You know how things can sneak up on you, particularly trends. There are dribs and drabs and all of a sudden a swirling tornado of evidence that something is happening? I have had that experience these last few weeks with a realization that the phenomenon of voice will likely be the next meaningful user interface in healthcare. We may all be excited by man-made artifacts like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), 3D, and a multiplicity of other two-letter acronyms that spring from the minds of engineers, but the natural human thing that is our voice may well be the most interesting 200,000-year overnight sensation to bring meaning to medicine.
I remember back as far as college, when dinosaurs still roamed the earth and iPhones were just a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye, that I took part in some student experiments about voice recognition technology that were largely absurd in their lack of utility. Fast forward and the SIRI “revolution” wasn't that much better. Yes, occasionally by shouting at your phone you could find your way to Sand Hill Road, but more likely it would instead offer you the mating habits of the sandy toad.
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