Voice Recognition

The Future Is Almost Now

By Ron Collins

VOICE RECOGNITION. The mere mention of this technology draws our imaginations to a future in which we sit back and tell our computers to perform complex tasks or deliver information to us. We know that day has not yet arrived, but many trends point to a very promising future.

Like many emerging technologies, voice recognition has been slow to achieve mainstream acceptance. It has provided enormous benefits to certain groups, such as disabled individuals who have difficulties using keyboards. It has been embraced by early adopters in occupations that use a specialized vocabulary, including the legal and medical professions.

But users who have expected 100 percent accuracy have been somewhat disappointed (accuracy is typically between 90 to 95 percent). The requirement for high-end PCs to run the software, and the time needed to "train" the software to understand the operators voice have been further obstacles to wide usage and acceptance.

Given the difficulties that voice recognition has had in achieving widespread success, some have expressed doubts about its future. In fact, the future for voice is very bright in the legal market. This is due to two main factors. The first is the rapid development of voice by some of the biggest players in technology. The second is that voice solutions will soon be available to lawyers that fit the way they work, resulting in clear productivity gains.

As Microsoft Corp.'s Bill Gates has said, "Speech is not just the future of Windows, but the future of computing itself." Why is this so? In part, because we must expand our definition of computing beyond the box on our desk to include handheld devices such as the Palm and smartphones.

Add wireless Web access and e-commerce capabilities to the impressive list of features these devices already provide, and you are presented with a difficult design problem. How can wireless handheld devices do so much and stay so small and convenient?

Without the benefit of a usable keyboard, the best user interface for mobile computing devices is voice. Nokia and IBM are developing voice-recognition applications for cell phones and other portable devices. Research into voice enabled Web portals, from which you could ask for a stock quote or order a movie ticket, is in progress.

Microsoft and Intel are putting significant resources into voice. Additionally, the rapid increase in the speed and memory available on computers and the continuously improving algorithms for speech recognition will help to push the market.

All of these developments will drive voice in the mainstream market, and will have a spin-off effect in the legal market. However, in order for lawyers to embrace the technology, it must "fit" the way they work.

Imagine that you not only had the capability of using voice recognition for dictation, but also to control key applications on your computer -- such as your Web browser, your practice management software, or your accounting package.

Now add the voice control we know is coming to handheld devices and smartphones, and lawyers will soon have the capability of talking to their computers to get their work done.

This sounds promising, but what benefit will this bring? Like all successful technologies it comes down to ease of use and being able to work smarter and faster. As an example, consider the convenience and smooth integration voice offers in the following scenario.

You receive a telephone call from your client, Jane Doe on the Widgetco file. When the phone rings your computer tells you who is calling, and presents his or her file to review before you answer the call.

As you speak with Ms. Doe, your case management system is timing the call for billing purposes.

You dictate notes of the call, which the software types for you, and ties to the correct file. At the conclusion of the call you then instruct your software by voice to make a time entry, which it does.

Jane also requests that you meet with her to follow up. You simply tell your case management program to make an appointment for lunch next Tuesday with Jane Doe on the Widgetco file.

The appointment is automatically entered in your calendar. Additionally, the software has recognized the word Widgetco, and is able to put a reminder about the appointment on the proper file for you as well.

Last, just to confirm with the client, you instruct the software to send an e-mail to Jane Doe, and it brings up your e-mail program. Her name has been recognized, and her e-mail has been pulled from your case management software into Outlook, and you are ready to send the confirmation. No writing, no mouse clicks, no need to search files for information or call for your assistant.

Key elements of your practice will be able to be controlled by simple voice instruction. Sound futuristic? It's actually much closer than you might think.

Companies are now working on systems that will offer lawyers the capability of controlling many of their practice tools by voice. The above scenario should be available in commercial products next year.Of course there will still be a mouse, a keyboard and a control pad for those who prefer the "old fashioned" way of doing things. However, lawyers who embrace the emerging capabilities of voice will realize significant benefits for their practices.

Ron Collins is the president of Ottawa-based Gavel & Gown Software Inc., developers of Amicus Attorney software.