Why Should I Use Speech Recognition? Kim Larsh, Presenter Mesa Public Schools Mesa,AZ

Computers Are Changing… getting smaller and smaller Faster More powerful Easier to use More affordable A daily tool

Using a Variety Inputting Devices Text User Interface Graphical User Interface Speech User Interface Handwriting User Interface

Speech Recognition Continues to Improve 1960’s-1990’s--Experimental Stages Software was expensive with a halting word-pause-word speech requirement Hardware limited capabilities Not very user friendly, long training periods 2000’s—Implementation Stages Hardware improvements increase software capabilities -faster—higher processing speed, more RAM -voice-canceling headsets Easier to use -Text-to-Speech/Natural Language -much shorter training period -easy to use commands Lower Cost

Speech Recognition…  Next Generation Inputting Skill  Increases Productivity  Prevents Injuries  Meets Increasing Employment Demands  Improves Communication Skills—Reading, Writing & Speaking

Next Generation Inputting Skill Speech and handwriting recognition are now being built into many hardware and software programs

Software Comparisons IBM ViaVoice 10 PC- -Mac Enhanced or OSX (Considered entry-level--Only program available for MacInstosh) Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9.0 (Top Choice of Professionals, Rated #1 by PC Magazine) Microsoft Speech Recognition (Built into Office XP and Windows Vista OS)

Similarities and Differences…Which One is Right for Me? Additional Program--Works with Windows OS 2000 and higher including Windows Vista Built Into Operating System— not a separate program-No Additional Cost No training script required Works with ALL Microsoft Office Applications 2000 and higher and most other software applications— more customization and shortcuts available Built for Word 2007—limited capabilities in other programs but easier to use and more accurate than Microsoft Office XP Speech 1GHZ processor, 512 RAM min.2 GHZ processor, 1 GM RAM min.

Increases Productivity  More than 3 Times Faster than Typing Average typing wpm 50—a person produces a 3-page, 900 word document in aprx. 18 minutes. Average voice wpm person produces a 3- page, 900 word document in aprx. 6 minutes.  Can easily customize profile by training and adding words and creating voice shortcuts--“Macros”  Proofread/edit documents using the Play that back/Read that and voice notation features

- Helps people with physical limitations!

Decreases RSI Repetitive Stress Injury is the #1 occupational injury. – 300,000 new cases each year. – Growth rate as high as 20% per year. –Single case can cost employer up to $30,000. –Injured worker loses an average 30 work days per year. RSI website:

n Medical –Physicians, nurses, medical transcriptionists, occupational therapists… n Legal –Lawyers, paralegals, administrative assistants, court reporters, administrative law judges…. n And More… –Authors, Teachers, Receptionists, Closed Captioners, CART reporters, Insurance Adjusters, Appraisers, Police Departments… Meets Increasing Employment Demands

Improves Communication Skills Reading ● oral reading efficiency ● word identification ● sight vocabulary ● fluency ● comprehension Writing ● Composition ● Grammar skills ● Vocabulary Speaking ● Pronunciation ● Enunciation ● Articulation

? ? ? ? Training Curriculum Hardware Software Getting Started

Minimum Hardware Requirements Windows PC 1.1 GHz processor (Dragon) 2 GHz processor (Windows Vista) MB RAM (Dragon) 1 GB RAM (Windows Vista) 3.1 GB hard drive space 4.Sound Blaster compatible sound card or USB port

n Don’t’ expect immediate perfection. n Speech recognition is still a SKILL. (Most users are not happy until they get to the 98% level. It’s only when you become skillful that you can say that it becomes productive, and it takes 8-16 hours of use to become skillful. n Attend a methods or training course if possible Learn the basics so you can improve your accuracy level…

Curriculum Development n Keyboarding/Computer Applications Courses (6-12 grades) n Office Procedures/Business Internships (Secondary/Post Secondary) n Medical/Legal Training Programs n Community Colleges as a 1 hour course n Special Education Where is Speech Recognition be Taught?

What resources are available?

Online Resources