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Using PDAs for Dictation?

SunPin asks: "I'm a writer that is 99% dependent, due to fine-motor disabilities, on voice dictation. I've been a dictation user since 1990. My preference is 'discrete' speech because of very low resource consumption and its effectively infinite flexibility. Over the years, my computer use has de-evolved to programming, FTP, email (Mozilla), word processing (OpenOffice) and Ricochet. Drop the game and there's nothing that I shouldn't be allowed to do on the go. The problem is that I can't. Back in 1990, the requirements for IBM VoiceType were: DOS, 8MB RAM, 10MB of drive space with one of those new-fangled scorching 386-16MHz processors... not exactly demanding by today's standards and, unless I'm outright wrong, not demanding by today's PDA standards. Why hasn't it occurred yet?"

"In the disability offices of the hundreds of universities across the US, such software would be a major money saver because not all students need a high-powered laptop. While natural speech is great from a marketing perspective, it is simply impractical for general use and cannot adapt to mildly noisy environments. IBM, L & H and Microsoft have all given me the run-around. IBM refused to entertain the possibility. L & H is on life support, in a deep coma. Only Microsoft had a remotely positive response saying that they were testing natural recognition in Mandarin Chinese in their Beijing research office. Does anyone believe in keeping it simple, anymore?"

18 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. My god by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Next thing, you'll be wanting a machine to wash your dishes and clothing, or, heck, let's be crazy, and send moving pictures around the world!

  2. Amazing! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    "I'm a writer that is 99% dependent, due to fine-motor disabilities, on voice dictation."
    • This isn't meant in jest at all. Despite the limitations you face for computer input, you've still managed to construct a more grammatically correct, and properly spelled "Ask Slashdot" than half the readers of this site. Bravo ... and hopefully our PDAs will one day catch up to the Jetsons.
  3. Re:Because it does not work. by Wiseazz · · Score: 3, Funny

    Unfortunately, the keyboard is the most accurate way to input data.

    According to my boss, it's actually something called an office administrator.

    --
    My sig sucks.
  4. Re:Well... by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Funny

    >> First off, buying a dictaphone ...

    DICTAPHONE? DICTAPHONE?

    re-vulcanize my tires, post-haste. And make sure this post is on the next auto-gyro to Prussia.

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  5. It's always been my dream by The+Evil+Couch · · Score: 2, Funny

    to use PDAs for World Dictation!

    MARCH ON MY PALM MINIONS! Go forth! And ravage the world!

    *cackles deviously*

  6. Re:It's not just the processor... by nojomofo · · Score: 5, Funny

    My saying car and some one from Boston saying car are drastically different but they are the same word.

    Hey! I resent that remahk! You ah stereotyping heah, and it's not fa-uh. Some of us from Bahston can say cah just like the rest of you. Just jealous, that's what you ah. Come up heah, and you'll be wicked sorry that you did. :-)

  7. Re:Well... by banzai51 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Reminds me of what someone at work says about IBM:

    "IBM: Where software goes to die."

  8. Re:Dosent Voice work on PDAs. by falzer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh well. It happends.

  9. Re:stephan hawking by Cyn · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think that Mr. Hawking's "speech" -> text would be trivially easy. For one thing, he just typed it - and for another, we have exact samplings of the voice that was generated and know how to regenerate it.

    --
    cyn, free software and *nix operating systems enthusiast.
  10. Re:It's not just the processor... by adamy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Stop bein such a Tahd

    --
    Open Source Identity Management: FreeIPA.org
  11. Re:It's not just the processor... by Zordak · · Score: 5, Funny

    You used your dictaphone to post, didn't you? Somebody mail this guy a keyboard.

    --

    Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
  12. Re:Because by alanh · · Score: 5, Funny
    I disagree, I think voice recognition will (eventually) become the way of interacting with computers. Think Sci-Fi TV; being able to just speak and have the computer respond to your requests.


    I guess you haven't seen 2001: A Space Odyssey....

    "Open the pod bay doors HAL."
    "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."

    Maybe it wasn't that Hal was insane, just his speech recognition software failed....
    --
    - AlanH
  13. Re:Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    This book must be out of date: I don't see "Prussia", "Siam", or "autogyro".

  14. Hey! by Akardam · · Score: 4, Funny

    If I can find a machine to wash my dishes AND clothing, I'd say that'd be pretty cool!

    1. Re:Hey! by Ponty · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Honey, why is there a fork in the sock drawer?"

      "Sorry dear, I'm an idiot."

    2. Re:Hey! by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Funny

      "If I can find a machine to wash my dishes AND clothing, I'd say that'd be pretty cool! "

      Get a wife.

      (I hope you're all happy, that comment cost me an expensive dinner.)

      --
      "Derp de derp."
  15. Re:It's not just the processor... by meteau · · Score: 2, Funny

    "You used your dictaphone to post, didn't you?"

    Thank you for the new sig :)

    --
    -- "You used your dictaphone to post, didn't you?"
  16. Move over Harry Potter... by NanoGator · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Over the years, my computer use has de-evolved to programming, FTP, email (Mozilla), word processing (OpenOffice) and Ricochet."

    I'd say this guy found the magic combination of words to get his article posted on Slashdot. Heh.

    --
    "Derp de derp."