n. Speech-related injuries — such as vocal chord tension, chronic hoarseness, and loss of voice — caused by using voice-recognition software that requires discrete pauses between words.
1997
Speech pathologists say some patients have encountered what doctors call voice injuries from prolonged use of discrete-speech software.
1996
"The cost of a voice recognition system today is trivial compared to all the associated costs with rehabilitation," said Mark Flanagan, general manager of speech recognition manufacturer Kurzweil.
But before you invest a few hundred for this Star Trek-like technology, you need to ask yourself a few questions: Is this technology right for your company? Do your workers have the patience to learn a new system? And what about reports that speech recognition can cause throat or voice injuries?
But before you invest a few hundred for this Star Trek-like technology, you need to ask yourself a few questions: Is this technology right for your company? Do your workers have the patience to learn a new system? And what about reports that speech recognition can cause throat or voice injuries?
1995 (earliest)
Some users have found that they shout at the microphone, when a softer approach is needed. "People tend to punch their words out and speak more forcefully because they're wondering whether the system will recognize their words," said Tom Knotts, who uses a voice-recognition system to design integrated circuits for a high-tech company in Palo Alto, Calif.
"But even speaking softly can lead to injuries if the voice is too tight," Knotts added.
There are no statistics on the emergence of computer-related voice injuries.
"But even speaking softly can lead to injuries if the voice is too tight," Knotts added.
There are no statistics on the emergence of computer-related voice injuries.