money, time is leisure. Must we waste our valuable time on writing and typing, when instead we can just speak and get the same thing done in just a fraction of the time? We believe the latter is a much better option. This is why we have explored the benefits of speech-to-text software, software which transcribes speech into written text. Now sure, it is fun to type, but typing is becoming increasingly more difficult than it is worth! To proficiently type, you must be able to look at the keyboard, type fast, and also have good spelling. However, learning to type is too troublesome and time-consuming to bother for a rate of 40 words a minute. Even skilled typists commonly slow to 20 words a minute. That is a big waste of time. Do we not already know what we want put into the document? Why must it take so much longer to type it than say it? With speech-to-text software, it is now possible to type at rates of over 160 words per minute and hit 99% of the words correctly! This is a much better alternative to snail-paced typing, and typing is not an acquired skill. Almost everyone already knows how to speak!

2. Increased Efficiency and Productivity

Tying in with the ability to complete tasks more quickly, another huge advantage to using speech recognition software is the ability to multi-task. If a computer user has their hands and eyes occupied with another task (for example, clicking through a series of software menus or typing into a document), speech recognition offers a method of continuing to work through simple or complex computer tasks while leaving the hands and eyes free to concentrate on another task. This is particularly advantageous for the working professional as it frees up more time for other business tasks or even for relaxing and improving quality of life.

One of the most obvious benefits of speech recognition software is that it allows users to complete a range of computer-based tasks in a fraction of the time that they would normally take with conventional methods of data entry. In a study conducted by Canada’s University of Western Ontario, it was reported that by using speech recognition for routine computer tasks, users were able to work three times faster than they were previously able to with a keyboard and mouse. While it is possible that the accuracy of speech recognition will not be efficient enough for all users to warrant using it as an alternative for the traditional method of completing most computer-related tasks, progress in speech recognition accuracy is consistently on the rise.

3. Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusivity

In addition to the productivity and multitasking bonuses, speech to text software offers incredible improvements in accessibility for people with certain physical or cognitive limitations. It can represent a huge leap toward true computer access for people with disabilities. Speech recognition requires no keyboard or mouse. This is of enormous benefit to people who have mobility impairments, particularly those who suffer from repetitive strain injuries. It also helps people who have limited use of their hands after an injury or those with paralysis or other physical limitations. Although people with disabilities are one of the largest target markets for speech recognition, there is no current solid data on how many people with disabilities are using speech recognition. Speech recognition has traditionally been a frustration for people with speech impairments who cannot get the software to understand them because of their unique voice or a speech impediment. However, many are finding that the latest versions of the software work quite well. This can also open the door to people with cognitive impairments who struggle with reading and writing and were not successful with the technology in the past. The price points and required learning curve for some of the software are still limiting factors for many people with disabilities, so it is not a technology that is feasible for everyone yet. Speech recognition software has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of students from elementary school through college. It can offer a way to bypass keyboarding instruction and move students toward a more natural method of getting their ideas in writing. It is also a very valuable tool for English language learners. For students with learning disabilities or attention deficits that affect their writing, it can be an effective alternative to pen and paper. A study toward speech recognition for students with and without learning disabilities showed that while many students, regardless of disability status, did not like the software at first, they all saw its value after two weeks of use (Hoffert, 2003). With the recent boom in e-learning, speech recognition is something that all students will likely need to be familiar with in the near future.

4. Improved Accuracy and Precision

But the most significant improvement in terms of accuracy and precision is the increased capacity for editing and correction. With traditional typing, mistakes are corrected as they are noticed, usually with the backspace key and re-typing the word. With the spoken word, there is no need to halt progress when a mistake is made. Corrections can be made after the fact, to specific words or phrases, without the need to re-dictate any more than the sentence in question. This makes the process of correcting mistakes much more fluid, and also means that the intended text is less likely to be forgotten or muddled with the corrected mistake.

With handwriting, the problem is even worse. It is usually the case that speech recognition is replacing handwritten documents rather than typed ones. Software has advanced to the stage where handwriting can be directly translated into computer text. The advantage here is twofold. Firstly, it speeds up the process in that there is no longer a need to type documents; these can now be dictated and edited using speech recognition. More importantly though, the document can be analyzed or edited by any other standard word processing means. This is particularly useful for reviewing or mark-up, where corrections can be easily inserted, or comments made to the document in a different font or color.

4. Improved accuracy and precision – One of the hardest things about the English language, both for foreign and native speakers, is its intricate spelling and grammar. As a result, mistakes in transcription are not only common, but accepted as part of the process. The time it takes to go back and correct mistakes is an obvious drawback, to which must be added the time taken to decipher and correct handwriting.

5. Conclusion

The constant change and advancement of technology has aided those with disabilities and learning differences, as well as those that have suffered from a temporary injury in making writing more accessible. Speech-to-text software not only offers a viable method for getting ideas down without typing, but it provides a solution for those who may struggle with transcription, those who need an easier way to record their thoughts, or those who want to put an end to the pain and frustration of typing. This technology is advancing quickly. The most notable speech-recognition programs of today (Dragon, Windows Speech Recognition) are not only better at transcribing speech, they are interactive. Many include vocabulary and technical or industry-specific terminology. These programs are making it possible to write anything, anywhere, anytime by anyone. Although these programs are not yet flawless, the potential they have to offer a truly inclusive and liberating composition process is a beautiful thing. As this technology becomes more available and user-friendly, the benefits are proven to aid all walks of life. By removing barriers to writing, this technology opens doors for those that are willing to use it. Whether it’s a student typing an essay, a professional writing reports, or someone who just enjoys writing as a hobby, it has been proven to make the task of writing easier. It helps those with writing or typing-related disabilities get their ideas down without the frustration of the task itself and it provides an alternate method of writing for those who may need a break from typing. This technology also benefits non-writers that are required to write. It can be a stressful and time-consuming task for someone that does not enjoy or feel comfortable with writing. By allowing a means to get thoughts down quickly and easily, they are relieved of the usual writing stress and are left with more mental energy to focus on the content itself.