A British company called Speechmatics is working to build more accurate technology to turn spoken words into text across a wide range of different languages. We explore how the system might help journalists in the future.
Reporting by Lily Oppenheimer, Rachel Wise and Jessica King.
Additional information:
- A key aspect of the technology is that it can operate efficiently as part of software running directly on a user’s mobile device, according to the Cambridge Independent
- The company recently received an infusion of investment capital to bring its technology to market.
ICYMI
Recordly, an interviewing tool for the Apple Watch, was the winner of the 2016 RJI Student Competition. It uses the watch as a remote control for tracking and highlighting audio interviews recorded on the iPhone, harnessing the power of IBM’s Watson artificial intelligence platform to provide real-time, speech-to-text transcriptions for reporters in the field at a fraction of the cost of other commercial services. The tool was designed and developed by five University of Missouri students from five different countries.
Reuben Stern is the deputy director of the Futures Lab at the Reynolds Journalism Institute and host and co-producer of the weekly Futures Lab video update.
The Reynolds Journalism Institute’s Futures Lab video update features a roundup of fresh ideas, techniques and developments to help spark innovation and change in newsrooms across all media platforms. Visit the RJI website for the full archive of Futures Lab videos, or download the iPad app to watch the show wherever you go. You can also sign up to receive email notification of each new episode.
