Speech-To-Text rather than Text-To-Speech

I just read this article on the NYTimes.

Speak up, A Computer is Listening

HOW INCREDIBLY COOL.

Talk about Text-to-Speech technology. Now, we're thinking Speech-To-Text technology. And with a 99.3% and 99.5% accuracy? Really?

Seems bizarre.

Here's a quote:

"One way that Nuance has improved accuracy is by acknowledging, for the first time, that not everyone speaks alike. Version 10 recognizes eight accents: general (none), Australian, British, Indian, Great Lakes (Buffalo to Chicago), Southeast Asian, Southern United States and Spanish. If you don’t specify, the program will identify you automatically."

So if you don't have any of those accents, you're screwed. Apparantly a Japanese accent will not get you very far. That said, perhaps it will think you are speaking with a "Great Lakes" accent and let it go. Who knows.

Either way, that means no one will be jobless anymore becase they can't use a computer. All they'll have to do is shout out a few commands and they'll be the next office star.

That's what it comes down to right?

Call me a nerd, but this is why I like Communications, and the technology section of the NYTimes.