Extended Essay:
ITGS
Research Question: To what extent are current speech-to-text systems capable of
becoming the primary method of data entry?
Candidate Name: Cameron Williams
Candidate Number: 002389-0013
School Number: 2389
Date of Submission: 1st September 2014
Supervisor Name: Claire Easter
Word Count: 3947
, To what extent are current speech-to-text systems capable of becoming the primary method of data entry?
Abstract:
My particular interest in the speech recognition section of the ITGS HL Artificial
Intelligence topic led me to pursue the research question of “To what extent are current
speech-to-text systems capable of becoming the primary method of data entry?” The
future potential for this technology has always been exciting but only recently has it begun
to take prominence in a variety of different sectors.
I began by investigating the benefits of the technology and how it compared to
other means of data entry, followed by an analysis of the barriers to widespread
acceptance and possible solutions. I explored how data entry speeds, accuracy and ease
of use were affected by using speech-to-text data entry. I then chose to examine and
analyse the security and authenticity issues associated with the technology as well as
problems with privacy and background noise. Encryption, advanced embedded speech-to-
text and noise robust speech engines were then selected as solutions to these concerns
and were presented and evaluated after each section. People and machines was the
underpinning social and ethical issue that contributed to other issues explored such as
security, authenticity and privacy.
I concluded that current speech-to-text systems are at present unable to cope with
the demand of being the “primary method for data entry” as a result of the security and
authenticity vulnerabilities that exist. With that said, I believe that solutions to these
problems are progressing at a rapid rate and it is entirely possible that speech-to-text
systems can become as ubiquitous as the keyboard.
Word Count: 250
Cameron Williams 14/01/2015 Page 2 of 25
ITGS
Research Question: To what extent are current speech-to-text systems capable of
becoming the primary method of data entry?
Candidate Name: Cameron Williams
Candidate Number: 002389-0013
School Number: 2389
Date of Submission: 1st September 2014
Supervisor Name: Claire Easter
Word Count: 3947
, To what extent are current speech-to-text systems capable of becoming the primary method of data entry?
Abstract:
My particular interest in the speech recognition section of the ITGS HL Artificial
Intelligence topic led me to pursue the research question of “To what extent are current
speech-to-text systems capable of becoming the primary method of data entry?” The
future potential for this technology has always been exciting but only recently has it begun
to take prominence in a variety of different sectors.
I began by investigating the benefits of the technology and how it compared to
other means of data entry, followed by an analysis of the barriers to widespread
acceptance and possible solutions. I explored how data entry speeds, accuracy and ease
of use were affected by using speech-to-text data entry. I then chose to examine and
analyse the security and authenticity issues associated with the technology as well as
problems with privacy and background noise. Encryption, advanced embedded speech-to-
text and noise robust speech engines were then selected as solutions to these concerns
and were presented and evaluated after each section. People and machines was the
underpinning social and ethical issue that contributed to other issues explored such as
security, authenticity and privacy.
I concluded that current speech-to-text systems are at present unable to cope with
the demand of being the “primary method for data entry” as a result of the security and
authenticity vulnerabilities that exist. With that said, I believe that solutions to these
problems are progressing at a rapid rate and it is entirely possible that speech-to-text
systems can become as ubiquitous as the keyboard.
Word Count: 250
Cameron Williams 14/01/2015 Page 2 of 25
