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Computers
Desktop
or laptop, your computer is the critical acoustic environment in which
speech recognition takes place. Our recommendations are based on
consistent and speedy overall performance (throughput), excellent speech-to-noise
discrimination, and a price that won't shock your accountant.
The
"Basic Rules" of Computer Hardware:
 | Computer throughput is governed by the speed of its SLOWEST component. |
| Recognition
accuracy is determined by its NOISIEST component. |
Please Note:
It is our considered opinion that the use of inadequate hardware is the
greatest single reason why many health-care and legal professionals consider
voice recognition software "Not ready for prime time." Proper
hardware configurations allow the software to deliver the results you want.
The following is a recent
email reprinted with the permission of its author, J. Craig Barnett, MD, F.A.C.C., of Orlando, Florida, in response to an inquiry on the medspeech mailing list for medical speech recognition about whether
a quiet computer was worth its additional cost.
"I would like to
add my voice to this with years of experience -- you cannot put
voice-recognition software on "Your mother's" computer. There
must be at least 10 times each week that I either personally run into a
colleague or by e-mail field questions from professionals that attempt to
purchase cheap voice-recognition software, place this on their computer and
become immediately frustrated with this. Of course, since the
professional is never wrong (our egos would never allow this) the
voice-recognition software and technology is always blamed as the culprit.
It is my strong opinion that this is the single reason why voice recognition
software is considered "Not there yet." Certainly, this is the
attitude of most health-care professionals, legal professionals and in the
insurance industry -- our fields of sale.
Readers are encouraged to look at the total system as has been suggested --
saving $100 or $200 on any part or motherboard will simply poison the
approach.
J. Craig Barnett MD, F.A.C.C.
Orlando, FL"
(If the use of voice
recognition in health care is of
interest to you, you can subscribe to
this mailing list by sending a blank email to: medspeech-subscribe@yahoogroups.com)
Another "rant"
on the subject was published in
Lockergnome whose website is:
http://www.lockergnome.com/
One Size Doesn't Fit All (Rant)
Scribbled by John Belanger
I steer people away - far away - from the mass-marketed, 'one size fits
all' computers in the stores (and advertised on TV - ed.) today. Everything is proprietary. Hardware; the
graphics adapter is a cheap chipset built onto the proprietary motherboard, as
is a sound chipset and a $3 modem. It's all hardwired, and it's hard to
upgrade.
(Note: Due to its length,
the entirety of this article can be found on our Hardware
Rants page.)
Desktop Computers
For consistently fast
and reliable performance, VoiceTranscription™ recommends a quiet
computer specifically designed to provide
an optimal environment for speech recognition. In addition to the
"glamor" components of high MHz CPUs, lots of RAM, and large (but
slow) hard drives used by major manufacturers who put more of their
money into their costly
advertising than your computer components, the VoiceTranscription™ computer puts those dollars into components
realistically designed to transform the spoken word into the written word
faster and with better recognition accuracy.
The use of a properly designed computer will save you many HOURS every
week (not to mention the frustration of correcting misrecognized words). One source has calculated the use of
an optimized computer combined with a
Custom Language Model as equivalent to saving 30 to 40 hours of training time.
Multiplied by your professional rate, this alone would more than offset the cost of
your system.
VoiceTranscription™
has voice-recognition optimized computers built to its own specifications by a
shop with whom we've had a professional relationship for over 10 years.
Prices and configurations
vary monthly, so please Email
voice@dbic.net
for current details.
Notebook Computers
Until the introduction of the
Mobile Centrino™ processor, we had our best experiences with the Dell Latitude™
Pentium 4 series.
Since Dell currently does not
currently offer a Notebook with anything other than a Mobile Centrino™
processor which we have not found to give optimal performance and
speech recognition, we're currently recommending another favorite, Sager
notebook. Contact us or email
voice@dbic.net for current specifications and prices.
Digital
Recorders
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Yes,
there finally are recorders "good enough" for accurate voice
recognition in the professional environment.
NEW!!!
VoiceTranscription has been asked to test a variety of
digital recorders by their manufacturers but found most don't deliver acceptable speech
recognition quality for the professional environment. Two that do are the
Sony ICD-BM1 and Olympus 3000 and 4000 Models:
 Sony
ICD-BM1 Features:
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Familiar slide-switch control
operation |
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Includes one 16MB Memory Stick®;
additional media available for recordings in excess of 40 minutes |
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Built in Voice Recognition compatibility |
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Voice e-mail function
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Alarm playback function
The Sony ICD-BM1 meets our
exacting standards for superior accuracy when used with speech recognition.
It's
our top choice for transcription with a excellent dictation capacity and ease of downloading using its detachable USB port interface.
Sony even
includes software to make downloading easy! Your speech files are
transferred to the PC nearly instantly in digital format, and can then be speedily
uploaded with a broadband connection to an FTP secure server for transcription
by your Voice-Recognition Assisted Transcriptionist. Even with a 56K
connection, uploading can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time.
The
Sony ICD-BM1 has a MSRP of $399 and is available to VoiceTranscription customers
at a discounted price of $319, less in our Dictation Solution and
Transcription Solution Bundles.
Olympus 3000 and 4000 Features:
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Removable
SmartMedia holds up to 2.5 hours of voice recognition quality DSS audio. |
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Store
recordings three separate folders. |
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Built-in
USB interface to transfer recorded voice data to a PC.
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Includes
DSS Player Pro Dictation Module Software.
The Olympus 3000
and 4000 are our second choice for transcription with large dictation capacity and
quick downloading. Speech files are
transferred to the PC nearly instantly in digital format, and can then be speedily
uploaded with a broadband connection to an FTP secure server for transcription
by your Voice-Recognition Assisted Transcriptionist. Even with a 56K
connection, uploading can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time.
The
Olympus 3000 has a MSRP of $399; the Olympus 4000 has a MSRP of $445; both
are available through Olympus authorized retailers.
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Microphones
Along
with the soundcard, your microphone has the most significant effect on your system's
ability to recognize your speech
accurately.
Handheld Microphone:
The Phillips SpeechMike Pro is our first choice for ease of use with
its handy
track ball mouse and six buttons which can be programmed to
automatically perform specific functions in your programs. Because the
microphone element is similar to that as used hand-held recorders,
pre-trained speech files for your recorder can be rapidly generated.
A USB version of the SpeechMike Pro is also available for computers with
inadequate soundcards.
Headset: If you prefer a headset
microphone, VXI remains the standard to meet or beat and one model is
available that allow easy switching between your computer and your
telephone.
Soundcards
For desktop computers, Creative Labs SoundBlaster
sound cards consistently deliver the best overall
performance and is our top recommendation with just basic drivers loaded.
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