Voice Recognition System

1. What is the voice recognition system?

Voice recognition system also referred to as speech recognition is a computer program that can understand or decode human interaction.

It is used to run a device or give commands orally without using any other means of communication. i.e. providing commands orally without the usage of any 3rd party application or hardware like keyboard, mouse, or keypad, etc.

Currently, it uses ASR i.e. Automatic Speech Recognition software programs to perform the tasks given to them. Although, it requires a good amount of training to recognize your voice to give you exact results. Which is converting your speech into a text format.

A good example would be giving a command to your assistant on mobile or computer to text someone. It can do it effortlessly without any problems.

2. What does voice recognition need?

You can make use of voice assistants on your computers, laptops, or mobile phones. For computers, you may need a sound card or a headset, but you do not need them on your smartphone.

Your smartphone is equipped with the hardware and the software to understand your verbal commands.

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3. Where can you find voice recognition software?

With the popularity it enjoys, you can find them everywhere around you. And you might have already used one as well. Some examples of voice recognition software are: 

Automated Systems:

You can find them on the automated phone systems of many companies. They help in connecting the caller to the right department. If you ever came across a voice on the other end of the call that says “Click a number to continue”, you have already used voice recognition.

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Google Voice Assistant:

Google voice assistant is your personalized service provider by google. You can find them on laptops, tablets, smartphones & smartwatches, earphones, etc.

Digital Assistant:

Other than Google some other digital assistants which you can find on different smart devices are:

1. Amazon Echo.
2. Siri from Apple.
3. Cortana from Windows.
4. Bixby from Samsung, etc.

Bluetooth Device of your car:

You can find this voice recognition software in your car as well.

You might have already seen ads of them on TV as popular car manufacturers like MG and BMW emphasize this feature a lot.

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4. What are the different types of voice recognition systems?

Automatic speech recognition is a good example of voice recognition systems. Here are few other examples of the same:

• Speaker dependent system: This voice recognition requires you to train it before using it. As the name suggests it is dependent on you and the training you provide. You need to read words, phrases, and sentences to train it.

• Speaker Independent System: Well again, as the name suggests, this software does not need any kind of training. It can recognize your words and phrases without it.

• Discrete speech recognition: In this one, the user needs to stop and pause after every word for speech recognition to find each word.

• Continuous Speech Recognition: As for Continuous speech recognition, it can understand a normal interaction. i.e. It can understand a normal rate of speaking without the user needing to slow down.

• Natural Language: In Natural language, the speech assistant can not only understand your voice but can also converse with you using the same. It can also interact with you and solve your queries.

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5. How are Virtual Assistants using Voice recognition software?

Virtual Assistants, Digital Assistants, Smart Assistants, Personal Assistants. You might have heard of these different terms. Although their names are different, they all are the same. Some also prefer to call them AI (Artificial Intelligence) assistants due to their ability to respond and think like humans. So, do not let these different terms confuse you because they all are the same.

Virtual Assistants are dependent on voice recognition software. They come in a lot of shapes, sizes, and platforms. 

Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. have invested heavily into voice assistants and this can be seen in the services they have to offer. As you might find help in the form of an assistant in their services.

In less than 10 years, voice assistants have become the top choice for smartphone-based search queries. This shows its potential and the impact it would be having in the coming years.

Smart Speakers like Alexa, Echo, and Google Home completely rely on voice recognition software. According to a report, 3 quarters of the American household will have smart speakers in their households and 50% of the existing owners let their speakers manage their homes. These reports speak for itself and display the potential of what is coming next.

6. How are banks using Voice recognition software?‍

Banks and Fintech startups are one of the early adopters of voice and speech recognition technology. A lot of banks have already started allowing transfer payments using voice assistants. Digital assistants like Google Assistant and Siri can carry out online transactions.

Some banks have also taken initiatives to create a voice-based software that allows clients to make transfers through voice commands. Something as simple as "I need to transfer my money" can allow you to transfer your funds.

7. How is the Healthcare industry using voice recognition software?

Voice recognition plays a bigger role in the healthcare industry than we know of. The Healthcare industry has always been looking for practical voice transcription solutions. This software helps them in documenting their findings, surgeries, and appointments. This reduces the burden of recording everything manually. 

It also helps them in storing and structuring any patient's medical records. This makes it easy to access, making VRS an indispensable part of the process.

Some of the benefits of using digital transcription are:

• It reduces the time of writing everything down during appointments. This allows the doctor to shorten the average time of each appointment which in turn makes room for some extra patients during the same working hours.

• Another benefit of using them is its ability to store data in a digital format. Storing essential data physically can be hard plus it is not easy to access as well. But digital data can be stored in health record systems. It ensures that the data is always safe and easily accessible.  It is compulsory by law in a few countries as well.

The Healthcare industry is a very time-sensitive industry. Even a delay in a couple of minutes can make an enormous difference in saving a patient's life. Conversion of speech to text is a boon to such an industry and it helps improves efficiency significantly.

8. How is voice recognition software used for Enhanced security?

Another good example of voice recognition technology is voice biometrics. Voice biometrics allows organizations to create a digital blueprint of a voice. It involves voice characteristics like:

• Tone
• Pitch
• Intensity
• Dynamics, etc.

Voice biometrics plays a key role in supplying a good and secure customer experience. High-quality voice biometrics can be used to make sure no sensitive confidential information is leaked. This is particularly important in terms of the safety of the customers.

 The global market of voice biometrics is on a rise and is projected to reach 4 billion dollars by 2026.

9. How is voice recognition software used in company meetings? 

You can see the usage of VRS during corporate meetings. A human is a human after all and is prone to make mistakes. Making notes of the meeting is very essential, and no errors can be accepted. That's where VRS comes into the mix.

Speech recognition software helps companies to transcribe conversations during meetings and with customers. This helps in creating and storing important data in an accessible form and allows the company to create precise and complete data

10. How is Voice recognition software used in a chatbot?

Voice-activated chatbots are the ones who can interact and communicate with you using voice notes. They can understand and accept your text as well as your voice commands. They are even programmed to respond to you over voice. You can even select the form of answer you expect from it i.e. either through voice or through texts or a combination of both.

They are combined with the power of natural language processing which uses pre-recorded text to speech responses to address your queries.

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11. What are the different types of voice-enabled chatbots? 

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Voice Only Bots: These bots can handle and respond through voice notes. They can handle all your tasks such as:

1. Setting up alarms.
2. Playing music.
3. Turning your house into a smart home, etc.

Voice + Text Bots: These bots can respond in voice and text-based formats. It is a hybrid combination.

12. Why do consumers prefer voice chatbots?

Chatbots make your life simpler to begin with. A few reasons why consumers would prefer voice chatbots are listed below:

• Supplies better insights.
• Consumers prefer voice over monotonous text.
• Instant responses and zero wait time.
• Two-way communication.
• Better customer experience.
• Increased productivity.
• 24x7 Availability.
• Finding the best fit.