Speech Recognition Goes Mobile

Even more evidence that Speech Recognition is going mainstream

SMB Advisor Middle East Focus features an article: 13 future mobile technologies that will change the way you work

The list includes: Mobile WiMax, Multihop relay networks, Femtocells and fixed-mobile convergence, Miniscule, less power-hungry mobile chips (who doesn't want that!), Wireless USB and ultrawideband and coming in at No 7

Change 7: Nearly flawless speech recognition

Featured as an important aspect for the increasingly mobile population being fed mobile devices

"Speech recognition got bogged down because it was only 98% or 99% accurate," Burrus said. "Even at that accuracy, many of us found it was faster to type. A lot of the problem had to do with processing power—speech recognition needs a lot of horsepower."

So with the new powerful chips (and probable faster network access to allow thin client style speech recognition actually delivered on the mobile device but the processing power on some server sat on the end of a high speed everywhere wireless connection) we will see

everything you do with your keyboard at your desk, you'll be able to do with speech while you're mobile.

But as they say - what could hold this technology back:

Users could be reticent about letting others in public places hear their business. They may prefer to combine better speech recognition with other methods of input.

Better microphones that allow high quality audio capture in public area with some level of privacy will help - an in case you think that's not possible I am pretty sure the Special forces around the world have microphones that allow them to talk without disturbing anyone around that might want to listen in....!