It is widely speculated that after touch screen computers and
convertibles (laptop/tablet hybrids) peak within the market,
manufacturers will
shift their focus
to voice recognition. But is this really feasible? What will it
take for computers to recognize our words with the same precision
as the click of a mouse? It could start with search, smartphones
and Web browsing. Google (NASDAQ:
GOOG
) has invested a lot of money in the technology, offering a
free Chrome tool
to those who would like to type with their voice (among other
things). It is not a new idea, but it is a necessary step in
creating a system that recognizes voice with the degree of
reliability that people have come to expect from traditional
typing.
Many would argue that accuracy still needs much improvement,
and should not be relied upon for the foreseeable future, but it
is paramount if the tech industry intends for voice recognition
to be the next popular trend in computing.
It is not yet known whether personal or professional users
will benefit from this venture. In theory, business users have
the most to gain. Busy executives could feasibly produce memos,
send e-mails, tweak Excel documents and perform other simple
tasks without having to physically touch a computer. Technically
these things should already be possible, but they have yet to be
perfected so it is often easier to do them the traditional way
(by sitting in front of a computer screen with a mouse and
keyboard). When these processes are perfected, voice recognition
technology could be easier, faster and more desirable.
Consumers have a lot to look forward to as well. When search
tools advance beyond the simplicity of Apple's (NASDAQ:
AAPL
) Siri, users should be able to tell their favorite Web browser
to search for
anything
. There will not be any hiccups, mistakes or silly questions
asking the user to repeat the search query. Rather, the computer
will reliably understand everything the user is saying and
deliver an appropriate response.
Long-term, the real innovations will come from the software
applications that have yet to be developed. The problem with the
current crop of voice-activated devices and software tools is
that they only provide an alternative to what is currently
available. It is not innovative -- or creative -- for tech
companies to simply replace the mouse and keyboard, as motion
controls and touch screens have a better shot of doing that
anyway. True innovation comes from things that users did not know
they needed, thus the birth of the mouse and keyboard. They did
not merely replace another form of computing -- they
created
an entirely new user interface. Without the mouse, computers
would not be where they are today.
For voice recognition to be truly successful and useful, it
needs to produce a similar level of innovation. Until then it
will be relegated to the likes of Siri, which was more commercial
hype than professional execution.
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@LouisBedigianBZ
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