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The use of speech-to-text services is growing due to the benefits they offer in terms of efficiency and adaptability. Voice recognition (VR) technology is being actively used in business to maximize the benefits for companies and their customers. The development of medical software using AI expands the range of possibilities for doctors to perform their work.
In this article, we discuss the benefits of integrating speech-to-text technologies in healthcare, analyze the current market situation and the main challenges that may arise when implementing the technology in an organization. Learn how your organization can reap the benefits by taking the leap to leverage these technologies to increase employee productivity and ultimately grow your business.
Speech Recognition Technology on a Real Project
The increasing demand for artificial intelligence technologies has spawned the development of a new market. Taking advantage of the aforementioned opportunities is without a doubt one of the wisest choices medical professionals can make.
In the process of developing software for medical voice recognition, Agiliway’s team of engineers created the platform’s infrastructure and contributed to the evolution of the extant software product architecture.
Project History, Tasks, and Challenges Faced During the Development
The solution comes with desktop and online programs that let you manage data entry tasks and navigate through documents primarily using voice commands. Various text editors, including MS Word, MS Excel, Notepad, and LibreOffice, may use the solution.
The variety of activities performed includes voice recognition and recording, speech-to-text conversion, acceptance, perception, and processing of input instructions like text formatting (such as bolding, highlighting, underlining, etc.) to aid in document navigation.
In this project, the minimum viable product (MVP) involved carrying out a specific set of commands when working with document services of the users’ choice. These commands included enabling all feasible file manipulations, enabling notifications, tracking the number of users and their activity in the system to improve overall functionality, and tracking all document management software updates to prevent system failures.
The hardest part of putting the idea into practice is tailoring it to fit individual tastes. Given that it is a voice-based document management and data input system, the system must be able to detect all potential linguistic features, such as various accents, a lot of medical terminology, etc.
Provided Solutions
Considering the product’s intended use as a low-level programming tool, it was crucial to develop a solution that could be appropriately implemented in a number of different document management systems while still performing as expected.
The following is a step-by-step process for translating instructions into text:
- Passing commands to the application.
- The platform creates an audio file.
- Connect to web sockets and stream the audio file.
- The system receives the text version of the commands via the client API.
- The program executes the commands.
Throughout every step of the development process, the engineering team has the task of creating a back-end for the platform, using a specific technology or framework.
C# and web protocols are utilized to maintain a constant connection between the server and client. WPF for client application development, interface manipulation, and document manipulation. Windows API for tracking user behavior in the system, such as which devices were connected and which services were utilized. Word Interop is used to manipulate Microsoft Word and Excel documents.
Regarding the architecture, the Model-view-View Model (MVVM) pattern was utilized to partition the graphical user interface (GUI) from the internal logic, thereby establishing their independence. Since the client’s system includes multiple primary application instances, it was crucial to ensure that each of them stores and retains data independently.
Advantages of Speech Recognition Technology in Healthcare Operations
The main part of the work of medical staff is recording and filling in patient data – medical procedures, consultations, diagnostic results, etc. – which requires significant time. This is a separate process that needs to be improved to increase productivity, improve the quality of work, and, as a result, increase patient engagement.
So, what do medical staff get by using voice recognition technology in their daily work?
Efficiency Unleashed: During examinations, physicians discuss patient conditions. Keeping track of these particulars is essential, but time-consuming. Speech recognition technology effortlessly converts spoken words to text, liberating professionals from the tedious task of data entry. Immediate recording reduces the possibility of forgetting crucial information after an appointment.
Increased Productivity: Voice recognition makes it easier to enter data, which lets medical professionals handle more people and data with more accuracy. For physicians awaiting results, the immediacy of this technology becomes crucial, potentially sparing lives.
Tailored Customization: Speech recognition adapts to diverse organizational requirements or practitioner specializations by executing preferred commands, comprehending specific vocabularies, and embracing dialects.
Enhanced Decision-Making: Expedited data entry provides firsthand information to authorized users, which has a significant positive impact on healthcare workflows. From examination rooms where physicians record clinical notes and patient comments to operating rooms where surgeons verbally command machinery, efficiency rises.
Accessibility Beyond Limits: Speech-to-text services enable patients with mobility limitations to interact via voice commands.
Disadvantages of Speech Recognition Technology
As previously mentioned, speech recognition technology has a few disadvantages when it comes to customizing a system to a client’s specific requirements.
Misinterpretation Mitigation: With thorough training and terminology assimilation, word errors that are brought on by accents and context may be avoided.
Data security: Due to the sensitivity of medical records, HIPPA and GDPR must be adhered to. This requires ongoing observation and careful testing.
Cost considerations: Although development expenses may prevent implementation, there are other, more affordable options.
Summary
Voice recognition services are dependable assistants that ensure immediate data entry and reduce the possibility of omitting vital information when manually entering it.
The rapid development of speech-to-text technologies is due to the fact that they simplify and increase the productivity of work processes, as well as save a great deal of time on data entry and searching for the necessary system information. During an examination or surgery, medical care providers can juggle multiple responsibilities; consequently, they should prioritize the most important tasks rather than searching through computer files.
Any potential disadvantages encountered by medical facilities will vanish if you associate with the appropriate software development team. If your organization is still hesitant, Agiliway specialists will gladly explain how it can stand out from the competition.
