A review of speech recognition applications in the office

Since the 1970s, many improvements have been made in the technology available for automatic speech recognition (ASR). Changes in the methods of analysing the incoming speech have resulted in larger, more complex vocabularies being used with greater recognition accuracy. Despite this enhanced performance and substantial research activity, the introduction of voice input into the office is still largely unrealized. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of office applications of ASR, dividing them into the areas of voice messaging and word processing activities, data entry and information retrieval systems, and environmental control. Within these areas, cartographic computer-aided-design systems are identified as an application with proven success. The slow growth of voice input in the office is discussed in the light of constraints imposed by existing speech technology, and the need for human factors evaluation of potential applications.