Speech Recognition Update -- ALA April, 1999

James A. Eidelman

Eidelman AssociatesAnn Arbor, MI

www.lawtech.com

You talk, it types?

Not exactly!

(or at least, not always what you meant!)

Introduction

Speech Recognition Update

Jim Eidelman (eidelman@lawtech.com)

with Support from vendors including:

Dragon Systems Dictaphone/IBM Lernout & Hauspie/CCS

Objectives and Background Survey of Audience Talk about Using the

Technology Competitive Update

(for more info, visit www.lawtech.com/jimtips/voice)

RULES -- Bob Arndt

5 Ways to Improve Your Income: Rates Utilization Leverage Efficiency Speed

Benefits

Many lawyers achieve: Increased Productivity Lower Overhead Independence Faster Turn-around Time

But many lawyers don’t!

TerminologySpeech Recognition vs.

Voice Recognition

Discreet vs. Continuous

What it’s like to use it

Like riding a bicycle– Skinning your knee, or – Hair blowing in the breeze

How I use it– In Voice program/Editor– In Native Applications– Portable -- With A Dictating Machine

Getting Started interactively

Training/Enrollment Vocabulary Building Practice

Improving AccuracyTypical ErrorsPunctuationEnunciate Clearly!

The Vendors Dragon Naturally Speaking IBM ViaVoice Typhoon/Smith Corona (IBM

Engine) Speechlaw/Philips Lernout & Hauspie

Using a Dictating Machine

Mobile Mode -- Special Recorders What it’s like for the

– Lawyer or legal assistant– Secretary/word processing specialist– MIS department/Technical Support

Special Solutions from Dictaphone and Speechlaw

Vendor Comparison Dragon NaturallySpeaking IBM ViaVoice and

Dictaphone/IBM solution Typhoon/Smith Corona Speechlaw/Philips & IBM Lernout & Hauspie

Dragon NaturallySpeaking

Most Accurate Best Interface Editor’s Choice Largest Installed Law Firm Base Mobile Mode , but no saved

speech files

IBM Via Voice Saves Speech Files Combo with Olympus & Dictaphone

Portables Low Price , esp. with Legal Interface and Accuracy not as good Network solutions from Dictaphone

and Speechlaw

Dictaphone

Use IBM ViaVoice Excellent Portable Solutions Excellent Network Solutions with

“Boomerang” transcribing for secretary Can work the way traditional tape

systems work, but make secretary more productive

Philips/Speechlaw Network /Law Firm solution Most Expensive Best Recognition for legal

through ConTexts -- + IBM Now Most experience integrating on

networks and with databases

Smith Corona/Typhoon

Built on IBM Engine Great interface with Word and WP, Plus

Groupwise Greater speed and accuracy in Word & WP Adding AI soon so you don’t have to

dictate punctuation Will have full integration with MS Outlook

and Internet Explorer

Lernout & Hauspie Speech Xpress Best word processing interface

for MS Word Plain-language formatting No saved speech files Microsoft Backing -- Great

future

What’s New IBM

– Olympus and Dictaphone Dictation Units -- software reads .WAV files!

– New version with new interface and many other improvements

Dragon– New versions, including Mobile, Legal– Reads WAV files – Improved Recognition

Both have L&H-like plain-language formatting

Speechlaw and Dictaphone

High-end Batch Mode for Networks Works with Philips (Speechlaw) or IBM

software (Both) Supports database integration

(Speechlaw)

Hardware Required for Interactive UseMin Pentium 200 MMXPrefer Pentium II32 MB RAM just for

Speech, pref. 48 or 64 just for speech!

Distinguishing Features

Accuracy Macros Use with portable dictating equipment Saving sound files so that a secretary

can listen to what the lawyer said as she corrects

The user interface

Demos: Demonstration of simply

speaking to the computer

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Legal

Dictaphone with IBM ViaVoice

Good CandidatesComputer-literatePatientEnthusiasticGood support in the firm

Advanced Features

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

Two ways to work

Interactively (sitting at your PC)

Batch Mode

Working Interactively

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

Headsets for Interactive Use

High Quality– VXI

– Andrea Telephone and

Computer in

One

Batch Mode Working on Screen or Dictating

Machine Transcription Equipment Training Issues Speech File Issues Support Staff Issues Network Support

Ready for Prime Time? WordPerfect Thinks So Lawyers who Dictate

–Must have great support Lawyers who Type

–Best of both worlds, but many will be less productive than typing

Contrary Opinion:

Scientific American says no, and 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: Interactive use by lawyers:

– No, except for computer-literate computer enthusiasts

Interactive use by legal assistants: – Yes, if the legal assistants have a good attitude

Lawyers using dictating equipment, with secretary support to correct and clean up: – Yes.

Philips SpeechMikeand Dictaphone BoomerangHandset for Batch or Interactive Mode

Dictation Equipment for Batch Use

Sony

Norcom Philips

Olympus

Dictaphone

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

Service Bureaus

Some speech recognition service bureaus are popping up.

You can email them your voice files, or dictate over the telephone. They will email you back the transcribed text for $3.25 per double-spaced page. Contact the CyberTranscriber service of Voice Machines at www.VoiceMachines.com.

Next Steps

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

Speech Recognition Update -- Q&A

James A. Eidelman

Eidelman Associates

Ann Arbor, MI

www.lawtech.com