Conversion of voice message (mp3) to text software

Need advice on good automatic voice to text transcription

[lgn1]

We now handle all customer service via email, however we had to implement a voice mail system, as some people still want to talk to someone. We now have then talking to a machine, as a reasonable compromise, until these Luddites are wean out of our society.

To automate the system further, we are looking for a software package that will convert the .mp3 voice message into text automatically.

We tried a service called Voicebase on a clear telephone message with somebody speaking slowly. It got at best 50% correct. Total failure.

I realize that I'm going to have problems with somebody with a heavy accent, or speaks fast, but most people follows our instructions and speaks slowly and clearly.

Can somebody give a recommendation for machine transcription of voice to text ?

[not2easy]

Have you looked at Dragon? I know people who use it to write articles dictated a bit at a time. I believe it is a program by Nuance.

[Andy Langton]

You could try IBM Watson:

[ibm.com...]

[tangor]

Both above are pretty good, ie 98.9% to 99.1% accuracy with training on a SINGLE VOICE (not your many callers), but that is still not 100% .. .and if these calls require accuracy, do keep that marginal failure rate in mind.

We now have then talking to a machine, as a reasonable compromise, until these Luddites are wean out of our society.

The way to accomplish that is to delete the voice mail and ignore those folks.

[lgn1]

Thanks for the info. Watson was over 95% accurate, when people spoke slowly and clearly over the telephone line. Words that were wrong was obvious in the context of the speech. It has great promise.

[Andy Langton]

Google is entering the fray [webmasterworld.com], if you want to keep your options open. Assume you're using the "narrowband" options for Watson, incidentally?