Fact · Dictation
16spoken words
IBM's experimental Shoebox, designed in 1961, recognized 16 spoken words.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“The machine would recognize 16 words spoken into its microphone and convert those sounds into electrical impulses.”
(1961) Shoebox - IBM Archives (78-013), IBM Archives, IBM MediaCenter, n.d., Description of the 1961 Shoebox.
Open the original- What it measures
- The IBM entry says the Shoebox was first demonstrated at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle by its developer, William C. Dersch.
- What it does not show
- The IBM entry does not list the 16 words, and it describes a device built as a demonstration, not as a product.
Source
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