Can you use your computer just by talking and listening to it, without using the screen or mouse?
Would it be possible to control your computer simply by wearing a wireless headset? Would talking to your computer without being in the same room as it mean that we could finally get off our backsides and away from the screen? What would it take to do this, and is it already possible with your computer right now? Would designing for screen reader users, such as those who are blind, mean that we could more easily understand our computers if we were to talk with them? Would designing semantic and interoperable user interfaces, instead of just designing for the mouse, mean that we could actually take control of our computers with just the command of our own voice? Do innovative ideas that benefit almost everyone come from designing computer to be usable by people with disability? I would be interested to see what your thoughts are on the trends in human and computer interaction and what the future will hold.
Good Answers (2)
Bernard S
Android speech application creator at Free lance software editor
Best Answers in: Computers and Software (1), Software Development (1), Wireless (1)
To command your PC : say menu/button text and listen to spoken Word document : I think there are products.
But : you have to remeber and speak the right words ! And be alone in the room :-)
It seems to me that the technology (hardware & software) is ready for more, but no company has created any such computer with natural user interface !
- Speech synthesis : not too bad in the latest GPS.
- Speech recognition (convertion into text) : maybe still limited...
- Interpretation of text : do you remember old Adventure games on 8/16 bits computers ? You wrote a sentence, and the computer only reconized a few word (and their order) and did some action according to it. We don't need AI. Only reconize 4 words on a sentence of 10 words should be enougth to bluff humans and 'communicate'.
Maybe in 2 or 3 years : you could phone to your PC at home from your vacation hotel and tell it to send you a mail (with a file you forgot to put on your USB key).
Who wants to create such product with me :-) ?
David P
Infrastructure Strategy, Planning & Management (Transportation, Energy, ICT)
Best Answers in: Wireless (3), Internationalization and Localization (1), Corporate Law (1), Advertising (1)
. Almost certainly yes. There is some level of functionality here already, primarily designed as suggested as enablement for individuals that have impairment such as blindness or motor neuron disorders(e.g., such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). For example Intel manufactured a specialized wheelchair a few years ago for noted physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking, who has ALS which provides I understand a number of voice activated functions (perhaps someone from Intel can weigh in here). My guess both driven by these specialized needs as well as the market (e.g., individuals who want to multi-task), artificial intelligence and the necessary interfaces will continue to develop such that at some point--maybe 5, 10, 20 years? Less?-- I am sure voice technology will become as fluid and seamless as keystroke commands are now. As one old enough to remember working with DOS programs and commands with the need for things like print files and imbedded commands, not to mention things like punch cards and reel-to-reel, even the standard keyboard interfaces have come night and day in a couple of decades. The growing use of wireless will also allow greater mobility in using such equipment to get out and away from the confines of a desk and office. Unfortunately the growing ban on cell phone and PDA devices while driving will also likely fuel demand for more “hands free” technology and I just hope it does not create yet another worry as far as distracted drivers trying to talk to their computers!
More Answers (3)
Tze-chiu L
Sr. Process/Systems Analyst, eLearning & Web Consultant, Instructional Designer.
Try Nuance's Dragon solutions.
The technology on the desktop is starting to mature.
Links:
Eileen B
IT Professional, Information Security Quality Assurance Operations & Administration / President, CMU SEI LI SPIN
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Hello Johann,
Yes, these devices and/or software products are used by those who are visually and/or hearing impaired. They are not inexpensive and not widespread, but you can read more about this fabulous research and products below.
Eileen
Links:
Speech recognition is built into Windows Vista and is available in more than 5 languages. Speech recognition can be enabled in the Control Panel under Speech Recognition Options. Speech recognition allows for manipulation of the Vista interface and dictation. Wireless headset is supported.
I've found the feature in Vista to not be reliable enough to completely replace my keyboard and mouse. Reliability varies with ambient noise. I was impressed with how quickly the recognition can be used, requiring little training, but proper enunciation is paramount. Definitely, it is a feature worth investigating. Caution: I found many unexpected results, most of them humorous, when the computer would continue listening when I was speaking with other individuals.
