Speech Recognition and RSI

The aim of the research project was to investigate if the introduction of speech recognition could reduce the risk of getting repetitive strain injuries (RSI). The proposal was that it is beneficial to use speech recognition in combination with mouse and keyboard.

The thesis was that the use of speech recognition changes the way the muscles in arm and shoulder are used. Thereby, it might be possible to increase variations in the use of these muscles, to reduce the number of repetitive, static movements and to allow for more micro pauses in muscle activity. Recent studies indicate a connection between the occurrence of RSI and the number of micro pauses. Therefore, an increase in the number of micro pauses during work may reduce the risk of RSI.

In order to investigate this, 20 test persons with different work functions from four different companies were introduced to speech recognition. Before the intervention, the Danish National Institute of Occupational Health measured the test persons’ muscle activity. The working environment of the participants was analysed by the Danish Technological Institute through interviews and workplace observations. Finally, a doctor of medicine specialised in phoniatric disorders examined the participants' voice function in order to notice voice changes and to avoid voice damages.

The participants used speech recognition in combination with mouse and keyboard for approximately half a year. At the end of this period they went through the same investigations that they met in the beginning of the project.

SPOK System was responsible for the co-ordination of the research project and for the installation, training and support of speech recognition programs during the intervention. The research project was partly sponsored by the Danish Ministry of Labour. They have a key interest to support projects that aim at reducing the number of RSI sufferers.

The results of the project have been published spring 2002.
The main results can be found in the English summary, or you can download the whole report (in Danish, with the English summary included)