Voice Recognition software

redmyrlin · 9 Jun 2003, 07:56 PM

As I asked here (understandably, perhaps, without response

), can voice recognition software actually replace the keyboard when it comes to coding? I ask because my illness has restricted my typing ability to one finger of one hand (it used to be two fingers, one on each hand

), and I'm looking for alternatives.

Jeremy seems to favour Dragon NaturallySpeaking . Does anyone else have any experience, favourites or suggestions, please?

**gpdoyon** · 9 Jun 2003, 08:20 PM

I think that the only way to program using this software is to create a custom vocabulary as they do for the medical transcritpion profession. Maybe someone has already written such a module. I'd ask the software developer.

- Gerry

btn · 10 Jun 2003, 08:12 AM

I have been a fan of iListen.

Jeremy Howard · 10 Jun 2003, 06:33 PM

I interviewed a Dragon NaturallySpeaking sales manager today and asked him this question. The short answer is "no". For each to work properly, you would need not only a vocabulary for the computer language you use, but also a "language model". For a language as complex as Perl for instance, a complete language model would be nearly impossible to specify.

Also, voice recognition software is specifically designed around natural languages. I think it would require a lot of customisation to make it work with programming languages. Perhaps more "English like" languages like VB and Python could work better.

redmyrlin · 10 Jun 2003, 07:44 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, btn, unfortunately I've never used a Mac - only Windows and Unix variants.

Thanks also, Jeremy. I suspected as much.

I would have thought, though, that a programming language with its closely constrained vocabulary and well defined syntax might have been easier to model than any natural language or natural language subset.?

Oh well, looks like I'll have to become the fastest finger in the west!

redmyrlin · 13 Jun 2003, 12:11 AM

I could have sworn this thread had a post from Edwin.

Did he delete it? Was it one of the lost posts? Or am I just imagining things?

***Edwin*** · 13 Jun 2003, 05:20 AM

It had a "lost" post from me saying that I'd just ordered the latest version of NaturallySpeaking and that I would post my experiences with it when I've had a chance to use it for a while.

redmyrlin · 13 Jun 2003, 06:06 AM

Thanks, Edwin. It's nice to know my mind hasn't entirely deserted me.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts in due course.

***Edwin*** · 16 Jun 2003, 09:42 AM

Well the software just arrived yesterday. I think it's taught me that I don't speak very clearly. Either that or the software is not very good.

Actually to be fair, I've only been using it for an hour or so, so far.

The other problem is that it's not entirely compatible with this forum software, because when I give it certain commands, for example to go to the bottom or the top of that paragraph. It actually moves the browser to the bottom or the top of the scrollbar.

On the other hand. I've only had to resort to the keyboard six times so far in writing this message. The main problem is when I pause unnaturally in the middle of the sentence it puts a full stop where there shouldn't be one.

I'm going to keep testing the software and I'll post another update in a few more days.

Kawartha · 16 Jun 2003, 10:14 AM

You 'spoke' that message? That has to be interesting to use as well as to SEE what it 'types'.

We generally speak slightly different then when we write.

I had wondered how Mark Cuban- NBA Owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team (Billionaire from selling Broadcast.com~ and HDTV owner, etc; also little known: owner of email service: NetIdentity.com)...

-anyways, he is famously known to reply to emails addressed to him at his Dallas Mavericks website.

I know this is true since he answered a question I asked of him. But I have wondered how he could find the time. Maybe he uses a diction type setup to answer all those emails.

Please do keep us updated, Edwin. Let us know if it lightens the load of tasks usually done on a keyboard!

***Edwin*** · 16 Jun 2003, 11:18 AM

Actually I'm already getting happier with the software. I have now written around half a dozen e-mail messages and other messages using it.

In case you're curious, this message is also written almost entirely using the software (apart from a few minor corrections). So I'm sure it's going to take some getting used to, but I can see it becoming useful very quickly!

redmyrlin · 16 Jun 2003, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Edwin
Well the software just arrived yesterday. I think it's taught me that I don't speak very clearly. ...

Quote:

Originally posted by Edwin
Actually I'm already getting happier with the software. ..

Edwin, are you adapting your speech for the software (perhaps speaking more clearly and slowly), or is the software adapting itself to your mumbles?

.

I'm only asking because the progression of my neurological disorder, has begun now to slightly affect my speech.

Jeremy Howard · 22 Jun 2003, 08:06 AM

The software will adopt to you, although if your disorder causes you to slur words too much it may not do such a good job - you have to elocute carefully.

Edwin, when speaking into a browser window say "show dictation box". This lets you dictate into a Dragon window which pastes the contents into the browser when you're done.

redmyrlin · 23 Jun 2003, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeremy Howard
The software will adopt to you, although if your disorder causes you to slur words too much it may not do such a good job - you have to elocute carefully.
...

Thanks for the reply Jeremy. So far the affect on my speech has been minor, usually only apparent when I'm stressed or tired. It's good to know the software adapts to the user, but having to speak clearly may also be useful as a form of speech therapy!

robert@fm · 24 Jun 2003, 03:14 AM

I presume this type of software doesn't perform very well when one is (ahem) "tired and emotional"...

(not that I would know, of course...)

9 Jun 2003, 07:56 PM	#1
redmyrlin Master of the @ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,409	Voice Recognition software As I asked here (understandably, perhaps, without response ), can voice recognition software actually replace the keyboard when it comes to coding? I ask because my illness has restricted my typing ability to one finger of one hand (it used to be two fingers, one on each hand ), and I'm looking for alternatives. Jeremy seems to favour Dragon NaturallySpeaking . Does anyone else have any experience, favourites or suggestions, please?

13 Jun 2003, 12:11 AM	#6
redmyrlin Master of the @ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,409	Missing post I could have sworn this thread had a post from Edwin. Did he delete it? Was it one of the lost posts? Or am I just imagining things?

9 Jun 2003, 08:20 PM	#2
gpdoyon Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Westbrook, Maine USA Posts: 462	I think that the only way to program using this software is to create a custom vocabulary as they do for the medical transcritpion profession. Maybe someone has already written such a module. I'd ask the software developer. - Gerry

10 Jun 2003, 08:12 AM	#3
btn Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Jose, CA, US Posts: 688 Representative of: Everyone.net	I have been a fan of iListen.

10 Jun 2003, 06:33 PM	#4
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,501	I interviewed a Dragon NaturallySpeaking sales manager today and asked him this question. The short answer is "no". For each to work properly, you would need not only a vocabulary for the computer language you use, but also a "language model". For a language as complex as Perl for instance, a complete language model would be nearly impossible to specify. Also, voice recognition software is specifically designed around natural languages. I think it would require a lot of customisation to make it work with programming languages. Perhaps more "English like" languages like VB and Python could work better.

10 Jun 2003, 07:44 PM	#5
redmyrlin Master of the @ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,409	Thanks for the suggestion, btn, unfortunately I've never used a Mac - only Windows and Unix variants. Thanks also, Jeremy. I suspected as much. I would have thought, though, that a programming language with its closely constrained vocabulary and well defined syntax might have been easier to model than any natural language or natural language subset.? Oh well, looks like I'll have to become the fastest finger in the west!

13 Jun 2003, 05:20 AM	#7
*Edwin* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: UK Posts: 3,118	It had a "lost" post from me saying that I'd just ordered the latest version of NaturallySpeaking and that I would post my experiences with it when I've had a chance to use it for a while.

13 Jun 2003, 06:06 AM	#8
redmyrlin Master of the @ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,409	Thanks, Edwin. It's nice to know my mind hasn't entirely deserted me. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts in due course.

16 Jun 2003, 09:42 AM	#9
*Edwin* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: UK Posts: 3,118	Well the software just arrived yesterday. I think it's taught me that I don't speak very clearly. Either that or the software is not very good. Actually to be fair, I've only been using it for an hour or so, so far. The other problem is that it's not entirely compatible with this forum software, because when I give it certain commands, for example to go to the bottom or the top of that paragraph. It actually moves the browser to the bottom or the top of the scrollbar. On the other hand. I've only had to resort to the keyboard six times so far in writing this message. The main problem is when I pause unnaturally in the middle of the sentence it puts a full stop where there shouldn't be one. I'm going to keep testing the software and I'll post another update in a few more days.

16 Jun 2003, 10:14 AM	#10
Kawartha Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 77	You 'spoke' that message? That has to be interesting to use as well as to SEE what it 'types'. We generally speak slightly different then when we write. I had wondered how Mark Cuban- NBA Owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team (Billionaire from selling Broadcast.com~ and HDTV owner, etc; also little known: owner of email service: NetIdentity.com)... -anyways, he is famously known to reply to emails addressed to him at his Dallas Mavericks website. I know this is true since he answered a question I asked of him. But I have wondered how he could find the time. Maybe he uses a diction type setup to answer all those emails. Please do keep us updated, Edwin. Let us know if it lightens the load of tasks usually done on a keyboard!

16 Jun 2003, 11:18 AM	#11
*Edwin* Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: UK Posts: 3,118	Actually I'm already getting happier with the software. I have now written around half a dozen e-mail messages and other messages using it. In case you're curious, this message is also written almost entirely using the software (apart from a few minor corrections). So I'm sure it's going to take some getting used to, but I can see it becoming useful very quickly!

22 Jun 2003, 08:06 AM	#13
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,501	The software will adopt to you, although if your disorder causes you to slur words too much it may not do such a good job - you have to elocute carefully. Edwin, when speaking into a browser window say "show dictation box". This lets you dictate into a Dragon window which pastes the contents into the browser when you're done.

24 Jun 2003, 03:14 AM	#15
robert@fm The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 4,681	I presume this type of software doesn't perform very well when one is (ahem) "tired and emotional"... (not that I would know, of course...)