[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":337},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-voice-to-text-technologies-shape-the-future":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":205,"relatedBooks":336},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":33,"project_category":52,"contact_email_category":53,"yst_prominent_words":54,"class_list":64,"better_featured_image":91,"acf":135,"yoast_meta":150,"_links":152},24825,"2024-12-18T09:51:35","2024-12-18T08:51:35",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=24825&_wpnonce=661c8b0ac7&status=auto-draft&type=post","2025-01-16T08:37:37","2025-01-16T07:37:37","voice-to-text-technologies-shape-the-future","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fvoice-to-text-technologies-shape-the-future",{"rendered":17},"Voice To Text Technologies Shape The Future Of Electronic Medical Records",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Typing memos about patient-doctor encounters into EHRs is so time-consuming that the demand for medical scribes has grown exponentially in the last couple of years. That alone still cannot solve the problem that half of physicians’ average workdays are spent conducting clerical work and administration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Artificial intelligence-based voice-to-text technologies promise to turn the tables: the doctor and the patient speak while a voice assistant listens in and puts down the interpreted text into the relevant columns in the EHRs. Sounds like science fiction? That’s no longer the case. We looked around where the technology stands today and how it could cure ‘desktop medicine’ in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>From\npaper-based to electronic medical records under the burden of administration\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Modern medical administration was mainly born at\naround the turn of the 20\u003Csup>th\u003C\u002Fsup> century when innovations in medicine,\nanesthesia, modern surgery resulted in the establishment of more and more\nhospitals. Just \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthcareadministration.com\u002Fhealthcare-management-historical-background\u002F\">between 1875 and 1925, the number of U.S. hospitals\ngrew from about 170 to over 7,000\u003C\u002Fa>, and modern hospitals – and the growing number of patients and medical\nstaff had to be managed efficiently. Nevertheless, a doctor from the beginning of the 20th century would\ntruly be shocked by the changes in the medical system. Back\nthen, \u003Cstrong>there was the good old-fashioned pen and paper, where doctors usually\nnoted the symptoms, the diagnoses of patients, and the treatment they provided.\nThese pieces of papers ended up in a huge filing cabinet, and when they reached\ntheir full capacity, even bigger storage rooms were put in practice.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, paper-based medical records just cannot fulfill\ntheir job as a reliable information source. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbooks.google.hu\u002Fbooks?id=Vf2zCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA239&lpg=PA239&dq=medical+records+filing+cabinets+history&source=bl&ots=HZqYO-oYrr&sig=ACfU3U2vD4wKg7i3iG2hWbsRQGxEYDEjYQ&hl=hu&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5o9WG7sjkAhUO3KQKHSseCMcQ6AEwGXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=medical%20records%20filing%20cabinets%20history&f=false\">Researchers, who studied five large medical facilities\nwhere hospitals and clinics used conventional paper-based patient records,\nreported\u003C\u002Fa> that 5-10 percent\nof patients were seen in clinics without an available record, while 5-20\npercent of hospital records were entirely incomplete. Of the missing\ninformation, 75 percent consisted of laboratory test results and X-ray reports,\nand 25 percent of lost, incomplete, or illegible textual data. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The introduction of electronic health records promised to remedy exactly this situation. They promised to streamline administration so that medical professionals don’t have to spend much time scribbling down patient histories and worry about missing medical records\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002F0928_evo_clinical_doc-s-768x768.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58327\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002F0928_evo_clinical_doc-s-768x768.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002F0928_evo_clinical_doc-s-150x150.png 150w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002F0928_evo_clinical_doc-s-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F12\u002F0928_evo_clinical_doc-s-2048x2048.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Click buttons and do not keep eye contact\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These are the main messages of the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FEPICEMRparody\">parody Twitter page\u003C\u002Fa>\nwhere frustrations around EMRs, especially the EPIC system, are played out. That\nnicely summarizes everything that’s wrong with electronic health records: they\nare time-consuming to navigate and fill out so instead of treating patients,\ndoctors end up sitting in front of their computers most of the time. Physicians\nusually \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog.speech.com\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F03\u002Fvoice-recognition-and-the-electronic-health-record\u002F\">encounter a lengthy series of screens, tabs,\ncheckboxes\u003C\u002Fa>, which causes\nthem to exhaust 5 to 12 minutes, more than 100 mouse clicks, and an abundance\nof manual data entry to produce a single exam note. \u003Cstrong>A survey found that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.beckershospitalreview.com\u002Fehrs\u002F6-stats-on-ehr-related-physician-burnout-and-7-tips-to-combat-it.html\">half of the physicians’ average workdays are spent\nentering data into EHRs\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> and conducting clerical work, while just 27 percent is spent with\nactual patients.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Another survey has shown that 37 percent of American physicians see EHR (electronic health records) as their number one challenge, while the same percentage lists a financial issue as their primary concern\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003Cstrong>Another \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.nethealth.com\u002Fa-history-of-electronic-medical-records-infographic\u002F\">research pointed out that\u003C\u002Fa> even with all the advancements in EMR technology, 70 percent of physicians are unhappy with their current system\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Specialists especially have difficulties adapting to their EMR software due to their different needs and areas of focus. One reason might be that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fhealth\u002Farchive\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fthe-burnout-crisis-in-health-care\u002F559880\u002F\">EMRs are often designed with billing rather than patient care in mind\u003C\u002Fa>, and they can be frustrating and time-consuming to navigate. According to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fhealth\u002Farchive\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fthe-burnout-crisis-in-health-care\u002F559880\u002F\">the article of The Atlantic\u003C\u002Fa>, one attending doctor, tired of wading through a morass of irrelevant information, writes notes in the electronic chart but in parallel keeps summaries of his patients’ medical histories on hand-written index cards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>From\nfrustration to medical scribes\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although there are excellent examples of efficient EMR systems around the globe, one of them \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fhealth\u002Farchive\u002F2019\u002F06\u002Fwhy-arent-electronic-health-records-better\u002F592387\u002F\">in the digital republic, Estonia\u003C\u002Fa>, the general feeling is frustration. Doctors in the US are even saying that they \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fphysician-burnout\u002F\">contribute to their burnout\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.medscape.com\u002Fslideshow\u002F2018-lifestyle-burnout-depression-6009235\">The American Medical Association conducted a survey\u003C\u002Fa> among more than 15,000 medical professionals across 29 specialties about burnout. To the question of what contributes most to physician burnout, most of the respondents answered the followings: the burden of bureaucratic tasks (56 per cent), long hours at work (39 per cent), the lack of respect coming towards them (26 per cent) and the increasing computerization of the practice, including the issue around EHRs (24 per cent).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The source of the frustration is in large part because\nit \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Fhealth\u002Farchive\u002F2018\u002F05\u002Fthe-burnout-crisis-in-health-care\u002F559880\u002F\">widens the gap between the ideal state and the reality\nof medicine\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003Cstrong>Doctors\nchoose the medical profession to heal patients – and as the above numbers show\nthat’s almost the least relevant in their job. Instead of diagnosing and\ntreating illness, they must manage patient schedules, coordinate care across\ninstitutions, and document everything.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>That’s the reason why the role of medical scribes has grown so much lately\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The profession was not unknown before the introduction of EMRs, in fact, we remember Doctor Peter Benton from the blockbuster series, ER, running around with a Dictaphone and passing it to a nurse to write his notes down. Moreover, in Budapest, Hungary, in the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fkoranyi.hu\u002F\">National Koranyi Institute of TB and Pulmonology\u003C\u002Fa>, one of the nurses managing patient registration recorded the findings on the CT scans and put the recorder on the shelf where dozens of recorders were stacked. Then, another nurse came by, took one of the Dictaphones away and brought it to a room in the basement where an assistant transcribed the findings and filled into the EHRs. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The use and the growing popularity of medical scribes makes a lot of sense. They not only free doctors from administration to talk with their patients during clinic visits, but it potentially results in better documentation, too\u003C\u002Fstrong>. A \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpubmed\u002F29637266\">study\u003C\u002Fa> published in the World Journal of Urology reported that the introduction of scribes in a urology practice significantly increased physician efficiency, work satisfaction, and revenue. \u003Cstrong>So, it seems that humans can save the day when it comes to saving doctors from the administrative burden unleashed by EHRs. But what can technology do?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Voice-to-text technologies are coming to town\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>While countless creative solutions try to improve EHRs and cut back on medical administration, the most exciting ones are those innovations which promise to listen in patient-doctor visits and the ‘conversations’ between doctors and the EHR systems and provide a transcription without the doctor typing even one letter into his computer\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For example, in the first case, San Francisco-based \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.augmedix.com\u002F\">Augmedix\u003C\u002Fa> aims to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftop-9-augmented-reality-companies-healthcare\u002F\">harness the power of Google Glass to make healthcare more patient-centric\u003C\u002Fa> and decrease the amount of paperwork. It provides a technology-enabled documentation service for doctors and health systems, so physicians do not have to check their computers during patient visits, while medical notes are still generated in real-time. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fdoes-your-doctor-need-a-voice-assistant\u002F\">Voice assistants truly have the potential to free up the time doctors\u003C\u002Fa> spend on administration. Companies like \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mmm-online.com\u002Ftechnology\u002Fdoctors-siri-alexa-voice-assistants-smart-speakers-ehr\u002Farticle\u002F666476\u002F\">Nuance and M*Modal already provide software-based dictation services\u003C\u002Fa> to physicians. California-based company, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fnotablehealth.com\u002F\">Notable\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fglobenewswire.com\u002Fnews-release\u002F2018\u002F05\u002F07\u002F1497557\u002F0\u002Fen\u002FNotable-to-Deliver-First-Wearable-Voice-Powered-Assistant-for-Physicians.html\">launched\u003C\u002Fa> a wearable voice-powered assistant aimed at helping doctors capture data during interactions with patients. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FVoice-recognition-technology-512x288.jpg\" alt=\"voice to text\" class=\"wp-image-24832\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FVoice-recognition-technology-512x288.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FVoice-recognition-technology-370x208.jpg 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FVoice-recognition-technology-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FVoice-recognition-technology-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FVoice-recognition-technology.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.statnews.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>When it comes to the cumbersome documentation burden of doctors, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.chartlogic.com\u002Femr\u002F\">voice recognition technology\u003C\u002Fa> started to replace conventional dictation across a variety of healthcare information systems, too, because it’s able to eliminate transcription costs and minimize transcription errors\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nuance.com\u002Fhealthcare.html#standardpage-mainpar_multicolumn_33546632_478686324\">Nuance Communications\u003C\u002Fa> offers software called Dragon Medical One, which it claims can help healthcare companies record patient medical experiences using natural language processing. The company \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nuance.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fdam\u002Fnuance\u002Fen_us\u002Fcollateral\u002Fhealthcare\u002Fcase-study\u002Fcs-dragon-medical-one-embedded-in-epic-allina-health-en-us.pdf\">says it already helped\u003C\u002Fa> Allina Health, a healthcare provider, which integrated the software into its EPIC EHR, speed up the time for its doctors to fill out electronic health records. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Femerj.com\u002Fai-sector-overviews\u002Fai-for-electronic-health-records-ehrs-and-electronic-medical-records-emrs\u002F\">According to the case study\u003C\u002Fa>, Allina Health saw a 167 percent increase in how much medical documentation they were able to produce by the time of publishing. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.suki.ai\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">Suki\u003C\u002Fa> is an AI-powered, voice-enabled digital assistant designed to streamline clinical documentation for physicians on the go. It integrates with many EHR systems and uses advanced natural language processing to transcribe a provider’s speech into accurate, structured medical notes. Physicians can dictate patient histories, treatment plans, and follow-up instructions, which Suki then organizes and inputs into the appropriate fields. By learning individual clinician’s speech patterns, specialties, and documentation preferences over time, Suki’s model becomes increasingly efficient and accurate. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In addition, there are already smart versions of common clinical devices such as thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, and scales that automatically record readings in the patient record, so doctors do not have to type the measurements. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Fvoice-to-text-512x288.png\" alt=\"voice to text\" class=\"wp-image-24833\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Fvoice-to-text-512x288.png 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Fvoice-to-text-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Fvoice-to-text-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Fvoice-to-text.png 1216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: www.germangarces.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The future is Scarlett Johansson, we hope\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Voice-to-text technologies mean a real alternative to medical administration done manually by doctors – and institutions agree\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, voice recognition solutions do not eliminate transcription errors fully, thus the need for proofreading and human check-up will still take up the precious time of medical professionals. Even one letter recognized differently could mean a potentially life-threatening danger for patients. That’s why we believe that \u003Cstrong>an automated, artificial narrow intelligence-based voice recognition system with a similar, artificial narrow intelligence-based proofreading system might embody the final solution for medical administration. Only the problems flagged by the ANI system would be checked by a doctor. At least as the trends show, currently that’s the objective that dozens of companies are working towards\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And going even further down the road, perhaps the brilliant movie, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt1798709\u002F?ref_=fn_al_tt_1\">Her\u003C\u002Fa>, can show the way how AI might help physicians and nurses in the future. Cognitive assistants as the one in the movie using the voice of Scarlett Johansson could \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F10-things-how-artificial-intelligence-could-make-me-a-better-doctor\u002F\">prioritize e-mails in doctors’ inboxes or keep them up-to-date\u003C\u002Fa> with the help of finding the latest and most relevant scientific studies in seconds. They could ‘listen in’ during patient visits, record every useful bit of information immediately, and update the given patient’s medical record. Such cognitive assistants could look up patient history, prescription data, financial information in seconds, and update them with the same speed. Their work would allow doctors and nurses to finally concentrate on the tasks that they are the most qualified for: healing patients with empathy and utmost care. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Artificial intelligence-based voice-to-text technologies promise to turn the tables: the doctor and the patient speak while a voice assistant listens in and puts down the interpreted text into the relevant columns in the EHRs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,24827,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32],504,521,[34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51],271,1435,425,1436,1465,1466,891,1467,1106,1153,207,1219,214,1220,227,1221,246,1223,[],[],[55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63],1883,2015,2281,2919,1631,1723,1739,1795,1803,[65,14,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],"post-24825","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artificial-intelligence","category-future-medicine","tag-health","tag-electronic-medical-records","tag-technology-2","tag-electronic-health-records","tag-voice-to-text","tag-text","tag-doctor-patient","tag-health-administration","tag-voice","tag-electronic","tag-digital-health","tag-administration","tag-doctor","tag-administrative","tag-emr","tag-ehr","tag-future","tag-burnout",{"id":24,"alt_text":92,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":93,"media_details":94,"post":5,"source_url":134},"voice to text technologies","image",{"width":95,"height":96,"file":97,"sizes":98,"image_meta":130,"original_image":133},2560,1440,"2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-scaled.gif",{"medium":99,"large":105,"thumbnail":110,"medium_large":114,"1536x1536":115,"2048x2048":120,"large_old_512x288":125},{"file":100,"width":101,"height":102,"mime-type":103,"source_url":104},"106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-370x208.gif",370,208,"image\u002Fgif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-370x208.gif",{"file":106,"width":107,"height":108,"mime-type":103,"source_url":109},"106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-768x432.gif",768,432,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-768x432.gif",{"file":111,"width":112,"height":112,"mime-type":103,"source_url":113},"106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-150x150.gif",150,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-150x150.gif",{"file":106,"width":107,"height":108,"mime-type":103,"source_url":109},{"file":116,"width":117,"height":118,"mime-type":103,"source_url":119},"106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-1536x864.gif",1536,864,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-1536x864.gif",{"file":121,"width":122,"height":123,"mime-type":103,"source_url":124},"106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-2048x1152.gif",2048,1152,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-2048x1152.gif",{"file":126,"width":127,"height":128,"mime-type":103,"source_url":129},"106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-512x288.gif",512,288,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-512x288.gif",{"aperture":131,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":131,"copyright":27,"focal_length":131,"iso":131,"shutter_speed":131,"title":27,"orientation":131,"keywords":132},"0",[],"106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine.gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002F106_Voice-to-text-technologies-in-medicine-scaled.gif",{"related_posts_footer":136,"related_posts":20,"cta_type":141,"cta_color":142,"subtitle":27,"related_books":143,"key_takeaways":145},[137,138,139,140],22868,17853,21320,22222,"collaboration","green",[144],24760,[146,148],{"title":147},"\u003Cp>Voice-to-text applications represent a huge step in reducing the administrative burden on healthcare professionals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":149},"\u003Cp>If deployed in the right way, these can free up clinicians’ precious time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":17,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":151,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"A.I.-based voice to text technologies promise to listen in patient-doctor visits and put down the text into the EHRs. Sounds like science fiction?",{"self":153,"collection":159,"about":162,"author":165,"replies":168,"version-history":171,"predecessor-version":175,"wp:featuredmedia":179,"wp:attachment":182,"wp:term":185,"curies":201},[154],{"href":155,"targetHints":156},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24825",{"allow":157},[158],"GET",[160],{"href":161},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[163],{"href":164},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[166],{"embeddable":26,"href":167},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[169],{"embeddable":26,"href":170},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24825",[172],{"count":173,"href":174},10,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24825\u002Frevisions",[176],{"id":177,"href":178},58373,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24825\u002Frevisions\u002F58373",[180],{"embeddable":26,"href":181},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F24827",[183],{"href":184},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24825",[186,189,192,195,198],{"taxonomy":187,"embeddable":26,"href":188},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=24825",{"taxonomy":190,"embeddable":26,"href":191},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=24825",{"taxonomy":193,"embeddable":26,"href":194},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=24825",{"taxonomy":196,"embeddable":26,"href":197},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=24825",{"taxonomy":199,"embeddable":26,"href":200},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24825",[202],{"name":203,"href":204,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[206],{"id":140,"date":207,"date_gmt":208,"guid":209,"modified":211,"modified_gmt":212,"slug":213,"status":13,"type":14,"link":214,"title":215,"content":217,"excerpt":219,"author":23,"featured_media":221,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":222,"categories":223,"tags":225,"project_category":234,"contact_email_category":235,"yst_prominent_words":236,"class_list":244,"better_featured_image":255,"acf":282,"yoast_meta":291,"_links":294},"2018-10-30T13:00:39","2018-10-30T11:00:39",{"rendered":210},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F","2022-05-27T10:13:29","2022-05-27T08:13:29","perfecting-the-power-to-talk-the-future-of-voice-and-speaking","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fperfecting-the-power-to-talk-the-future-of-voice-and-speaking",{"rendered":216},"Perfecting The Power To Talk – The Future of Voice And Speaking",{"rendered":218,"protected":20},"\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"5px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp style=\"color: #555;font-size: 12px;line-height: 14px\">THIS ARTICLE HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE 2018. THE INFORMATION SHARED IN THE ARTICLE WAS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF ITS PUBLICATION, BUT IT MAY BE OUT OF DATE NOW. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fmagazine\">BROWSE OUR LATEST ARTICLES HERE\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Talking, conversing, exchanging words: for more than 10 million people, this seemingly simple act cannot be imagined without assistive technologies, such as voice generating devices, touch screens or text-to-speech apps. What does the digital future bring for them? How could innovations turn around the translation industry or the medical administration process? Here’s a glimpse into the future of voice and speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003C!--more-->\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Speaking, identity, voice stereotypes\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Give me the key\u003C\u002Fem>! – This simple sentence carries much more information when it’s pronounced. A weary Philippino mother could instruct her little child as she cannot open the door to their home otherwise. A friend could reassure a troubled twenty-something that everything’s going to be alright with her dog, she will take care of little Suzy while she’s away on holiday. An angry and jealous Dutch woman can demand the opener from her boyfriend who doesn’t want to unlatch the door as another woman hides behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Voice carries much more information about the speaker than just content.\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Cstrong>Tonality, speed, volume, pitch or articulation of the vowels all matters – and make every single one of us unique, become part of our identities\u003C\u002Fstrong>. And as other characteristics of human appearance, it creates expectations and stereotypes. A strong, muscle-man is anticipated to have a low, rotund voice while a small girl a thin and high-pitched one. That’s why jokes playing with voice stereotypes could work: as in the cute cartoon, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.imdb.com\u002Ftitle\u002Ftt1049413\u002F\">Up\u003C\u002Fa>, where the Alpha dog’s voice machine gets messed up and instead of his alpha-male, strong barking he’s giving instructions in a high-pitched bird cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the light of the above, the question emerges: what happens to those who lose their ability to speak due to injury or illness? Could modern technology give them back the functionality of speaking alongside the lost part of their identity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22223\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"508\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFinding-a-Voice.png\" alt=\"future of voice \" class=\"wp-image-22223\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFinding-a-Voice.png 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFinding-a-Voice-768x448.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFinding-a-Voice-512x299.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.economist.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Stephen Hawking and the birth of speech generating devices\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The most famous cosmologist on Earth, the late Stephen Hawking was also someone who involuntarily popularized speech generating devices – and thus gave an eloquent response to the first question. The genius physicist \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scienceabc.com\u002Finnovation\u002Fstephen-hawking-cheek-communication-help-computer-speech-generating-device.html\">suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which results in the gradual deterioration of muscles and leads to difficulty swallowing, speaking and eventually breathing\u003C\u002Fa>. Everyone has an image about him giving lectures and communicating with audiences through his computer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Digital adaptive alternative communication (AAC) methods, as well as speech generating devices (SGDs) or voice output communication aids (VOCA), have been helping \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fnews\u002F2018\u002Fjan\u002F23\u002Fvoice-replacement-technology-adaptive-alternative-communication-vocalid\">\u003Cstrong>more than 2 million people in the US, while about 1 percent of the British population\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong>. People with ALS, cerebral palsy, Locked-in syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Brain stem stroke, traumatic brain injury or several developmental communication impairments or disabilities might be in need of such speech generating devices\u003C\u002Fstrong>. The forerunners of these aids \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.academia.edu\u002F20579609\u002FHistory_and_Technological_Advances_of_Augmentative_Alternative_Communication\">have been around since the early 1960s\u003C\u002Fa>. Pioneers in the speech pathology field began implementing the use of communication boards with individuals who were cognitively or physically impaired at that time. For example, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.action.org.uk\u002Ftouching-lives\u002Fseptember-2004\u002Fpossum-system\">Maling and Clarkson developed POSSUM, the first piece of technology in 1963 exclusively designed as a communication tool\u003C\u002Fa> for individuals with severe physical disabilities. POSSUM incorporated a typewriter with a switch-controlled scanning device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22224\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FStephen-Hawking.jpg\" alt=\"future of voice\" class=\"wp-image-22224\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FStephen-Hawking.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FStephen-Hawking-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FStephen-Hawking-512x341.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.vanityfair.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Robotic voices and the development of AAC methods\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Since then, AAC devices have been advancing rapidly due to the development of speech synthesis algorithms and the improved power, speed, and memory of microprocessors.\u003C\u002Fstrong> We had grown \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.action.org.uk\u002Ftouching-lives\u002Fseptember-2004\u002Fpossum-system\">from a time when portable communication aids weighed nearly seventeen pounds to present day devices that can weigh as little as a pound\u003C\u002Fa>. Also, the first AAC devices marketed in the 1990s had limited functionalities and could come with inherent flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fnews\u002F2018\u002Fjan\u002F23\u002Fvoice-replacement-technology-adaptive-alternative-communication-vocalid\">The Guardian reminds us\u003C\u002Fa>, the 2014 biopic of Hawking’s life, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffilm\u002F2014\u002Fsep\u002F07\u002Ftheory-of-everything-review-hawking-eddie-redmayne\">The Theory of Everything\u003C\u002Fa>, contains a stark reminder of the loss that this technology could bring with it. When Hawking and his first wife, Jane, first hear what will be Hawking’s new voice, they are stunned. After a moment of speechlessness, Jane offers a timid objection: “It’s American.” The moment is played for laughs, but it marks a trauma. From that time on, the British Hawking was talking to his audience through an American accent and a rather robotic voice. Moreover, in contrast with the unique human voices, this mechanic sound scale has also been the voice to choose both for little girls or old men worldwide – as the collection of voices wasn’t that wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the last couple of years, the rapid advancement of technology started to change that profoundly. \u003Cstrong>Alongside the exponential growth in the capabilities of the devices, their ability has grown to adapt better to existing identities – and that will even be better in the future. The innovative power and the positive response of users have also been shown in the market figures: in 2017, \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.digitaljournal.com\u002Fpr\u002F3989130\">\u003Cstrong>the Speech Generating Devices market was valued at 190 Million US$ and is projected to reach 330 Million US$ by 2025, at an 8.4% growth rate\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>. Now, let’s see what devices could make communication better for those who are unable to speak or pronounce syllables with great difficulties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22225\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFuture-of-Voice.jpg\" alt=\"future of voice\" class=\"wp-image-22225\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFuture-of-Voice.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFuture-of-Voice-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FFuture-of-Voice-512x256.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.geomarketing.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Alternative communication solutions for people having trouble speaking\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>1) Assistive apps\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The appearance of smartphones, tablets, and digital touch screens, in general, allow a more straightforward way of communicating without speaking. The \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nidcd.nih.gov\u002Fhealth\u002Fassistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders\">\u003Cstrong>simplest AAC device is a picture board or touch screen\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong> that uses pictures or symbols of common items and activities that make up a person’s daily life\u003C\u002Fstrong>. For example, autistic children or adults might have great difficulties in expressing their needs, but it’s possible to teach them to touch the image of bread if they want to ask for a slice of bread. Several of such picture boards can be customized and expanded based on a person’s age, education, occupation, and interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The iOS app, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fitunes.apple.com\u002Fus\u002Fapp\u002Fsayit!-speak-your-mind\u002Fid1119303404?ls=1&mt=8\">SayIt\u003C\u002Fa>! is a simple help for people having trouble speaking: they can open the app, type something and tap the speak button. The program also has a word prediction element similar to autocomplete or autocorrect. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fitunes.apple.com\u002Fca\u002Fapp\u002Fpredictable-text-based-communication-app\u002Fid404445007?mt=8\">Predictable\u003C\u002Fa> app offers something similar, using intelligent word prediction to provide word options on a keyboard to limit the amount of typing it takes to write a sentence or phrase to be spoken by the app. On the other end of the spectrum, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fitunes.apple.com\u002Fapp\u002Fproloquo2go\u002Fid308368164?mt=8\">Proloquo2Go\u003C\u002Fa> app offers symbol-based communication – used by over 200,000 people in need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mytalktools.com\u002Fdnn\u002F2\u002FOurStory.aspx\">MyTalkTools Mobile\u003C\u002Fa> app was created by a dad whose son was born with Nager Syndrome – a rare condition affecting hearing, speech and other abilities. As the family was never satisfied with the existing solutions, they started to develop \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mytalktools.com\u002Fdnn\u002F2\u002FProducts.aspx\">MyTalkTools on the iPhone\u003C\u002Fa>. With over \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgettecla.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fnews\u002F5-assistive-apps-that-communicating-easier\">100,000 users, MyTalkTools Mobile is definitely one of the most popular apps\u003C\u002Fa> for a complete solution to overcome communication difficulties. One feature that’s really neat contains local content that is accessible to the user without needing Wi-Fi or data.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Regarding\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cstrong> assistive communication apps, the future undoubtedly holds artificial intelligence – through the development of natural language processing and text prediction. Experts believe that \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Funicefstories.org\u002F2017\u002F06\u002F29\u002Fbuild-the-next-generation-of-communication-solutions-for-people-with-disabilities\u002F\">personalized synthetic speech applications could provide users with opportunities to customize and\u002For personalize their voice in the future\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fstrong>. An example is the platform \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2016\u002F9\u002F9\u002F12860866\u002Fgoogle-deepmind-wavenet-ai-text-to-speech-synthesis\">WaveNet\u003C\u002Fa> produced by Google’s DeepMind artificial intelligence algorithm, which utilizes the technology to model audio waveforms based on real human speech and learns from it to create its own sounds in a variety of voices. Or consider \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.gazespeaker.org\u002F\">GazeSpeak\u003C\u002Fa>, an open-source platform which uses artificial intelligence to convert eye movements into speech, and makes it easier for users with ALS and other disabilities to converse in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Purdue App Gives Kids with Autism Their Own Voice\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FJifrQBZSNn4?start=181&feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>2) Speech-generating devices\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nidcd.nih.gov\u002Fhealth\u002Fassistive-devices-people-hearing-voice-speech-or-language-disorders\">Speech-generating devices go one step further\u003C\u002Fa> by translating words or pictures into speech. Some models allow users to choose from several different voices, such as male or female, child or adult, and even some regional accents, others enable the person to use their eyes or tilt their heads to activate switches and have personalized features for specific conditions and use cases. Some devices employ a vocabulary of prerecorded words, while others have an unlimited vocabulary, synthesizing speech as words are typed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For example, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.performancehealth.com\u002Fpocket-go-talk\">Pocket Go Talk\u003C\u002Fa> is a wearable, light-weight, small and portable AAC device, also built for tabletop use with five adjustable scanning speeds. \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.megabee.net\u002F\">MegaBee\u003C\u002Fa> is a simple-to-use assisted writing tablet, which was developed in conjunction with patients and as a consequence, tailored perfectly to their needs. For a particular use case, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fenablingdevices.com\u002Fproduct\u002Ftactile-symbol-communicator\u002F\">Enabling Devices’ Tactile Symbol Communicator\u003C\u002Fa> applies tactile symbols for concrete or abstract representations that can be tactually recognized by the visually impaired user.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In addition, several companies exist which aim to combine existing digital technology, including social companion robots, to further improve assisting speech devices. A spin-off of Luxemburg University, \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.luxai.com\u002F\">LuxAI\u003C\u002Fa> has developed a social companion robot for children with autism, the \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fluxai.com\u002Fwho-is-qtrobot-for-autism\u002F#QTrobot\">QTrobot\u003C\u002Fa>, which teaches the little ones new skills for being able to express their emotions and better participate in social interactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, the Boston-based \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vocalid.co\u002Fhow\">VocalID\u003C\u002Fa> promises to bring life to robotic machine voices by the power of crowdsourcing and voice blending technology. The company creates a unique vocal persona for any text-to-speech tool. So far, over 14,000 speakers from over 110 countries have contributed over 6 million sentences to their growing spoken repository, The Human Voicebank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Vocal Adventure\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FtXPioS_yjwc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>3) The future: communication through brain-computer interfaces\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The idea that once humanity will be able to give out commands purely by thinking about them is as far away in the terrain of science fiction\u003C\u002Fstrong> as Marty’s hoverboard from Back to the Future (no, single-wheeled hoverboards don’t count).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>However, some researchers undertook the issue in large-scale research projects. University of Reading researcher Dr. Kevin Warwick managed to control machines and communicate with others using only his thoughts\u003C\u002Fstrong> with a cutting-edge neural implant. In 1998, Warwick, who earned the nickname “Captain Cyborg” from his colleagues, implanted a transmitter in his arm to control doors and other devices; then in 2002 he decided to implant electrodes directly into his nervous system in order to control a wheelchair with his thoughts and allow a remote robot arm to mimic the actions of his own arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Having a goal of helping voiceless patients communicate as a next, and very brave, step, Warwick implanted a chip into his wife’s arm to link their brains together through the Internet, creating the world’s first electronic brain–to–brain communication. When she moved her hand three times, he felt three pulses and recognized that his wife was communicating. He is optimistic that mind–to–mind communication will become a commercial reality in the next one or two decades. When Cathy Hutchinson, paralyzed years earlier by a brainstem stroke, managed to take a drink from a bottle by manipulating a robot arm with only her brain and a neural implant in 2012, the path became clear for future research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22226\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FBrain-Computer-Interface.jpg\" alt=\"future of voice\" class=\"wp-image-22226\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FBrain-Computer-Interface.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FBrain-Computer-Interface-768x453.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FBrain-Computer-Interface-512x302.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hochschule-rhein-waal.de\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Speaking 2.0: Voice interface technology and real-time translations\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Innovations could lift communication to another level in the future – not only with regards to the fact how it empowers people with speech impairments but also in connection with how people exchange information with individuals from other cultures or with machines. \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the next years, real-time translation and the dream about the notion that people can speak a common(ly understood) language will get within reach. In October 2107, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ftechnology\u002F2017\u002Foct\u002F05\u002Fgoogle-pixel-buds-babel-fish-translation-in-ear-ai-wireless-language\">Google launched a set of Bluetooth earbuds called the Pixel Buds\u003C\u002Fa> with one standout feature: instant translation between 40 different languages using a Pixel smartphone. Meanwhile, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skype.com\u002Fen\u002Ffeatures\u002Fskype-translator\u002F\">Microsoft’s Skype Translator\u003C\u002Fa> can do real-time translation between eight languages over a voice or video call or between 50 languages for text chat, making conference calling between nations and languages possible. The portable and wearable \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fiamili.com\u002Fus\u002F\">ili\u003C\u002Fa> device helps travelers translate from English to Japanese, Mandarin or Spanish within seconds without any Internet connection. In the future, you might \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-makes-you-a-superhero\">have a small earbud and switch from Chinese to Icelandic then back to English within 5 minutes of conversation\u003C\u002Fa> without any problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Not even sign language is left out of technology’s sight. Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a wearable device that “translates” sign language into English by sensing the user’s movements. In October 2015, the instrument was already able to recognize some 40 ASL signs with 96 percent accuracy. However, as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theatlantic.com\u002Ftechnology\u002Farchive\u002F2017\u002F11\u002Fwhy-sign-language-gloves-dont-help-deaf-people\u002F545441\u002F\">The Atlantic points out\u003C\u002Fa>, projects converting sign language, especially ASL gloves, have strong limitations at the moment. Perhaps, the future will bring some breakthrough in interpreting human movements for sign linguistic purposes by machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Nevertheless, machines will not only act as interpreters but also as communication partners. Gartner estimates that \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gartner.com\u002Fdoc\u002F3021226\u002Fmarket-trends-voice-ui-consumer\">30% of our interactions\u003C\u002Fa> with technology will be through conversations with smart machines by the end of this year. Now, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theverge.com\u002F2018\u002F1\u002F15\u002F16892254\u002Fsmart-speaker-ownership-google-amazon\">one in six U.S. adults\u003C\u002Fa> owns a voice-activated intelligent speaker or device – and \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fdanielnewman\u002F2018\u002F08\u002F22\u002Fvoice-interface-technology-the-future-of-business\u002F#5de0870d316a\">Forbes believes that\u003C\u002Fa> number will continue to rise. In the future, speaking to Siri or Alexa will not only result in turning the lights on and off, but also in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgoogle-please-make-dentists-appointment\">making restaurant reservations or dentist appointments\u003C\u002Fa>. In a couple of years, you might not be sure whether you are talking to an A.I. or a real person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full wp-image-22227\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002F1712507217.rsc.cdn77.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FReal-Time-Translation.jpg\" alt=\"future of voice\" class=\"wp-image-22227\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FReal-Time-Translation.jpg 870w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FReal-Time-Translation-768x288.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002FReal-Time-Translation-512x192.jpg 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Source: www.lwolf.com\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Medical implications: Is the doctor speaking?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Speech technologies will impact the business world, the private sphere – and the medical community\u003C\u002Fstrong>. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fchatbots-health-assistants\">Chatbots will become the first line in primary care\u003C\u002Fa>. That means patients will turn to chatbots for medical advice in simple cases and they will be sent to a doctor only in cases when the algorithm decides that the individual needs further assistance. It will take some burden off the shoulders of busy doctors and nurses while taking care of patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Artificial intelligence-powered and speech-based solutions will support diagnostics in many other ways, too. As \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fvocal-biomarkers-new-opportunities-prevention\">vocal biomarkers\u003C\u002Fa> are just as unique as our voice itself, researchers believe that they could help in diagnosing certain illnesses. The tech giant, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scientificamerican.com\u002Farticle\u002Fthe-sound-of-your-voice-may-diagnose-disease\u002F\">IBM is teaming its Watson AI supercomputer with academic researchers\u003C\u002Fa> to try to predict from speech patterns whether patients are likely to develop a psychotic disorder. An Israeli company, Beyond Verbal deals with emotion analytics and provides voice analysis software. It has announced that its algorithms were successful in helping to detect the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a group of patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In addition, voice assisting technologies could also become a valuable asset in medical administration. Imagine that artificial intelligence-based voice tools could record patient visits and make medical notes for doctors without the need to type them into any health record system. How much more time a medical professional could spend with their patients without the need for constant administration? A company called \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.augmedix.com\u002F\">Augmedix\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"a%20company%20called%20Augmedix.%20Its%20platform%20enables%20physicians%20to%20wear%20Glass%20Enterprise%20Edition%20as%20they%20see%20patients,%20while%20remote%20medical%20scribes%20fill%20out%20the%20electronic%20medical%20records%20based%20on%20what%20they%20hear%20and%20see%20from%20the%20visit.\">utilizes Google Glass to enable physicians to examine their patients\u003C\u002Fa>, while remote medical scribes fill out the electronic medical records based on what they hear and see from the visit. How mind-boggling solutions technology could bring to the medical practice, don’t you think?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":220,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Talking, conversing, exchanging words: for more than 10 million people, this seemingly simple act cannot be imagined without assistive technologies, such as voice generating devices, touch screens or text-to-speech apps. What does the digital future bring for them? How could innovations turn around the translation industry or the medical administration process? Here’s a glimpse into the future of voice and speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",22229,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[224,32],506,[226,227,42,228,50,229,34,230,231,232,233,36],759,1105,1107,1108,1109,275,1110,289,[],[],[237,238,60,55,239,240,241,242,59,243],1719,1721,3283,4295,4629,1583,1715,[245,14,66,67,68,69,70,246,72,247,248,81,249,89,250,73,251,252,253,254,75],"post-22222","category-cyborgization","tag-apps","tag-speech","tag-speaking","tag-assistive-technology","tag-voice-generating-device","tag-healthcare","tag-speech-generating","tag-innovation",{"id":221,"alt_text":256,"caption":27,"description":257,"media_type":93,"media_details":258,"post":140,"source_url":281},"TMF","TMF, woman, angry, voice, shout",{"width":259,"height":260,"file":261,"sizes":262,"image_meta":279},1920,1080,"2018\u002F10\u002F046_megaphone.gif",{"medium":263,"large":266,"thumbnail":269,"medium_large":272,"1536x1536":273,"large_old_512x288":276},{"file":264,"width":101,"height":102,"mime-type":103,"source_url":265},"046_megaphone-370x208.gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F046_megaphone-370x208.gif",{"file":267,"width":107,"height":108,"mime-type":103,"source_url":268},"046_megaphone-768x432.gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F046_megaphone-768x432.gif",{"file":270,"width":112,"height":112,"mime-type":103,"source_url":271},"046_megaphone-150x150.gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F046_megaphone-150x150.gif",{"file":267,"width":107,"height":108,"mime-type":103,"source_url":268},{"file":274,"width":117,"height":118,"mime-type":103,"source_url":275},"046_megaphone-1536x864.gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F046_megaphone-1536x864.gif",{"file":277,"width":127,"height":128,"mime-type":103,"source_url":278},"046_megaphone-512x288.gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F046_megaphone-512x288.gif",{"aperture":131,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":131,"copyright":27,"focal_length":131,"iso":131,"shutter_speed":131,"title":27,"orientation":131,"keywords":280},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F046_megaphone.gif",{"related_posts":283,"related_posts_footer":287,"cta_type":27,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":20},[284,285,286],17139,21847,16513,[288,289,290],22099,17817,15467,{"yoast_wpseo_title":292,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":293,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":214},"Perfecting The Power To Talk – The Future of Voice And Speaking - The Medical Futurist","Assistive technologies, voice generating devices, real-time translations? 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