NV's new strategy for how to get more people to buy its dictation software. On Monday, the speech software maker is introducing its newest line of dictation products - software that translates spoken words into written text. One of the most important features of the new product line is that users no longer have to ''train'' the software before they can use it, says Elliott Lowe, senior director of product management. Most speech software products require users to read text to the program for up to an hour before it's able to recognize their voices.
People love the idea of speech products . . .
Lernout needs to lower that rejection rate. It trails chief speech rivals Dragon Systems Inc. and IBM Corp. in dictation software. But Lernout has other products in its arsenal that are doing well, such as speech engines for call centers and car navigation systems, as well as language translation software, Wohl says. The company believes that making its software easier to install and use will dramatically boost its acceptance among mainstream computer users. So far, speech software has mainly been used by early adopters of new technologies and people in specialty areas such as the medical, legal and law enforcement fields.