Talk to your computer, and see your words on
the screen! Say copy and paste to move
text, without touching the mouse or
keyboard. Have your computer respond to
what you say. Tell the mouse to move.
And more …
The process of speaking words into the
computer, and having text appear on the
screen, or having the computer perform
various functions, is one of the most
exciting and potential-filled technologies
available for students with special needs.
Though it’s been around for a while, it is
still a relatively unexplored technology
with great potential for students with
special needs! Broad vocabulary speech
recognition has become extremely powerful,
accurate and affordable.
Speech Recognition is the process of
translating spoken words into text words on the computer.
Through a speech recognition program / application, the computer
is able to process words you say and turn them into text on the
screen 'just as if you had typed them on the
keyboard'!
Speech recognition may not be as
simple as purely typing words on the keyboard, but it can be
MUCH faster, more efficient and produce accurate work at a
remarkably increased productivity rate compared to typing.
This is true even for fast typists.
Most people fall
into the 'average' category of typing. That means
between 20 - 50 wpm. If you have good speech and are an
average typist, you have the potential of improving your text
entry rate to 5 times your current speed if you use
speech input (after training and practice, and with the best
hardware / software system)
Click
here to see average typing speeds for school students.
(wpm = words per
minute)
See a video
of speech recognition in action on the Global Change web site.
Take a look
at this
quick and interesting video clip
presented by David Pogue from the New York
Times. He does a quick video review of
Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 8.
Speech
recognition is available in many different
types of technologies, such as call centers,
cell phones and computers. This technology
allows computers to translate speech in pure
audio or spoken form, and convert it to text
or into commands or actions on the computer.
Speech recognition programs come in the form
of broad range vocabulary programs or
command and control programs. In
computer-based programs such as
NaturallySpeaking, the program is installed
on the computer. The user dictates into a
microphone connected to the computer. These
speech sounds are digitized and matched
against the sounds in the users voice file,
and used for creating text on the screen or
controlling some function on the machine.
Once the program is installed, the user
participates in an initial training session
called voice enrollment which only takes
about 5 minutes (depending on speed of your
computer processor). This initial
training builds the users individualized
voice file. Every speech recognition session
in which the user dictates text or commands
and then saves voice files will impact the
ongoing development of the voice files.
Speech-recognition is an extensive, widely
used mainstream computer application, used
in many fields. It was never developed for
people with disabilities. As it was
being developed and enhanced, people with
disabilities discovered the benefits of
being able to use voice input instead of
keyboard and mouse.
Here, a physician uses speech input for
writing a report while examining an infant.
Successful speech recognition requires
Patience, Perseverance, and lots of
Practice.
Building
good, strong voice files takes time and good
use of correction strategies.
A strong
and accurate voice file is the basis for
accurate and fast speech recognition.
The
National Business Education Association
is a large professional organization serving
individuals and groups engaged in business.
Their Legislative Advocacy Committee focuses
on ongoing national, state, and local
efforts to further business education in
schools and communities. The NBEA has added
speech and handwriting recognition to its
national standards.
" Trends in technology require educators
to provide opportunities for all
students to learn the new technologies
and techniques that are emerging in
today's workplace. Current technologies
include speech-recognition, handwriting
recognition tools such as tablet PC's,
personal digital assistants and other
handheld devices, and scanners.
Educators must provide instruction on a
variety of input technologies for
successful academic, professional, and
personal applications. ... educators
should take the lead in using, teaching,
and integrating computer input
technologies into the curriculum. ...
students need to develop proper input
techniques in order to use a variety of
input technologies. Learning a fact of
input techniques prepare students for a
transition to dynamic technological
environments. Competency in using
computer input technologies enhance a
certain communication skills. Computer
input technologies emphasize the need to
improve penmanship, reading, speaking,
and denunciation skills. Organizational,
composition, and editing must be
integral parts of the instruction of
computer input technology."
When computer input technologies are coupled
with the teaching of oral and written
communication skills, students become
motivated, productive, efficient, and
effective communicators.
More and more high schools are allowing
students to receive both high school credit
and college credit for their training in
speech-recognition. The Utah Valley
State College offers a digital communication
tools class which includes making
speech-recognition part of the computer
routine and using speech recognition and
digital input tools routinely as
communication tools.
They also offer concurrent enrollment which
will allow high school teachers to receive
training in Dragon NaturallySpeaking. These
teachers will then teach Dragon today
students, which will allow the students to
be awarded credit at both the college level
and at a local high school for completion of
Dragon NaturallySpeaking training.
Many community colleges are offering
"Introduction to Speech-Recognition" along
with a list of introduction to all kinds of
basic computer skills such as keyboarding,
word processing, filing, 10 Key calculators,
office procedures, Internet, e-mail etc.
Speech recognition is now being listed as a
standard skill. It is no longer a
specialized, expensive and 'out of reach'
program. It is also not considered an
assistive technology program or solution. It
is a standard piece of technology which has
become increasingly useful and affordable to
people with and without disabilities. It has
also become increasingly accurate and thus
its benefit for people with disabilities has
become more evident as more and more people
with various disabilities are able to use
and benefit from this application.
