Second Opinions

Comparing Voice Recognition Programs For Use In Legal Environments

By Bruce L. Dorner

"Beam me up, Scotty."

WITH THOSE words, several years ago, I entered the world of desktop computer voice recognition.

Well, it didn't quite work. What actually came up on the screen was, "Bean me up Scotty."

That illustrates the problem of voice tools. Accuracy is not 100 percent. As lawyers, we demand the most from ourselves and our tools. We'll complain until we get 100 percent accuracy!

As a practical matter, I compare voice recognition to a base-line secretary. They are generally very good, but occasionally make a few typographical or syntax errors. Part of the problem is the flexibility you give the secretary. If he or she knows "what you meant to say," and makes the change, you don't realize you even made a mistake. Computer voice recognition doesn't have a "you know what I meant" button.

I've used voice tools for several years. I used the original Dragon system (For more information enter no. 279) when it was hardware based in a 386 computer and they let me borrow a unit for a demonstration. It was very challenging: you had to use discrete speech with -- every -- word -- separated -- by -- a -- pause. And it was pricey. In those days, we were talking about a $15,000 system.

Today, the software cost ranges from less than $100 to about $600, depending upon the feature set.

Subsequently, I've used a few different flavors of voice tools, but I keep coming back to Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Maybe it's a bias from the early days where the first tool I used set the benchmark for all others. Maybe it's just that I'm too lazy to keep retraining myself in new voice commands. Maybe it's just that it works!

Today, I'm using the new Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional 4.0. It works from within my word processor, WordPerfect. I don't want to dictate into a scratch pad and then transfer text. I want it working from within my word processor and I want it to understand editing commands from inside WordPerfect. The same holds true for those who use Microsoft Word. In fact, you can use Dragon within Internet Explorer, too!

The Professional version allows me to create voice commands to activate my already existing WordPerfect macros. For example, if I say, "Take a letter," my screen displays my letterhead and sets me up to enter the inside address by voice or keyboard. I have another macro, "sign that," which puts my closing and signature block on the screen. I could go further with the software, but never seem to have the time to really tune it up all the way.

Training, Training, Training

This raises the threshold question of voice tools. Will you put in the necessary time? You only get what you put into it. You need to spend a great deal of time training, training, and training. I don't care that the manuals say you can be up and running in 10 to 15 minutes.

Yes, you can be up and running, but that's like claiming you can understand any software package in 15 minutes.

With voice, you need to correct the errors that will inevitably appear. You can't just type over them. The tools learn by training, or the machine will repeat your errors believing that the wrong word or phrase is what you really intended.

For the next part, let's get real with the day-to-day stuff. I play with voice tools. I don't use them regularly. I can type at better than 60 words per minute. Therefore, I don't have a great incentive -- except for intellectual curiosity -- to get voice running as my primary means of entering information into the computer.

In fact, I'm typing this article rather than dictating it. I have good intentions to use Dragon as my primary means of text creation, but never seem to deliver on my own promise. However, if you are a two-fingered typist, then computerized voice dictation may be your salvation.

Hardware

As for hardware, Dragon requires a current computer. Although the manufacturer has lower threshold requirements, I recommend more horsepower. I run DNS Pro on a P-II, 300MHz machine with 128 MB RAM. It is passable, but not good.

I suggest a P-III machine of at least 400MHz and at least 128 MB RAM, or better. Voice software sucks up power, but produces better results with faster chips and systems.

If you want the real sizzle, you need to retain one of the VARs who can take a pile of your documents and electronically "read" them into a computer file that will customize your vocabulary to your particular form of speech or area of law. The accuracy increases if you spend the money for this after market service. However, if you aren't serious about using voice as your primary tool, save your money. Costs for the after market assistance can range upward from $1,000.

For the record, after I installed Dragon Pro 4.0 on my machine, I spent about 45 minutes training the system. I dictated a two-paragraph letter into WordPerfect with 100 percent accuracy. I was amazed and impressed. Maybe it was the USB microphone. Maybe it was the voice inflection. Maybe it was the cycle of the moon. The result was amazing. My accuracy has gone done from there to about 96 percent.

But when it does not understand what I say, it makes some very strange substitutions. The critical part of avoiding the repetition of errors is to use the voice correction mode, not the keyboard, to change the errant words. Yes, I know I said it before, but it is so critical that it bears repeating. And, in my experience, it does take longer to make corrections by voice than by keyboard and mouse.

Is voice recognition ready for prime time? Yes, with certain caveats.

First, you have to have the righthardware.

Second, you have to be patient and continue to train the software much as you would with any new inexperienced employee.

Third, you need to set reasonable expectations.

This is not the bridge of the Star Ship Enterprise, and a true talking computer does not exist in the law office environment.. Can you be productive using voice tools? Yes, if you take your time, learn your lessons and use the tools every day.

Bruce L. Dorner an attorney based in Londonderry, N. H. , also offers computer consulting services for solo and small firm law practices in the New England region. E-mail:.