Peer-reviewed research
How productivity improves in hands-free continuous dictation tasks: lessons learned from a longitudinal study
Jinjuan Feng et al., Interacting with Computers, 2005
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- A longitudinal study of people who learned continuous dictation over time, timing dictation, navigation and error correction across several composition tasks. It finds that users became more efficient at all three, and that the largest productivity gains came from better recognition quality and from navigation commands.
- How much weight it carries
- Peer-reviewed journal article from the IBM and Penn State research group. The abstract was checked, not the full text, so the sample size and session count are not confirmed here. Studies of this period used 2000s recognition engines, which are far less accurate than current systems.
Facts taken from this source
- Earlier reported composition speed using speech software was 8 to 15 words per minute, which the authors describe as much lower than normal speaking speed.
“The reported composition speed using speech software is only between 8 and 15 words per minute” (Abstract)
- In a longitudinal study, users became more efficient at dictation, navigation and error correction as they gained experience.
“As users gained more experience, they became more efficient at dictation, navigation and error correction.” (Abstract)
- The largest productivity gains in the longitudinal dictation study came from better dictation quality and from using navigation commands.
“the major improvements in productivity were due to dictation quality and the usage of navigation commands” (Abstract)
- In Feng, Karat and Sears's study, navigation and error correction took a big share of the dictation task during the early stages of use.
“navigation and error correction accounted for big chunk of the dictation task during the early stages of interaction” (Abstract)
- The same authors put people's normal speaking speed at 125 to 150 words per minute.
“much lower than people's normal speaking speed of 125-150 words per minute” (Abstract)
Pages that rest on this source
- Typing Speed: Average WPM and How to Type FasterTopic
- Dictation for Work: Doctors, Lawyers, Writers, StudentsTopic
- Average Typing Speed: WPM by Age, Gender and DeviceGuide
- What Is Dictation? Voice Typing and Talk to Text ExplainedGuide
- Best Dictation Software and Apps, Compared by NeedGuide
- What Is a Good Typing Speed? WPM Levels ExplainedGuide
- Writing a Book by Dictation: Software and WorkflowGuide
- How to Dictate Emails Faster Than You Type ThemGuide
- How Much Time Dictation Saves at WorkGuide
- Dictation vs Typing: When Speaking Beats the KeyboardGuide
- Speaking vs Typing Speed: What the Research ShowsGuide
- Writing Speed: Words per Minute by Hand and per DayGuide
- Does Dictation Change How You Write?Guide
- How long does it take to write 1,000 words?Question
- How many words per hour can you dictate?Question
- How many words per minute can you dictate?Question
- Is dictating emails faster than typing them?Question
- Is dictation faster than typing?Question
- What is the best dictation software for writers?Question
- Oral compositionGlossary
- Dictation and Voice Typing: How to Talk Instead of TypeTopic
- Dictation Software: How to Choose the Right AppTopic
- What Is Dictation Software? Types and How It WorksGuide
- How to Get Used to Dictation: Weeks, Not HoursGuide