News Archive - march '04

Attendance at the Scottish Institute of Enterprise Conference and Exhibition in Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

Intuitive Internet was invited to exhibit at the above Conference on behalf of Glasgow Caledonian University as one of their two nominated Post-Graduate Business Start-ups. The exhibition was a great experience for us to put together a professional display stand and marketing material as well as a valuable networking opportunity.

Guest speakers at the conference included Jim Wallace MSP, the Deputy First Minister at the time, now MSP for Orkney, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the great explorer, who gave an extremely entertaining and motivational speech.

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Presentation of paper at the 2004 BDA International Conference in University of Warwick, Coventry

'Dyslexia and Voice Recognition Software - Really the Perfect Match?'

By Anne Nelson and Caroline Parker

 Intuitive Internet, 13 Gillespie Drive , Helensburgh , G84 9BL

anne@intuitiveinternet.com

Centre for Research into Systems and People, Computing Division, Glasgow Caledonian University , Glasgow G4 0BA

Abstract

Voice Recognition software is now being commonly recommended as an assistive software tool for dyslexics. This paper presents the results of an exploratory study into the use of software tools by dyslexics, in particular the use of Voice Recognition Software for high school students diagnosed with dyslexia or showing dyslexic-type symptoms.

Voice recognition software has developed considerably in the past five years and is recommended as a potential solution to some of the problems faced by dyslexics by the British Dyslexia Association and software developers. However actual use of voice recognition software by dyslexics has been shown to be well below expectations. An exploratory study conducted by Eamonn O'Hare and Prof. Michael McTear at the University of Ulster (O'Hare & McTear, 1999) to assess the potential of voice recognition software within a classroom environment, found that despite its potential value there were severe usability problems with it.

The question this study attempted to answer was - has the software improved enough in the intervening years to be recommended now? If it hasn't - what were the usability issues that caused particular problems and how might they be overcome? A replication of the O’Hare and McTear (1999) study was carried out using the latest version of the most commonly recommended software (IBM ViaVoice) with dyslexic school children aged 12-14, within a classroom environment. In addition, a web-based survey was conducted to answer more general questions about issues relating to voice recognition software.

This paper will describe the results from this research and highlight the fact that despite voice recognition software being a more attractive and viable option than ever before, it still has many serious usability issues to overcome before it can be recommended as a credible option for dyslexics.

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Download a PDF version of the full paper >>