Talking to computers

I am writing this article without even touching my keyboard. Instead, I am wearing a headset rather like that used by a telephonist and speaking these words into a microphone. A piece of software on my computer called Via Voice is picking up everything I say and printing it as text on the screen. It almost seems like magic: Dr Doolittle could talk to the animals - I can talk to my computer!

Dictation software is not exactly new - it has been around for quite a few years - but the accuracy has increased and the price has dropped to such an extent that these programs are now easily within the grasp of most computer users. For those of us who are self taught, four-finger typists with a lot of text to write or to copy, a system like this a fantastic aid - but is dictation software any use in primary schools?

To be honest, the answer has to be 'not yet'. It isn't possible to install the program and start talking straightaway. Before you can begin, it is necessary spend some time teaching the computer to recognise your voice. This involves reading about a hundred prepared phrases into the microphone. The computer then sets up a file that is quite specific to your voice and this file is used every time you dictate. It is possible to have files for several different people set upon the same computer so, for example, my husband, my daughter and I will all be able to use the system. However, these voice files are very expensive on memory and it would not really be a viable proposition to set up a file for every child in the class. Furthermore, the system is very sensitive to noises in the background and will only work effectively in a quiet room.

The errors that it makes are quite amusing sometimes. For example, at the end of the last paragraph it gave me the word 'man' instead of the word 'room'. But the software goes on learning the more you use it. To teach it that I had said 'room' and not 'man' I highlighted the word 'man', causing a pop-up menu to appear, offering a number of options which the software thought I might have said. The word 'room' was the second option (numbered 2) and all I had to do was to speak into my microphone the words 'Pick 2' and the word 'room' was substituted for 'man' in the text. At the same time the system also refined its understanding of my voice. Next time I say 'room' it will find it easier to understand.

Although the technology is not quite up to it yet, the potential of this type of software in primary schools is enormous. A word processor is a great boon in that it allows children to edit and revise their writing but initial entry of text is often slow because of children's poor keyboard skills. If dictation software could be used for this, then pupils could be freed to concentrate on what they want to say. Dictation software also removes the need to worry about spelling; the computer handles all that for you. The software will also read back what has been written and could thus be a valuable tool for helping very young children make the links between reading and writing.

None of this will be possible until we have systems which are very tolerant of background noise and which are able to respond to anybody's voice without prior teaching. Until then, little Janet and John will just have to soldier on with the keyboard. But as a productivity tool for teachers, dictation software is well worth thinking about.

Via Voice from IBM works on high specification PC computers and costs around £130.

	Old Stone, New Technology
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