I just tried Google Voice for the first time today, and it's a really interesting service, including the ability to automatically transcribe voicemails so you can pick them up in e-mail or on the web. I have a heavy English accent (nothing bizarre, like Brummies, but definitely not American, either) so I did a little experiment by leaving a voicemail for myself. Here's what I said:
"I'm just trying this out. Google Voice seems pretty cool but, you know, I'm not so sure if it can try andhandle the really complicated things that one wants to do with voicemail. So I thought I would say things like efficacious, and stupendous, and deliberative, just to see how the transcription might work. On the other hand, it could be really good, and I'll be amazed, and astounded, and flabbergasted by just how good the transcription could be. I'll also look forward to receiving the message in e-mail, and if the e-mail is good then maybe I'll transition all of my phone calls to Google Voice. It's difficult to say. But, one way or another, Google is going to take over the world, and I intend to be there when they do."
And this is what Google Voice thought I said...
"i'm just trying this out to avoid seems pretty cool but you know i'm not so sure if you can try and handled it really complicated things that one wants to do with voicemail so i thought i'd say things like applications and stupendous and did with crickets just to see how the transcription might work on the other hand it could be really good and i'll be in the east of this down did flabbergasted i just have a good the transcription today i'm also i look forward to receiving the message in email and if you email is good then maybe i'll try and get all of my phone calls to google voice the fact the war in iraq google is going to take care of the will i'm going to be there when they did"
If you'd like to try making Google Voice sound silly, call 202-525-6817 and leave a message! I'll post the interesting ones here.
Yes, I have some similarly stupid and bizarre transcriptions. Fortunately it seems to do much better with very short, very simple messages, so I have taken to calling and leaving To Do notes for myself, which Google Voice then dutifully transcribes and sends to me by SMS. Voila, voice to text, and a nice self-reminder system.
Posted by: Haig Evans-Kavaldjian | July 17, 2009 at 15:58
Haig, that's a great idea! I just updated the post above to include my GV number, so others can leave messages that will hopefully baffle the transcription service with amusing outcomes. "Did with crickets" indeed!
Posted by: Dave | July 17, 2009 at 16:01
Hahha I found this post quite amusing. I actually found this using google voice search on my G1 phone. I was frustrated with google voice not understanding me and I have an american accent. So I said stupid google voice which it surprisingly understood your post was the first thing in the search!!! -Angelina
Posted by: Angelina | August 27, 2009 at 00:49
I mentioned this page @ http://thepragmaticeconomist.blogspot.com/2009/08/google-voice-and-area-code-snobbery.html
Posted by: Economist | August 28, 2009 at 01:11
if i call from google voice number to someone (talk on my cell) do they take my min?
Posted by: buy propecia | January 25, 2010 at 12:58
What words or phrases would you type in Google to find a transcription service?
Imagine if you were looking for a website that offered transription services (taking your audio files and typing everything that is said into a Word document), what would you type into Google to find it?
Posted by: soft cialis | March 01, 2010 at 11:55