Speaking everyone’s language: benefits of speech recognition technology for professionals
Speech recognition tools used by consumers have become a commodity. But is the same true for professionals? Dr Andrew Whiteley explains.
Digitisation has significantly changed the way people perform certain tasks and millions of people use speech recognition tools in their homes and on the go every day. It is essentially the modern equivalent of a keyboard – users can simply speak their thoughts and have them automatically transcribed into written text.
While this is valuable where basic, everyday language is concerned, most professional industries have a distinct vocabulary containing unique terms, phrases and abbreviations, begging the question – can speech recognition technology be used effectively in professional environments?
The answer is a resounding yes. Thanks to advances in machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models, speech recognition technology can be customised to meet the needs and requirements of virtually any industry – legal, medical, financial and beyond.
Tailored technology for each sector
The adaptation of the technology to cater to specialised applications in fields such as healthcare, legal and finance involves customising the software to understand industry-specific terminology and linguistic nuances, which helps to optimise performance and accuracy.
This is achieved by importing subject-specific language packages, or through algorithms, which learn independently from experience or can be trained. This enables the technology to get increasingly better at adapting to industry-specific language characteristics, continuously increasing accuracy.
When tailored for use in a particular sector, the technology can play a vital role in simplifying and automating administrative tasks, streamlining workflow processes, and improving efficiency and productivity – all vital considerations in the fast-paced business world.
Perhaps the most important feature for busy professionals is that the technology saves time. Users of Lexacom Echo have noted that they can create electronic documents at a speed of up to 160 words per minute, which is three times faster than a proficient typist can achieve. Additionally, it has been trained to recognise medical terminology – a crucial consideration for the thousands of UK GPs who rely on the technology to relieve pressure in their surgeries.
Context is key for speech recognition
The global nature of business demands that systems can understand and accurately transcribe speech from a diverse user base. As such, the technology’s ability to recognise and accurately transcribe speech from speakers of various accents and dialects is crucial. To achieve this, contextualisation is key.
By incorporating domain-specific knowledge, advanced speech recognition software considers context during transcription, negating concerns over variability in pronunciation, intonation, and linguistic structures. By enhancing contextual recognition, the user experience is improved and more accurate and contextually relevant transcriptions are delivered. Accents from Cornwall to Glasgow, and Norfolk to Carmarthen have all been assimilated into Lexacom Echo.
Business benefits of speech recognition technology
During a three-month trial in leading community healthcare provider Connect Health, clinicians each saved more than 3 hours a week using Lexacom Echo compared to typing. Eight out of 10 clinicians who participated also said that using the technology allowed them to spend more time with their patients.
Similarly, Hall Liddy Accountants experienced immediate gains from using the software, with an overall improvement in the speed with which things are processed and an increase in general efficiency across the firm, while Muir, Myles and Laverty Solicitors found that the technology enables their team to dictate quickly and minimise time spent on administrative tasks. Documents are also being produced more rapidly and effectively, benefitting both the firm and its clients.
The rewards for busy professionals are clear: speech recognition technology increases accuracy and speed of transcription, reduces time spent on manual data entry and administrative tasks, helps streamline workflows, and ultimately boosts overall productivity.
