IBM's Magic Block: voice recorder with speech recognition

If IBM is ever able to manufacture its Magic Block voice recorder, it'll make just about every other recorder obsolete overnight. The Magic Block is a concept for a digital voice recorder that includes a few handy features -- such as biometric security and an intriguing design that limits accidental recordings -- and one function that makes it unique: built-in voice recognition software that can recognize both spoken words and the actual speaker, allowing a user to search for text as well as for comments from specific speakers. Since IBM already makes speech recognition software, we assume this is something that may be more than just some pie-in-the-sky design. Then again, given that a top IBM exec recently declared that there's "no such thing as the next big thing," maybe the company has already given up on actually bringing new products like this to market -- though we really hope not.

[Saranomaly @ Mar 20th 2006 2:50PM]

This would be college students' new best friend. Not only could one record all of one's lectures and search by professor, but it would also be extremely helpful in small, discussion-based classes where taking protocol is required. I know I want one of these.

[Sandee @ Mar 20th 2006 2:53PM]

I m looking for such kind of device, for a long time, Thanx Marc Perton, also for IBM guys...

GOOD JOB... :)

[Zex_Suik @ Mar 20th 2006 3:09PM]

True, I'd probably get one.

I'm jungle rigging this as it is. I have Vito Sound Explorer on my PPC and with two buttons presses I can record into any quality MP3 format I want then I can move that file onto my desktop where there's another bit of software (forgot the name) that Voice Recognizes the file based on my Windows speech recognition files.

Downside is it will only do MY voice not ANY ones

If IBM does this, I hope they offer that awesome ANYvoice recognition as a download

[Brian Spence @ Mar 20th 2006 3:09PM]

If it could recognize foreigner's broken English, I'd get one. I work with many foreigners, and being able to get an automatic transcript of our meetings would be excellent. I'm sure this won't be that capable, however.

There's a great recording software/hardware solution at ForTheRecord.com that we've been using, but it doesn't do voice recognition, unfortunately.

[Jake @ Mar 20th 2006 3:11PM]

I like the look of that. Sort of HAL 9000-esqe. And we all know the link between HAL and IBM...

[dramamoose @ Mar 20th 2006 3:15PM]

Wow. This is really amazing (if it really works.) I am a high school student, and captain of the debate team, and this would be the best possible investment. And, for recording "he-said, she-said" conversations, this would be great. Hope the price is right, and the production time is low.

[LaserBeams @ Mar 20th 2006 4:35PM]

That's an awesome concept, and it looks great - kinda like a Monolith, or Thinkpad...

I'd buy one.

[colourgirlie @ Mar 20th 2006 5:04PM]

I'd definitely get one of these for lectures. Very helpful when it's midnight and you're fighting with your recorder to get back to Prof. Hindi's lecture on Anatomy.... ^_^.

[Haasim @ Mar 20th 2006 5:42PM]

Hahaha... nicely done Jake.

[colourgirlie @ Mar 20th 2006 6:32PM]

I'd definitely get one of these for lectures. Very helpful when it's midnight and you're fighting with your recorder to get back to Prof. Hindi's lecture on Anatomy.... ^_^.

[Cx3 @ Mar 20th 2006 9:39PM]

Not quite the dream yet- (it does not convert speech to text, at least that my take):

-- The IBM Magic Block: a portable recording device that stores nonstop sound throughout the day, making these recordings the user's private digital sound diary, easily searchable through voice recognition. An embedded fingerprint-recognition reader is used for security access to ensure privacy. The product was designed by IBM Design Consulting Services (DCS).

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/19305.wss

[chirurgia @ Mar 21st 2006 3:43AM]

cool design too

[Christian Somody @ Mar 21st 2006 8:54AM]

Wow is about all I can say. Wow. I need to get myself one of these!

[Bryan Harig @ Mar 21st 2006 11:39AM]

What a great design, it even matches my thinkpad!

[coolamba @ Mar 22nd 2006 4:44AM]

Nice design... I'd buy one.

[Calvin Hobbes @ Apr 9th 2006 12:14AM]

Too bad IBM doesn't follow up/through on their products like this with a registration list to notify when it will be available for sale. The broken IBM link given above (it's right, just broken) is like a number of broken product links on the IBM website. Like everyone else I'd like to buy several for a clinic and a number of geriatric patients. IBM promises and disappoints again! That's why they aren't Apple. The webpage owner of Engadget could probably sell the list back to IBM as IBM doesn't seem interested in their own online marketing as well!!

[Stephen @ Apr 26th 2006 10:47AM]

When there's broken links on our site, you can click any 'Feedback' link and the web sitep eople will fix it...usually within a few hours. We're human, after all.

[SAMEER @ Aug 5th 2006 11:04AM]

Banner

[[e-mail] @ Sep 1st 2006 2:37AM]

No things special any more!

You will understand the market started already. Look our mp3, new mp3, Voice Recognition Mp3 player, Speech Recognition mp3 player. http://www.globalsources.com/voicedj.co