Total Voice Recognition

I have firmly chosen my idea, it is to be the Total Voice Recognition.

Recent technologies in the area of voice activated computers are much better than they have been. In talk-to-type systems like 'Dragon Naturally Speaking 10' there is a much higher success rate than before, with now just 1% of words being mis-heard. There is also a limited increase in the Artificial Intelligence of the software; you can give instructions such as "bold that" or "left align that" which can tell the difference between dictation and instruction based on tone of voice.

There is also software available for Mac called Dictate which goes the extra step and is used across the operating system, to open software or even select tools in Photoshop. It is combined with the computer's own speech software, which means you can ask the time and be told by the machine, without using anything but a microphone.

My idea has been slightly covered already, and so I must think of the next stage in this speech control evolution. Multi-Touch systems combined with Total Voice Recognition would alleviate the need for a mouse or keyboard altogether, but it could go further and limit the number of software interfaces needed. The biggest and most obvious example would be the internet: If you need a quick piece of information such as a train time you could simply ask the computer, who would understand the question, search the internet and respond as quickly as possible. You could set up a system of favourites (e.g. railenquiries.com) so the search, and therefore the response you are after are instant.
You: "Computer, When is the next train from Brighton to Victoria?"
Computer: "The next train from Brighton to Victoria is at 3.40"
You: "Thanks"

The result of this service would mean individual websites of data could be avoided, rather people would get all of their information via one source. Potentially, if the software was intelligent enough, blind internet users could get information as quickly and easily as everyone else.

The progression from there would be that you have a separate machine, a computer with no display, that works only on a speech input and speech output system, searching the internet for information and relaying it back to you. It would have to work 100% of the time, or else not be worth having, so the intelligence of the searches would have to be outstanding. This is currently not likely to happen, but is certainly possible in the future.