Speech Recognition Update -- ALA April, 1999 James A. Eidelman Eidelman Associates Ann Arbor, MI

You talk, it types? n Not exactly! n (or at least, not always what you meant!) n Introduction

Speech Recognition Update n Jim Eidelman with Support from vendors including : n Dragon Systems n Dictaphone/IBM n Lernout & Hauspie/CCS

Objectives and Background n Survey of Audience n Talk about Using the Technology n Competitive Update (for more info, visit

RULES -- Bob Arndt 5 Ways to Improve Your Income: n Rates n Utilization n Leverage n Efficiency n Speed

Benefits Many lawyers achieve: n Increased Productivity n Lower Overhead n Independence n Faster Turn-around Time But many lawyers don’t!

Terminology n Speech Recognition vs. Voice Recognition n Discreet vs. Continuous

What it’s like to use it n Like riding a bicycle –Skinning your knee, or –Hair blowing in the breeze n How I use it –In Voice program/Editor –In Native Applications –Portable -- With A Dictating Machine

Getting Started interactively n Training/Enrollment n Vocabulary Building n Practice

Improving Accuracy n Typical Errors n Punctuation n Enunciate Clearly!

The Vendors n Dragon Naturally Speaking n IBM ViaVoice n Typhoon/Smith Corona (IBM Engine) n Speechlaw/Philips n Lernout & Hauspie

Using a Dictating Machine n Mobile Mode -- Special Recorders n What it’s like for the –Lawyer or legal assistant –Secretary/word processing specialist –MIS department/Technical Support n Special Solutions from Dictaphone and Speechlaw

Vendor Comparison n Dragon NaturallySpeaking n IBM ViaVoice and Dictaphone/IBM solution n Typhoon/Smith Corona n Speechlaw/Philips & IBM n Lernout & Hauspie

Dragon NaturallySpeaking n Most Accurate n Best Interface n Editor’s Choice n Largest Installed Law Firm Base n Mobile Mode, but no saved speech files 

IBM Via Voice n Saves Speech Files n Combo with Olympus & Dictaphone Portables n Low Price, esp. with Legal n Interface and Accuracy not as good  n Network solutions from Dictaphone and Speechlaw

Dictaphone n Use IBM ViaVoice n Excellent Portable Solutions n Excellent Network Solutions with “Boomerang” transcribing for secretary n Can work the way traditional tape systems work, but make secretary more productive

Philips/Speechlaw n Network /Law Firm solution n Most Expensive n Best Recognition for legal through ConTexts -- + IBM Now n Most experience integrating on networks and with databases

Smith Corona/Typhoon n Built on IBM Engine n Great interface with Word and WP, Plus Groupwise n Greater speed and accuracy in Word & WP n Adding AI soon so you don’t have to dictate punctuation n Will have full integration with MS Outlook and Internet Explorer

Lernout & Hauspie Speech Xpress n Best word processing interface for MS Word n Plain-language formatting n No saved speech files  n Microsoft Backing -- Great future

What’s New n IBM –Olympus and Dictaphone Dictation Units -- software reads.WAV files! –New version with new interface and many other improvements n Dragon –New versions, including Mobile, Legal –Reads WAV files –Improved Recognition n Both have L&H-like plain-language formatting

Speechlaw and Dictaphone n High-end n Batch Mode for Networks n Works with Philips (Speechlaw) or IBM software (Both) n Supports database integration (Speechlaw)

Hardware Required for Interactive Use n Min Pentium 200 MMX n Prefer Pentium II n 32 MB RAM just for Speech, pref. 48 or 64 just for speech!

Distinguishing Features n Accuracy n Macros n Use with portable dictating equipment n Saving sound files so that a secretary can listen to what the lawyer said as she corrects n The user interface

Demos : Demonstration of simply speaking to the computer n Dragon NaturallySpeaking Legal n Dictaphone with IBM ViaVoice

Good Candidates n Computer-literate n Patient n Enthusiastic n Good support in the firm

Advanced Features n (Demo) n Voice Macros n Computer Control n Play back your voice n Using a Dictating Machine

Two ways to work n Interactively (sitting at your PC) n Batch Mode

Working Interactively n Best of Both Worlds n See your Text n Edit as you go n Correct as you go n Training

Headsets for Interactive Use n High Quality –VXI –Andrea n Telephone and Computer in One

Batch Mode n Working on Screen or Dictating Machine n Transcription Equipment n Training Issues n Speech File Issues n Support Staff Issues n Network Support

Ready for Prime Time? n WordPerfect Thinks So n Lawyers who Dictate –Must have great support n Lawyers who Type –Best of both worlds, but many will be less productive than typing

Contrary Opinion: n Scientific American says no, and n Jay Foonberg and Rick Rodgers agree –Journalists who wrote favorable reviews don’t use it –Good typists are more efficient with a keyboard –Lawyers shouldn’t correct their own work

My Opinion: n Interactive use by lawyers: –No, except for computer-literate computer enthusiasts n Interactive use by legal assistants: –Yes, if the legal assistants have a good attitude n Lawyers using dictating equipment, with secretary support to correct and clean up: –Yes.

Philips SpeechMike and Dictaphone Boomerang Handset for Batch or Interactive Mode

Dictation Equipment for Batch Use n Sony n Norcom n Philips n Olympus Dictaphone

Staffing Issues n Productivity for Lawyers n Need for Editor n Changing role of secretaries n Firm-wide -- How to staff?

Service Bureaus n Some speech recognition service bureaus are popping up. n You can them your voice files, or dictate over the telephone. They will you back the transcribed text for $3.25 per double-spaced page. Contact the CyberTranscriber service of Voice Machines at

Next Steps n Set up a pilot n Get Support n Spend the Weekend n Give it a few weeks n Use an Editor/Proofreader n Use the Web to stay up to date

Speech Recognition Update -- Q&A James A. Eidelman Eidelman Associates Ann Arbor, MI