DoCoMo Develops Speech Recognition

NTT DoCoMo Inc. demonstrated a couple of the technologies the operator is working on, including a speech recognition system that doesn’t require speech. The system, which is still a prototype, works by measuring the electrical activity in muscles that are used when a person speaks using a system called electromyography (EMG). This means the user still has to mouth the words as if they are being spoken but audible speech itself isn’t necessary.

Three electrodes need to be touching various areas of the face to measure the electrical activity. In the demonstration, a user had sensors mounted on his thumb and first two fingers. The thumb was placed under his chin, the forefinger was held vertically touching his cheek bone and the second finger held just above his top lip. While the actual positioning may look strange, it is not particularly difficult and doesn’t impede speech or the mouthing of words a great deal. Continue >>