Hands-Free Computing: A Look at Voice Recognition Systems

We’ve all become so familiar with the rhythmic clacking of our keyboard and the clicking of the mouse. These sounds have accompanied us as we rushed to finish that report and as we leisurely browsed our favorite social networks.

Things however would be a lot different if you couldn’t use your hands to type or click. But you nonetheless would still want to use your computer, right? So how would you be able to do this without your hands?

One of the best possible answers to this is to use a voice recognition system. Here, we’ll look at what this technology is, how it works, and what its applications are.

What is a Voice Recognition System?

In computer software, a voice recognition system is a set of applications which work together to let the user perform tasks by speaking into an input device. Initially, voice recognition systems were designed as a feature that allows users to do tasks hands-free. But they have eventually been recognized as a good form of assistive technology for people who couldn’t use their hands at all.

You may have actually tried a voice recognition system yourself. Remember the time when you tried the voice dialing feature of your cell phone? You may have used this feature to call someone while you were driving or typing on your computer. This is indeed one of the most popular examples of voice recognition systems made available to the market.

How Do Voice Recognition Systems Work?

You normally have to install a voice recognition system on your PC before you can use it. Once the voice recognition system is activated for the first time, you have to train it. You need a headset with a microphone whenever you use the voice recognition system.

This task is necessary so that the system would properly recognize your voice. Here, the system records your voice patterns while you speak into the microphone and uses these patterns as templates for future voice commands. The system also “learns” your accent, dialect, and pronunciation of individual words. Most voice recognition software require an average of one hour for training.

After you have trained the system, you can use it to perform tasks on your computer. Let’s say you want to open your word processor. You need to speak the specific command to open the word processor. The voice recognition system first acquires your voice input. Then it will quickly compare this voice input with existing voice commands stored on your PC.

When the system has found an exact match, it will perform the task you spoke. Otherwise, it will look for possible matches and try to perform the task based on the nearest match.

Common Applications

As stated above, you can use a voice recognition system to open and close programs. This system also lets you enter, select, edit, save, and delete data in documents.

You can also use the system to surf the Internet. Most voice recognition systems use MouseGrid technology that lets the user navigate through web pages and click on links and controls.

Another useful application of this system is in chat software. You can dictate your message to the person you’re chatting with. The system converts your voice input to text and enters it on the chat software. The person you’re chatting with can then read the text message.

Limitations

Similar to other assistive technologies, voice recognition systems have their own limitations. The most significant limitation is that they can be inaccurate. Even the most popular voice recognition products claim that they provide 99% accuracy. This shows that these products may still make mistakes.

This software requires special high-quality headsets with microphones. This ensures that the system always gets the best voice input possible. You therefore cannot use regular headsets with microphones.

You always have to make your voice clear and easy to understand. This can be quite difficult especially during times when you are a bit under the weather so to speak. In addition, you cannot use this system in noisy environments. Voice recognition systems also may not work well for people who have very heavy accents.

Lastly, not all persons with motor disabilities can use voice recognition systems. For instance, people with cerebral palsy may not be able to use this software. This is because they normally have slurred speech due to the slow response of the muscles controlling their voice.

Conclusion

Voice recognition systems are a good form of assistive technology. They enable persons with motor disabilities to use the computer and the Internet. These systems still have their limitations. Nevertheless, they provide a wider set of opportunities and a sense of independence to people who cannot use their hands.