>Where is True Speech Recognition?
It has been so many years since the HAL-9000 computer demonstrated that in 2001 we could be able to talk to our computers and they would clearly talk back to us. It’s 2007, six years after the events in 2001: a space odyssey! I want true simple Speech Recognition!
This is more of a complaint that a ’state of the technical union’ address.
We’ve come a long way since Apple hired Industrial Light and Magic to create their 1987 proof of concept video called the “Apple Knowledge Navigator.”
With the internet permanently established, voice-over the internet (VOIP) phone calls, and video cameras in our computers, we’re not that far off. But why are we completely stagnant when it comes to True Speech Recognition? There has to be a reason… did Microsoft Patent the idea and want too much money to make it practical? Why can you talk to a human sounding machine on the phone, that can practically understand what you say, but your computer can’t?At least True Speech Synthesis has evolved considerably.Here… listen to this clip from Apple’s upcoming 10.5 (Leopard) version of the Mac OS X here.
While I know we talked about this on a recent Podcast, I’d like to bring up how important this breakthrough is. Play the audio clip above again. You’ll notice that the voice pauses to take a breath. It’s a major breakthrough and one that I’m looking forward to using.For more information on Apple’s new Leopard OS X release, visit here.
In general, I really like the concept behind Apple’s Knowledge Navigator. Let’s hope it’s not too long before we finally get a system that truly works as well as the technology demo, and voice recognition that might actually allow us to get rid of the archaic keyboard and mouse. (Not likely, but I can dream).Once again… Thanks go out to the Vintage Apple News site for presenting the link to Apple’s Knowledge Navigator Video on YouTube.
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