Is there a solution for Rush? Voice-to-text translation technology making breakthroughs

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, October 9, 2001 | Jack Thompson

[JohnHuang2]

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Is there a solution for Rush?
Voice-to-text translation technology making breakthroughs

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By Jack Thompson
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

Are there technological solutions that would allow Rush Limbaugh to continue doing his hugely successful syndicated radio program?

One company may have something to offer. Rapid Text, located in Newport Beach, Calif., has both software and personnel to transform spoken words into on-screen text nearly instantaneously. Here's how it would work for Rush Limbaugh, as explained by Rapid Text President Glory Johnson:

A caller calls the show, his or her words are heard by a "transcriptionist" monitoring the show in a remote location, who converts those words into phonetic components of those words, just as a court reporter does, on a stenographic machine. This is much faster, as anyone familiar with court transcriptions knows, than typing each letter of each word, which is what Limbaugh's board operator is reportedly doing now.

These phonetic packages are then, by special software, electronically converted into whole typed words that would pop up on Rush's screen in front of him.

The elapsed time between the speaking of a word and appearing on Limbaugh's screen would be 2.5, at most 3.5 seconds. Given the fact that most callers make clear their comment or question immediately and then go on to say a few more words or even sentences, Rush Limbaugh would be able to have his answer ready before the caller is even done talking. A radio listener would never notice a lag.

This same technology is precisely how live television events are able to have nearly simultaneous closed-captioning.

For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.

[snooker]

Isn't it funny how a$$holes stand out like a$$holes in times of crisis.

You can clearly see dumpa-craps for what they really are.

snooker

[Maelstrom]

If the problem is a crimped nerve...American Longevity offers a nutritional solution.

Maybe I'll call him and ask...

[GailA]

What bothers me most is the sudden onset of the hearing loss. It has been put forward that those earphones he wears may be the cause. Volume is adjustable from the control board. So the sound should not be that loud to cause hearing loss even with prolonged use, like it is doing with those who play loud music in their cars. It takes quite a high decibel level over time to cause a hearing loss (according to hubby who is an electronics tech who has 27 years in the two way radio field.).

Several drugs cause hearing loss. Blood Pressue meds are one, Vicodent (pain med) was posted as another.

Also the medical community often miss things like pinched nerves due to cervical disc degeneration in the neck. (mine make my arms go numb and burning pain in my left eye socket, and have also caused occassional numbness in my right ear with some temporary reduction in hearing in that ear).

The meds he takes need to be really checked into for side effects. (ever try to read that #6 pica print on those insert for meds?)

[0scill8r]

I'm a cochlear implant surgeon at the University of South Florida (otology/neurotology). I doubt Rush's hearing loss is due to using Vicodin. Gail, your "pinched cervical nerve" theory sounds like claptrap from the chiropractor. It is far more likely that he suffers from an autoimmune hearing loss, in which the body's immune system attacks the inner ear (similar to rheumatoid arthritis, where the body's immune system attacks the cartilage in a joint).

Noise is also an unlikely cause of his hearing loss, because noise-induced hearing loss occurs gradually over decades, not months. Of course, if a hand grenade goes off in your immediate surroundings the onset of the loss might be a little more sudden....

Because it doesn't sound like his hearing loss is responding to therapy (mind you, I'm going by his statement and have no access to his medical records), it could also be a genetic hearing loss. Cochlear implant surgery is extremely successful but we generally hold off until we are quite convinced that we can't preserve whatever residual hearing a patient still has. People with cochlear implants are quite capable of holding a conversation over the phone, so there's still hope for "Open Line Friday"

[painter]

Have you thought about calling Rush? I know Rush is seeing the best doctors in the world,but you could help the rest of his listners know what is going on.

[0scill8r]

I can't hang on a telephone for the required amount of time, unfortunately. I would love to help in any way I can, but this technology is pretty mature and is available at most University medical centers. If Rush lives in South Florida, he's probably going to the University of Miami, where they have an excellent program (even though they are my competitors! Grrrr!)

[Nonstatist]

To what do you reference Rush's statement that if he had an implant, it would also entail "brain surgery" ? Is that description consistent with this type of operation?

[martin gibson]

eat me.

[0scill8r]

It's not accurate. The brain is not exposed. We make a small hole in the cochlea, called a "cochleostomy", in order to access the hearing nerve fibers.

We should forgive Rush this minor inaccuracy. Chalk it up to him going through a period of adjustment like we all would if we were suddenly informed we had a life-changing disability, and you become as much an expert as you can at first, but there is much to learn.

[Tunehead54]

To contact Rush:

rush@eibnet.com

Put something pithy in the subject line to establish your credentials and expertise - a lot of crapola is filtered by his email program.

Please take the time - Thanks - if nothing else you might get the chance to meet him - promise me you'll freepmail me - I'll go as your "associate". LOL

PS: This may be a NY fax number but I've never used it: (212) 563-9166

[Denver Ditdat]

Yes it's called retirement! I was a rush fan for about 2 weeks,...

Uh-huh. And you'll be a FReeper for about two hours if you stay on this track.

[Matchett-PI]

#9: "I know what he's gonna say before it comes out of his mouth."

Yeah .... but what's reeeeeeeeeeally bothering you .... is that you haven't been able to legitimately REFUTE any of it. Hahahahaha

Rush has never let losers get him down before, and he isn't gonna start now.

RUSH RULES!!! RUSH IS RIGHT!! Get over it.

[ctdonath2]

The speech-quality aspect might be handled by giving Rush a real-time spectrographic analyzer (trivial to set up on a computer) so he can see his voice patterns. If his speech deviates, he can see it and learn to make the appropriate adjustments.

Gonna tick off the PC socialists when not only is the most popular radio talk-show host a conservative, but profoundly disabled (for the job) and coping nicely anyway.

[Republican Wildcat]

Probably won't happen--Rush is interesting in having a successful radio show, so I doubt he will adhere to your suggestions.

[Henry F. Bowman]

Another technical option is to put the show on a greater delay, then use digital compression and editing to close up any lags and pauses.

One could even envision a voice synthesizer that converts Rush's new intonation with waveforms from the archives.

The great message that comes from this is that Rush is a man of IDEAS, and his listeners will remain loyal not for his ears or his voice, but for his views.

[painter]

I can understand that,not many can afford to wait that long on hold. You might try to get through if you do just tell them your situation and Rush might put you right on.

I really enjoy hearing experts in thier field "strutting" thier "stuff" on Rush.

[speakjustice]

"I know what he's gonna say before it comes out of his mouth."- chuchucharlie

...And anyone with an I.Q. at room temperature or above knows excactly what you & your pinko-commie-pagan friends are gonna say before it spouts out of your beak.

Rush is and has always been on the money about everything under the instant scope of partisan politics in the domestic Washington network. Unfortunately there exist global powers beyond the approach of his keen and witty attack. Barring that, he is a treasure to the country, especially those who have taken the domestic media on it's left-face value. He has served well as a wake up call to many sleepy Americans and an entertaining conservative to many more.

It is truly sad. I can already hear the minor enunciating slips, which is an anomoly for the Maha -Rushee. I'm comforted by all the available technology and I encourage all to collectively pray for Godspeed in the blood of Christ and the name of Jesus. Pray for he and his family. Pray for healing. Pray for the collective country.

-Speak