New devices reigniting interest in voice technology

Voice command technology seems destined to become a bigger part of our daily lives. Though the capabilities have been around for years, recent advancements in mobile technology and other areas have brought voice recognition to new levels.

One of the major criticisms of tablet computers so far has been the absence of the physical keyboard. Critics argue that it is difficult to be productive on a tablet because typing is less intuitive on a touchscreen than on a laptop or desktop keyboard.

However, voice functions may allay some of these concerns. The voice commands for Google's Android™ operating system, for example, have been heralded for making communicating with devices simpler. The function is also a key highlight of the new iPhone® from Apple®.

At the same time, these voice commands are creeping into traditional computers as well. Google has introduced voice search for its Chrome™ browser, and the Firesay add-on for Mozilla's Firefox® performs similar functions.

At the moment, most people seem more comfortable communicating with their computers and mobile devices by typing. But as voice commands become more common, people may soon be asking their computers, "Who needs a keyboard?"