Computer and Library Learning (Archived)

Google’s Inside Search page announced the introduction of Google Voice onto desktop or laptop computers using the Google Chrome (11 or greater) browser accompanied by an attached or built-in microphone. (Individuals already using Google Chrome can download the Google Voice extension.) Google Voice Search was initially available on mobile devices where minuscule physical and virtual keyboards make typing challenging for some people. Google’s intentions are to facilitate searches with difficult-to-spell words, longer searches by speaking, doing fun searches by talking, and simply doing searches without typing. Users with access to the feature will a microphone icon on the right-hand side of the search box.

Google Voice Search works with American English and has incorporated 230 billion words from actual search queries to facilitate phrase recognition for future verbal queries. Currently, mobile technology users of Google Voice are conveying 2 years of continuous speech each day into Google Voice Search with the use of the service having increased by six times in the last year.

An article on cnet reported the result of testing Google Voice Search by saying “Zbigniew Brzezinski” (former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Adviser) which was interpreted as “big new brzezinski” but nonetheless offered as the first-listed link in the search results the Wikipedia entry for Zbigniew Brzezinski. The same article reported difficulties with the intended searches “squid ink paella recipe” and “translate to Swedish where is a good restaurant”. Google Voice Search cannot yet replace the typed-in Google search in all instances. Google’s test run demonstration used the queries “pictures of the yellow-bellied warbler” and “weather for Schenectady, New York”.

A limit on using Google Voice would be the location in which the user finds her(him)self. A home environment is more conducive to using Google Voice Search than a workplace environment (in which increased noise and talking would permeate an office setting) where the traditional typed-in Google Search would be a more practical and judicious way of proceeding.