Physical workload during use of speech recognition and traditional computer input devices

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics
• Occupational Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Musculoskeletal symptoms are common among computer users.
• Traditional input devices (keyboard/mouse) contribute to repetitive strain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare musculoskeletal workload between speech recognition and traditional computer input devices.
• To evaluate muscle activity during various computer tasks.

Main Methods:

• Electromyography (EMG) recorded muscle activity in forearm, shoulder, and neck.
• Ten experienced computer users performed text entry, editing, and self-selected tasks.
• Tasks were repeated using speech recognition and keyboard/mouse.

Main Results:

• Speech recognition reduced static muscle activity in the forearm, neck, and shoulder.
• Increased muscle activity and reduced EMG gaps were observed in the cricothyroid muscle with speech recognition.
• Users spent less time with hands on keyboard/mouse and more time viewing the screen when using speech recognition.

Conclusions:

• Speech recognition can be a valuable supplementary tool for reducing musculoskeletal workload.
• Integrating speech recognition may mitigate risks associated with prolonged computer use.
• Further research into voice-related muscle strain is warranted.