ABSTRACT
Keyboard entry of large amounts of diagnostic data is a laborious task. Any transcription errors that occur may pass undetected by 'non-technical staff' employed to input these data. The object of this project was to design a system, based on a Marconi 'Macrospeak' Speech Recogniser, for 'on line' laboratory entry of data generated from the microbiological examination of specimens of urine. Six parameters considered important to the success of the system were assessed: accuracy, speech recognition, reproducibility, speed, user friendliness, and cost effectiveness. The system performed well under the test conditions examined. 'On line' hands free entry of diagnostic data, using speech recognition, may be a practical alternative to more conventional means of data entry.
