A speech recognition software called Naturally Speaking released by Dragon Systems of US, is a breakthrough because it allows users to speak naturally while using it and claims an accuracy level of over 85 per cent.

While various versions of the software, in different types of English spoken across the world, are available, the one released in India is in "Indian English."

Developed especially for the Indian market by Dragon Systems, the product is marketed by Hindustan Computers Limited. HCL scientists have collaborated with Dragon Systems in developing the Indian version to make the software more market friendly.

The Indian version recognises accents from different parts of the country and has the names of most Indian metropolitan cities apart from a few words that are typically Indian. It works the same with all Indian languages. Unlike other innovations in the field which have been far from satisfactory this one does seem to work.

It could soon render the now ubiquitous mouse and keyboard obsolete. Not only does the software allow the user to dictate a text it also reads back the text appearing on the screen.

The user is also allowed to format and edit it. The software, which has won the Techies ‘99 award given by the PC World Group of Publications, has a core vocabulary of over 2,30,000 words. Apart from the core vocabulary there is a peripheral one which keeps changing. New words can be added to the vocabulary from time to time and every time a new word is used, it is automatically added to the core vocabulary.

The software deletes the word which is used the least. Consequently, the software incrementally increases its accuracy level and even adjusts itself to the writing style of the user.

"The difference between this and the previous versions is that while earlier computer recorded and printed what was dictated word by word, now it does so phrase by phrase," says Vivek Seigell, head, retail operations, HCL and Dragon products.

How the software makes contextual differences between two similar sounding words is indeed impressive.For example, if the user dictates, "I have to meet an eye doctor today," the software immediately differentiates between "I" and "eye.." It recognises and differentiates between the usage of the two words.

In an Internet obsessed world, it would be futile if a software did not help in browsing the Web. And Naturally Speaking’s ‘Version 4.1 is no different. It is very Internet friendly.Not only does it help the, user visit various Websites by speaking out their names but it can also help him/her write e-mails and send them across!

How is the software doing in terms of sales? The answer does not come forth in clear-cut terms. Says Seigell, "We would not be here if we were not making money out of the product."

However, Seigell concedes that the product has not been able to make a dent in the home buyers’ market. Among the reasons is the belief in Indian home buyers that software is free, owing to the deluge of pirated software available in the market.

"In the case of speech recognition software, there is a myth that it cannot work," says Seigell adding, "and people often draw conclusions even before trying the software." Thus adding to the company’s woes.

However, at places where the software has been put on display, the response has been phenomenal. That it takes only five minutes to train a person before using it, is being seen as a great improvement over earlier versions.

Having been at it for more than 20 years now, the company has now come out with something that is making the industry sit up and take note.

Republished from Asian Age