How we communicate
Before we take a look at what is available, let's consider what it takes to talk and listen. Communicating with devices via speech is probably more difficult than you think. Consider the amount of information that is conveyed between two people in a vocal exchange.
To start with, some 70 percent of communication between people is through non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and body language. This obviously cannot be conveyed through speech interfaces. Secondly, there is a lot of information provided by the human voice itself. Consider when you are talking to someone on the telephone--you can usually tell if they are happy, sad or in a rush through their intonation, pitch, pronunciation and punctuation.
While all this information might not be relevant when communicating with a computer, some aspects are, such as the punctuation and intonation (i.e. a statement vs. a question). The computer cannot always identify where you have finished a sentence and where the next one starts. Finally, remember that the human brain's ability to process speech is amazing and when it comes to understanding what we are saying, while a computer simply doesn't yet have the processing power or algorithms to accurately deal with everything a human might be trying to convey.
Not only is it the words and how they sound that provide information, but it is also the order that we put them in. There are certain guidelines to interaction that psychologists call 'scripts'. These define the order in which things generally take place and assist us in determining the right information at the right time. For example, when you go to a restaurant, there are certain procedures that are usually followed. When the waiter first asks you what you would like to order, you know it is the start of the meal so you may order an entree, when they ask again you may order a main and the third time you order the double chocolate mud cake.
A lot is also dependant upon the context of the scenario. These guidelines also shape the interaction by narrowing down the possibilities. The waiter may ask what you would like to eat and you respond with fish, he may then ask which type of fish you would like and then how you would like it cooked: grilled or battered. This process is important as it allows the agent, in this case the waiter, to quickly identify the exact item you want rather than him having to read through all the items and all the options.
It's no wonder then that it takes a lot to develop a high quality, useable and effective speech interface, drawing on the talents of programmers, psychologists, linguists, anthropologists and sociologists to ensure that the person on the other end can communicate with a box of wires.
What can speech offer?
For all the trouble they take to successfully develop, speech interfaces can offer a number of benefits over other types of interfaces, including:
Speed of text entry - When accuracy is achieved, speech is much faster method of entering text for most customers. Especially for people who may not have much interaction with computers or similar types of devices. It requires very little learning or training for most people.
Allows for different form factors - Keyboards are sometimes impractical in terms of either their size and or shape. For example, accurate speech systems allow smaller devices that have no keyboards can therefore allow for all different types of form factors.
Reduced physical strain - By eliminating the keyboard as a text input device, you reduce the risk of physical strain such as repetitive strain injury.
Reduced concentration on one place - Speech interfaces can offer a suitable method of interaction when the customer may be visually concentrating on something else and the speech provides support information. I know I'm always looking at the keyboard when I type and then when I look up all the words are spelt funny. With speech recognition, the person can also be doing other things with their hands, as they don't need to be typing, such as making gestures on a touch screen
Easy to access - The most common speech interface device is the telephone that most people have, if not a mobile phone as well. This reduces the costs required to access the information and therefore increases the chance of being used. By using a telephone as the technology, customers can access services from virtually anywhere in the world.
Speech interfaces can also be provided in multiple languages so the customer can be accommodated in the most appropriate manner.
Don't forget those are hearing impaired people who cannot hear!!! I'm not impressed of this article about voice communication.
Those techology will leave hearing impaired without jobs that require voice communication and can affect them in many ways.
Hearing impaired user!