One of the amazing technologies nowadays is voice recognition software. This software allows you to talk to a computer, dictate a text, and command it to do things such as start and close a program, save files and select menus in the computer. In operating computers with this software, you use speech or voice recognition as the "input device".?

For those who are incapable of using their hands to type or encode data into the computer, voice recognition software is a great help. Instead of typing, they just speak through a microphone so that the computer can convert their voice into text.

As the computer recognizes your speech or your dictations, it does not actually comprehend what you say. The computer only digitizes? speech by matching it with coded waveforms. There are thousands of these coded waveforms in the computer and each match a specific word.

Clear and precise pronunciations of words are very critical in voice recognition as some software, especially older versions, have very limited speech systems. You have to undergo an extensive training just to master the proper accent and pronunciation of words recognized by the computer.

Newer voice recognition software, however, are designed to recognize continuous speech, so you can speak in a more natural and fluent way as you use the system.

As voice recognition technology improves, its use has increased as well. Now common users who may not necessarily be disabled are using them. They are popular among physicians, lawyers and managers who prefer this technology to hiring a secretary.

There is some voice recognition software that can be downloaded for free over the Internet, and they can be used by almost anyone interested in using this technology.

Furthermore, voice recognition is also being used to activate other communication devices like cellular phones. Through a voice command, you can place a call without the need to key in the number you wish to call.

Although voice recognition technology has not yet reached one hundred percent accuracy, advancements in the use of this technology through the years are considered great contributions in the field of computer science.