brand logo

Fam Pract Manag. 2000;7(1):14

To the Editor:

I read with interest the letter, “Until the lungs are removed …” [October 1999], about voice-recognition systems.

After a recent demonstration of Dragon Naturally Speaking, I trained the program by reading to it for 30 minutes and then dictated some sample notes. I didn't have too many problems once I discovered that it was necessary to enunciate clearly. There were occasional errors, but no more than our transcriptionist makes.

However, the program can be fooled. I dictated the following sentence at top speed: “This is a test to see how fast I can speak to it.” The transcription came out as: “This is the testicles of the CIA.” No joke.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Send your comments to fpmedit@aafp.org. Submission of a letter will be construed as granting AAFP permission to publish the letter in any of its publications in any form. We cannot respond to all letters we receive. Those chosen for publication will be edited for length and style.

Continue Reading


More in FPM

Copyright © 2000 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.