Nuance Dictation speech-to-text in iOS 5 beta 4
updated 06:25 am EDT, Sun July 24, 2011
Nuance Dictation speech-to-text details emerge
It is already known that Apple will be utilizing Nuance's voice-recognition technology in the Siri-based “Assistant” feature. However, thus far little has been known about how Apple may integrate Nuance’s technology deeper into iOS to combat Android. A code string (embedded below), however, may contain some clues. Some detective work by 9to5Mac seems to have shed more light on how Apple may plan to integrate Nuance Dictation as a system-wide speech-to-text feature in iOS 5.
Based on the code string, it appears that Apple plans on integrating voice dictation in its system-wide keyboard with a “start” button that will trigger a voice recorder. As in Android, users will see a microphone appear, followed by having their spoken words analyzed and then converted into text. Users will be able to choose to have these dropped into a document, e-mail or SMS, for example.
Apple has been long rumored to integrate Nuance’s technology into the iPhone for some time. In buying Siri, and its associated search app, it would have needed to license Nuance’s technology regardless. Nuance already has a free Dragon Dictation app on the iTunes App Store that is representative of how its technology will work in iOS. However, this requires users to launch a separate app each time they want to use the feature. Clearly, integrating voice-to-text in the OS is a much more elegant solution. [via 9to5Mac]
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
Oh great!
Oh great, we already have to endure people in public places talking loudly on their cell phones. Now will have them dictating letters, composing email, creating to-do lists, and all sorts of things that we'd rather not have to listen to.