VOICEWRITER AIDS THE OFFICE
Technology like the sea comes in waves. And like waves it washes
up on different shores, in different guises at different times.
Robotronics or automation in an advanced form has been most
effective on the factory floor and so far, even there mainly in the
automotive field.
Now comes the first major assault on the office.
Kurzweil AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a company that has been
building up an impressive record during the past few years. The
Kurzweil music synthesizer under Research Director and pioneer Robert
Moog has astounded music critics with an advanced digital keyboard
instrumentation able to reproduce every acoustical instrument and
electronic sound. It is literally changing the sound of the world of
music.
Their "Reading Machine for the Blind" is the world's first character recognition system capable of handling virtually any ordinary
type style. It may be a bigger advance than braille.
Now, the Kurzweil AI Voicesystem the typewriter or word processor
that replaces the previous most important office ingredient - the
stenographer and secretary!
This radical innovation changes the office drastically. The executive can dictate directly to his office television set. Built-in
software will correct spelling and punctuation and move paragraphs
around. A spoken word dispatches the letter at the speed of light to
the addressee, usually at a cost, especially if sent by the upcoming
National Information Utility "MoonMail", at less cost than current
postage! This innovation at one stroke will replace many office
stenographers, secretaries, mail boys, mailrooms and the old age post
office.
For three years I tested the Voice Entry Terminal made by the
Scott Instrument Company of Denton, Texas. One of the first in the
field this unit worked fine but had a very limited vocabulary. Now
Kurzweil moves into this market with a 1,000 word vocabulary of your
choice in a self-contained desk top unit. Cost: US$7,500 including
warranty, training and software support.
First applications are expected in the fields of medical
reporting, CAD/CAM command and control, voice mail, basic dictation
and remote inquiry to computer data banks.
Coming soon: the 10,000 word vocabulary "Kurzweil Voicewriter"
the next major wave to hit the modern office.
With optical storage reducing the need for paper filing and with
this Voicewriter reducing office staff the question is: Is an office
really necessary?
More information:
Charles Anderson,
Kurzweil Applied Intelligence, Inc.,
2049 Century Park East, Suite 1100,
Los Angeles, CA 90067.
Phone: (213) 203-9909.
* * *
<
previous |
chapter index |
next >
back to Main Chapter Listing
back to Home Page