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.

[Timesink]

Rush's worry isn't dealing with callers. I think it's obvious he's already found a way to handle that: Hiring a closed-captioner to type out the callers' statements in real time.

What Rush has to worry about is his voice. When you go deaf, your brain loses its ability to monitor your voice and make sure you move your mouth the right way to make the right sounds. Eventually, you end up talking just like someone who was born deaf, which is to say in that mouth-full-of-marbles way that no radio listener would put up with for a second if they could even understand you, which most could not. Look how much his voice had changed already, and he's not even totally deaf yet.

Hopefully, the cochlear implant will take care of that, if he isn't lucky enough to get his normal hearing back. But if it doesn't, then this is sadly the beginning of the end of his radio show.

[onyx]

What you stated is true, but we're praying for a miracle.

I do know two completely deaf people whose speech is impeccable. I have every reason to think that Rush will manage to maintain his enunciation also.

[onyx]

I forgot to add that both persons use mirrors when speaking aloud.

[Keith in Iowa]

I bet they are using a court-reporter in the sturdio who listens to the callers and Rush sees a real-time text of what they are saying...

[Tony in Hawaii]

It ain't neccesarily so. My father lost his hearing at age 19, and had no trouble speaking even 55 years later.

[airedale]

I suppose they could also some of the technology they use in recording studios and other places that would give him visual clues to his tone, volume etc. That would include things like a wave form of the voice as well as displays of the volumes of the various octaves and total volume. It's not perfect but it would give him with training part of the feedback that the hearing have automatically. He’d have to work with a voice coach for a while before it really started to help and the voice coach probably would have to be there during each segment of the show to go over each segment during the breaks and then the whole show afterwards on a daily baisis. Rush is a perfectionist and a hard worker so something like that would be well within his capability. It would also help him when he’s not on the show.

He's also going to have to lean sign language as well as to read lips.

[goldstategop]

I am extremely hard of hearing and my voice is impeccable and I can follow lips. As bad as it sounds people can adjust to anything given enough time to do it in. And Rush will bounce back from this --- he's always been an incorrigible optimist and now he's also a leading example to millions of deaf and hard of hearing Americans that if he can do it so can they. There's always a silver lining in a dark cloud and I'm sure we'll be discovering Rush talk about how people can make others forget they even have a handicap in the weeks and months to come. And Rush is so talented at what he does people will forgive the fact he's not perfect since he works hard at what he does and it shows.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

How many times have you been banned from Free Republic? Just wondering.....

[Caipirabob]

Rush saw me through some difficult times, I didn't always see eye to eye with him, but that's like in any family. I pray for his health and hope that he'll make whatever the best decision is for him and his family.

The man's served his time. Whatever he does at this point, he will always be a legend among conservatives.

All the best, Rush!

[AlaninSA]

Rush, you're the one who really converted me to conservatism. You've been a teacher and an entertainer who's been a great influence on the nation.

Don't worry, Rush. There are ways to correct this hearing loss. And, if they don't work, you're a great writer who's certain to find a way to keep bringing your message in the print media.

God Bless you, Rush.

[E.G.C.]

Churchcharlie, member since October 9, 2001.

As one of the over 20 million Rush Limbaugh dittoheads, I must tell that the posts about Rush from his detractors both on FR and the Democrat message boards wishing him misfortune are in very poor taste. This is why you're seeing more and more Democrats switching to Republican and more people registering Republican and also why you're seeing more and more people selling their T.V. sets as these same people have been quick to defend CNN and the Big Three networks for obvious reasons.

It's quite obvious by the responses from these people to these recent developments concerning that they do not mean well at all for this country. They would like to see this country end up like China which their party in power and their detractors thrown into internment camps. Rush has been blowing the whistle on them for the last 13 years and they know it and that's why you're seeing all these distastful posts on this and other message boards.

Rush Limbaugh is a very valuable part of this country and the conservative cause. Rush, our prayers are with you. And to all you Rush detractors with your hateful and distastful posts, please take them somewhere else. We do not want them here on FR.
Regards.

[IceGirl2]

You are so right! People who wish ill to any American who has done so much for his country are just plain bad people. It is not politics to wish someone ill--like they did Newt or Reagan or others. Rush is a man who truly loves this country and has given us so much. I want him to be there to keep a next generation of listeners aware of the dangers of people not using their minds. Reminding people to look beyond the obvious. Many people might have been taken in (and too many were) by Clinton's facade. The smile, the tears. Rush said STOP! Look at the man's eyes. Listen to his carefully worded responses.

I know that until I started listening to Rush I was lazy. I subscribed to Time and Newsweek, watched Nightline, and read Safire. I thought I was doing a great job of keeping aware of important events. It was not until Rush that I started questioning the words of the politicians and the press. It was only after I started listening to Rush that I learned how very lazy I had been mentally. God Bless Rush

[LoneGOPinCT]

Well said guys/gals. I was one of the sheeple until I started listening to Rush while at college in the early 90's and actually saw that there was another side to every story. Of course, I was a lazy, uninterested teenager who was just starting to care about what was going on in the world. Rush helped foster my interest in politics and social issues. I'm sure one way or another he will find a way though this ordeal, restored hearing or not.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Rush, Marta, and family. It has to be a tough thing to be suddenly confronted with.

[lute]

How many times have you been banned from Free Republic? Just wondering.....

You mean this person does not have a right to an opinion? Just wondering . . .

[Cosmo]

Ok, Karnak. Shoo!!

[lute]

Rush has told us many many times that he was an entertainer.

Nothing more and nothing less!

And a good one at THAT.

[E.G.C.]

Sir, this fella's comment was in very poor taste and whether you want to believe it or not, Rush's point of view is the majority point of view and anybody that says otherwise is a liar, pure and simple. No conservative I know of has ever wished anyone ill. We do not need people of this kind here on FR.

[AngrySpud]

LOL! Do you realize you're the equivalent of a "seminar caller"?

BTW, on a scale of 1 to 10, "left" to "right", Rush is only an 8.