A Simple Guide to How Voice Recognition Works

From Apple’s Siri, to Amazon’s Alexa smart speakers, to Lexacom’s digital dictation devices – voice recognition software is now part of everyday life.

And, as technology continues to advance, the increase in devices equipped with voice recognition is only going to increase.

But, what exactly is voice recognition, and how does it work?

In this blog, we’ll cover the basics of everything you need to know about how voice recognition works. 

What is Voice Recognition?

Voice recognition is the process that enables artificial intelligence to both recognise and decode human speech patterns and then respond.

Voice recognition and speech recognition are terms that are often used interchangeably, however, they have different functions. 

Speech recognition seeks to understand the words we speak, whereas voice recognition seeks to identify who said them. 

But how?  

How Does It Work? 

Voice recognition software isn’t magic. It’s the result of years of technological advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence. 

In order to correctly identify who is speaking, voice recognition technologies analyse the features of speech that make it unique to each person, such as tone, intonation, dialect, accent, abbreviations, and colloquial expressions. 

Where Do We Use Voice Recognition?  

Voice recognition technology now surrounds us.

It’s installed on our smartphones, tablets, speakers, and home assistant devices.

We use voice recognition for a whole number of reasons; to set reminders, to tell us the time, to play the songs we like. 

When set up correctly, we can even use it to control our home’s thermostat and lighting system.
In short, we use voice recognition technology because it makes our lives easier. 

But when we bring voice recognition into the workplace. Not only can it make tasks simpler. It can completely streamline our workflow, too. 

For example, Lexacom Echo uses professional-grade voice and speech recognition in tandem.

To create a system that completely revolutionises the way you work.

Echo’s speech-to-text technology creates documents at a speed of 120-160 words per minute (about two to three times faster than most people can type).

It does this with market-leading precision and accuracy, thanks to its industry-specific dictionaries, and AI-based capability to learn. 

Sounds appealing? Click here for your free Lexacom Echo trial.

What are the Benefits of Using Voice Recognition? 

We’ve touched on the fact that voice recognition can make your life easier, streamline tasks, and in turn increase productivity. 

But what else does voice recognition technology bring to the table? 

Security.

Depending on the voice recognition technology and where it’s installed – it’s trained to only respond and take direction from your voice. If you’re dealing with sensitive or confidential information or delegating important tasks, then security is a vital feature. 

Accessibility.

For people with a disability or impairment, voice recognition technology can assist in both their personal and professional lives. For example, voice recognition technology reduces, and can in some cases, totally eliminate the need for a mouse and keyboard. For those with a physical impairment such as arthritis, this is invaluable, as it reduces the risk of repetitive strain injury. 

Further, voice recognition software can assist people with dyslexia, as it converts speech-to-text with such accuracy, it eliminates the concern surrounding incorrect spelling. 

Learn More About Lexacom’s solutions   

At Lexacom, we pioneered the use of voice and speech recognition technology, to help you work smarter, more efficiently, and in unison. 

If you’d like to know more about Lexacom products and services, then please fill out our contact form and one of our experts will be in touch with you very soon.