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July 29, 2005
Philips SpeechMagic wins "Most Innovative Speech Recognition Solution" Award
Royal Philips Electronics announced today that it has won the industry-leading "Most innovative speech recognition solution" award from Speech Technology Magazine. Philips received the award jointly with Dolbey and Borgess Medical Center for increasing medical transcription productivity by more than 30% at the medical center in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Posted by Michelle at 06:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 27, 2005
TeleData Technology Announces Improved Speech Recognition Capabilities in its T3 Platform
TeleData Technology's speech recognition capabilities continue to expand with the release of enhancements to its ASR (automatic speech recognition) technology. TeleData Technology incorporates Natural Speech Communication's (NSC) ASR technology into their T3 Platform to develop a range of messaging solutions, enabling highly reliable speech recognition from telephones, cell phones and speaker phones. These recent enhancements bring further flexibility to organizations who implement speech recognition in their telephony applications.
Posted by Michelle at 12:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Sensory Debuts Ultra-Compact Voice Recognition Module; Low-Cost VR Stamp Facilitates Quick System Design
Sensory, Inc., the world leader in embedded speech technologies, today released the VR Stamp module, providing easy integration of voice recognition (VR) into consumer, industrial, automotive and medical electronics. The heart of the VR Stamp module is the RSC-4128 integrated circuit, the latest member of Sensory's award-winning RSC Family of mixed signal processors that provide speech recognition, synthesis and system control on a single chip. All of the additional components required for a functional speech recognition system are squeezed into the VR Stamp's ultra-compact footprint. With minor hardware interfacing additions, any electronic product can recognize and speak with the VR Stamp.
Posted by Michelle at 12:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dictaphone Introduces First Clinical Documentation Solution Combining Speech Recognition and Natural Language Processing
Dictaphone Corporation today announced the introduction of mdEssential, the industry's first software solution designed to automate the clinical documentation process in the clinic and physician group practice markets by combining Dictaphone's voice dictation, speech recognition, and natural language processing (NLP) technologies. The software speeds documentation time and reduces transcription costs by removing manual processes from the traditional dictation/transcription process, while fulfilling the essential data capture requirements of the electronic medical record (EMR).
Posted by Michelle at 12:29 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 24, 2005
One Man's Role in the Great Search War
The executive, Kai-Fu Lee, is leaving his position as vice president of speech, search and language understanding, to take a position with Google as head of its new China group. Microsoft says that Lee has been privy to Microsoft's future search strategy, and it doesn't want this knowledge in the hands of Google.
Lee has quietly been a driving force throughout Silicon Valley in the area of speech recognition. He was at Apple for six years heading its speech recognition technology in the 1990s. Then after a brief foray at Silicon Graphics, he moved to Microsoft in 1998 and basically commandeered its speech technology. More recently, he's been involved in search.
Posted by Michelle at 01:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
MCI Offers Transatlantic Call Routing, Speech Recognition Platform
Ideal for enterprise and government organizations with contact centers in multiple countries, Global ECR significantly improves customer service levels and protects users from the financial risk of equipment obsolescence, while reducing capital investment costs. Global ECR eliminates a company's need to manage a costly, premises-based Intelligent Voice Recognition (IVR) solution and changes the economic business model from a capital intensive investment to a pay-as-you-go solution.
Posted by Michelle at 01:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 21, 2005
A Toast to Mr. Scott
Let us all raise our glasses in honor of James Doohan, better known as Star Trek's Scotty, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 85. Each day my computer greets me with his voice saying "Computer? Computer! Hello computer..." ("Just use the keyboard.") "Keyboard. How quaint!" from Star Trek IV.
You can download the .wav file of Scotty saying "Keyboard, how quaint!", or the full version.
So long Scotty. One to beam up.
Posted by Michelle at 02:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 19, 2005
LumenVox Announces Version 6.0 at SpeechTEK
LumenVox, an innovator of speech recognition technologies, will be announcing Version 6.0 of their Speech Recognition Engine and Speech Platform at SpeechTEK, in New York City, from August 1-4, 2005. LumenVox will be demonstrating Version 6.0 in Booth 804 during the two-day exposition at the New York Marriott Marquis.
Posted by Michelle at 11:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Jumpstart Reading With Karaoke Teaches Kids to Read With Voice Activated Learning Technology
Knowledge Adventure, the leader in educational software for the home and the classroom, today announced that JumpStart Reading With Karaoke is now available at retail outlets throughout North America. This new title, based on extensive educational research, teaches important early reading skills using the popular play activity karaoke.
Posted by Michelle at 10:57 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Wizzard Software and IBM Extend IBM ViaVoice(R) Agreement for Two Additional Years
Wizzard Software to sell and support IBM ViaVoice speech recognition and text-to-speech toolkits and IBM ViaVoice runtime distribution licenses. This extension provides Wizzard with the continued ability to distribute IBM ViaVoice developer products to a broad-based development community.
Posted by Michelle at 10:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 18, 2005
iVoice Reports Total Cash Reserves of $11 Million
iVoice, Inc., a leader in speech-recognition technology, announced today that it had recently completed an additional round of funding under its equity line of credit. Since the beginning of 2005, iVoice has raised an additional $4.4 million dollars, bringing its total cash reserves to approximately $11 million.
Posted by Michelle at 06:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Nuance and Speech Technology Associates Team to Develop Fordham University's Advanced Voice Automation System for Students, Parents and Faculty
Nuance, the voice automation expert, today announced that one of the nation's first university deployments of advanced voice automation technology--integrating telephony, speech recognition and Web-based information--is powered by Nuance's customer-proven, standards-based platform technology. Nuance partner Speech Technology Associates, Inc., a provider of advanced speech recognition technology, developed the sophisticated speech recognition and CTI-enabled auto-attendant solution, Automated Operator(TM), for the Fordham University Enrollment Group.
Posted by Michelle at 06:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I, Roommate: The Robot Housekeeper Arrives
At first Nuvo would often shake its head no when I asked it things. By the third day it consistently responded to my request on the first try. This was probably because I was speaking in a more conversational tone. "When people approach a voice-activated robot, they naturally assume a blunt, commanding tone, which can be intimidating for older people and children who want to use them," Ms. Imanishi said. "We wanted Nuvo to sound more natural, with a normal conversational tone."
Posted by Michelle at 03:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 17, 2005
The Walls Have Ears: Your voice is the next remote control
Voice-activated devices have been around for years, but the technology has been so crude that only the geekiest of patrons were eager to install them in their homes. Recently, though, advances in speech-recognition software and home-automation technology have made the human voice a far more viable means of controlling today’s high-tech home.
Posted by Michelle at 06:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 15, 2005
Dictation program just not my type
This program is not something I would want to write every column on since it doesn't always understand my Texas drawl and strange words often show up in the middle of a sentence. It takes some powerful editing be sure my extra curricular talking doesn't get mixed up in what I am trying to say.
It is amazing however that this computer that sits on my desk can hear my voice and automatically write what I'm saying.
Posted by Michelle at 01:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 13, 2005
Macworld Boston: MacSpeech introduces iListen MX
MacSpeech, a company that makes Mac-only speech recognition products, has announced iListen MX, a new version of iListen exclusively available from participating Apple Specialist dealers and the MacSpeech Web site.
Posted by Michelle at 11:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Impress your co-workers with your mad voice recognition tech skills
Sprague WebLog has a snippet of VBA code up that you can add to your PowerPoint presentations to change slides by voice. Nifty.
Posted by Michelle at 04:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 12, 2005
Australian Caption Centre Speaks Its Mind With Sysmedia Wincaps
The Australian Caption Centre has purchased and installed the company's WinCAPS subtitling technology – specifically its SpeakTITLE speech recognition solution.
The technology was first used for the live subtitling of the Hopman Cup tennis competition.
Posted by Michelle at 06:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
NEC Unified Solutions Provides Unified Messaging and Voice Recognition To Largest Health Authority in British Columbia
NEC Unified Solutions, Inc. (NEC), a leader in integrated communications solutions for the enterprise, today announced that it has been selected by Fraser Health, British Columbia's largest health authority, to provide unified messaging and voice recognition technologies to enhance its converged voice and data network.
Posted by Michelle at 06:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Can you hear me now?
For this review we looked at Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional Version 8 and IBM ViaVoice Pro USB Edition Version 10. Both products come with a high-quality noise-canceling headset from Andrea Electronics, although they use different models. Dragon NaturallySpeaking comes with Model 91, while ViaVoice includes Model 61.
Both products offer similar speech-to-text capabilities, although the target market is obviously different. Dragon NaturallySpeaking comes with a number of features specifically for enterprises, including a feature that lets you store voice profiles on a central server and transcribe audio files from digital recorders or any handheld device that supports the Microsoft PocketPC operating system. ViaVoice focuses more on individual users, providing most of the same functions as Dragon NaturallySpeaking without the enterprise extras.
Posted by Michelle at 01:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apple's Roadmap: Voice-activated media management system for the iPod
Apple's Patent Application 20050015254 reveals a new and exciting concept relating to a server-based media management system. The new system will provide the next generation of wireless iPods with ability to download additional updateable menus, beyond those that come prepackaged with the unit.
A secondary aspect of the media management system relates to a voice activated option that will add a level of convenience to those driving a vehicle (car, truck or boat), riding a bike, jogging and so forth....
As far as voice activated menus options are concerned, the patent suggests that music studios will begin to include vocalization of titling right into their recordings at some point in the future. That convenience will then be available to new purchases of iTunes which will advance the wireless iPod’s media management system so that it could be used in our vehicles or while simply taking a walk.
Posted by Michelle at 01:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 10, 2005
Speech Recognition Technology: Aid for those with dysarthria
Soon sufferers from dysarthria and others who have difficulties communicating clearly and completely will be able to communicate understandably and also control appliances using special tools and a newly developed speech-recognition system and speech-synthesis module.
Posted by Michelle at 05:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
First Voice Recognition Door Lock for Residential Debuts in U.S.
LSG Inc. announces the U.S. launch of "VoiceKey," the first voice recognition digital door lock designed for residential as well as commercial use.
The multifunctional VoiceKey unlocks doors by voice command, secret number pad, card key, or remote control device. VoiceKey brings a new level of home security and customer convenience to the residential door lock market.
Posted by Michelle at 03:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Voice-activated dream
A voice-activated Apple computer that would allow a severely paralyzed Biloxian to write more children's books, access research materials and hopefully turn on the lights and answer the telephone independently may be in Jan Ruehling's future.
Posted by Michelle at 03:03 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 09, 2005
Innovations: This Dragon responds--with a little training
Dragon NaturallySpeaking is an add-on software that you can use on your desktop system or on your PDA. In addition to a highly accurate speech engine that runs on your desktop, this package comes with a speech recording application that runs on your Pocket PC or Palm device. So you can carry it on a plane to transcribe while you're on the road.
Posted by Michelle at 06:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 07, 2005
Telus Mobility adds stylish new Motorola handsets to its exclusive phone line-up
Telus Mobility today announced the availability of the Motorola V265 and V262, two new phones with advanced speech that fuse personalization, entertainment and productivity tools into compact, easy-to-use devices.
Both phones feature advanced speech recognition that allows clients to make fast and easy connections simply by stating a number or name, without having to train a voice-recognition tool as with many wireless speech recognition offerings.
Posted by Michelle at 07:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
iVoice Deploying Auto Speech Attendant at Corporate Strategies, Inc.; The Speech Enabled Auto Attendant is Provided by iVoice's Subsidiary SpeechSwitch, Inc.
iVoice, Inc., a leader in speech-recognition technology, announced today that Corporate Strategies, Inc. has installed the iVoice Speech Enabled Auto Attendant.
Posted by Michelle at 07:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
ScanSoft Introduces New Academic Licensing Program for Dragon NaturallySpeaking
ScanSoft, Inc., a global leader of speech and imaging solutions, today announced the ScanSoft Academic Site License Program, a new academic licensing program that allows academic institutions to take advantage of ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 across an entire organization.
Posted by Michelle at 07:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Smartphone speech recognition software available from Handango
VoiceSignal has introduced what it says is the first available download of its "one-step" voice command speech for Windows Mobile-based smartphones, specifically the Motorola MPx220. The VSuite 2.0 speaker-independent speech software is an upgrade to the version 1.3 package bundled with MPx220 phones, according to the company.
Posted by Michelle at 07:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 06, 2005
NetByTel, Inc. Signs Multi-Year Voice & Speech Recognition Patent License Agreement from Voice2Form, LLC
Voice2Form, LLC, which has exclusive patent rights for a voice recognition system to help people fill out forms for a variety of commercial and governmental agencies, today announced NetByTel, Inc. has signed a multi-year patent license agreement to use Voice2Form's unique voice and speech recognition technology process for completing paper and electronic forms. Voice2Form's patented application system collects applicants' voice entries from any phone, converts the answers to text and enters the information into any form and/or company database, such as a web server.
Posted by Michelle at 04:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 05, 2005
Gates outlines the future of software
Even the elusive promise of speech recognition will be realised in three to four years, Gates said. He noted that in an artificial environment, the computer already comes close to humans in recognising speech. What it does not quite have--yet--is the human ability to distinguish background noise from significant signals. But, pointing to the reduction in error rates, Gates predicted that the problems facing speech recognition will be solved by this decade.
Posted by Michelle at 04:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
LumenVox to Demonstrate Speech Software at SpeechTEK
LumenVox, an innovator in speech recognition technology, announced today that they will be demonstrating their suite of speech recognition products at the upcoming SpeechTEK show, to be held August 1 - 4, 2005 at the New York Marriott Marquis.
Posted by Michelle at 04:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 02, 2005
Conversations 2005
For the past six years, Conversations has been the event in speech, and 2005 is no exception. In fact, this year will be our biggest event yet! Our agenda is structured for interactivity, for business and technical backgrounds, and for both those new to speech and those looking to expand from their initial deployments.
Posted by Michelle at 11:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
ScanSoft Enables First Speech-Controlled Mobile Phone for Brazilian Market That supports Portuguese and English
ScanSoft, Inc., a global leader of speech and imaging solutions, today announced that LG Electronics, the world’s largest producer of CDMA mobile phones has selected ScanSoft’s VoCon® Mobile XGT embedded speech interface to voice-enable the LG MX-500, its latest mobile phone offering. ScanSoft’s solution features the industry’s most advanced speaker-independent name-dialing technology for wireless phones and mobile devices, enabling the MX-500 to be operated by any user out-of-the-box with no voice training of the device required. This makes the new LG MX-500 one of the safest mobile phones available. The phone will be available this summer.
Posted by Michelle at 10:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack