大象传媒

I agree - I think this has the real potential to be a winner. Not least because of the tiny keyboard offered on the iPhone, and the constant task of having to make amends to iPhone's predictive text capabilities.

Although it does make me wonder why speech word processor tools never really took off. But there's definitely potential there for this to be huge - and what better gadget to start it on than the iPhone.

I'd be happy for my iPhone to offer voicedialing before voice search.

Well if it's going to be accent specific Google has lost before they even started, imagine trying to define an an 'English accent'. Don't think I'll bother with this one.

On a tangent, I logged into Facebook this morning to find that they have finally developed 'British English' as a language option. Not sure whether to applaud their multiculturalism or throw something at them but at least I'll be seeing fewer z's from now on.

@paullloydjohnson the 'Say Who' app works brilliantly- and understands an Aberdonian accent!

Ah, it's starting to make sense now. Apple bought PA Semi a while back - a company that specialises in military grade processors. Specifically, processors that are capable of dealing with massive amounts of data very quickly when required, but then sit idle using very little power when they are not needed.

Good voice recognition is notoriously processor intensive which isn't good on a mobile device where battery life is already an issue. Using PA Semis chips, we might start to see high quality voice recognition on iPhones without seriously impacting on battery life.

Apple have never led the way with innovation, but they sure know how to put existing tech together to make very usable gear. Maybe Apple are looking to make voice control the new touch screen...

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@camholder I changed my Facebook account to English (Pirate) and have been too amused ever since to care when I haven't got a clue what I'm clicking on any more...

I find this quite interesting since I'm using a service that converts my voicemail to text something they call voxsciences, I'm not paying for it yet! But that seems to work ok, I've got a real cockney friend and it understands him ok as well as an american friend whose messages come through as well. They must be doing something right at least, so why is it that Google and Microsoft are struggling with it?

Interesting point #3: z's are standard British English and some newspapers actually chose to use z's over s's in organise/organize, etc. It is a common misconception that it is American!

Perhaps Google can use accent detection to return search results releated to the user's location.

In defense of American English at least it is more standardized and more universal. Most native British can't even speak basic English. 'Cos itsa bore innit. Like know what I mean? Being British and having lived in America for a long time I can honestly say that there are far more people per-capita (if you don't know what that means then I'm talking about you) with horrifically limited vocabulary in the UK. It's high time the British dumped their snobbery about American culture and just admitted that the dominant English speaking nation dictates so many cultural forces for us, that begrudging it is just pure pathetic pettiness from a failed nation. I'm sure this will get some bitter reaction but the United Kingdom, although many parts, is all part of the State of Denial.

I had a good giggle at the mental image of all those headless people running aroud trying to share a head :)

Limey - I suggest you go look up 'per capita' then, in future, you might not look like one of those people you describe as having a 'horifically limited vocabulary'.

Still it made me smile :P

#11 and #12

No, I think Limey may be is right about the number of heads per capita on different sides of the pond.

There are probably more mad axemen and chainsaw users per capita (correct usage!) in the US than in the UK - at least if the movie industry is to be believed. So it stands to reason, innit!

rory

google, probably does not speaks the queens' english....it is sad!

Yankees suck!

In Chile we shall always prefer British English at school and university for it is more clear to understand. It does not sound like the constant mumbling of USA speakers full of made-up words and nonsense expressions.