Dictomail is not a computer

Mystery solved! I'm now convinced that Dictomail is a human and not some great new telephony-based dictation system: Here's the text I just entered (enunciated quickly, but clearly):

 Guido, Its me, Feliciano. I stuffed the body in the trunk of a maroon Olds parked at One Rockefeller Way, Suite 10, Brooklyn 10210. The password is Greece, buttons, 1414, Gilligan, Sentinel. Ciao.

Within minutes, I got this result:

ANI:425882808x GUETTO IT'S ME FALESANO I STUFFED A BODY IN A TRUNK OF A MARRON OLDS PARKED AT ROCAFELLER WAY SUITE TEN BROOKLYN 10210. THE PASSWORD IS GREASE BUTTONS 1414 GILLGAN SETNAL. CHOW.,

Note:

  • Numerous spelling mistakes ("Marron", "Rockafeller", "Setnal", "Chow."). No ASR system would have those mispellings in its dictionary.
  • Word substitution ("a trunk" instead of "the trunk") suspiciously consistent with a non-native speaker as transcriber. With a little more help from some linguist friends I bet I could even identify the transcriber's native language.
  • Word deletion (no "One" in front of Rockefeller).
  • What's with all-caps? A computer can do capitalization with no effort, so why the hokey all-caps unless it's easier for the transcriber.
Also, after being down all weekend, they appear to be blocking any of us at Microsoft from accessing their site. Sorry guys!
Published 02 February 05 04:14 by sprague

Comments

# fred shafrazian said on February 13, 2005 2:48 AM:
i dont thing so .that is not a person but a great person beyond a wounderfull program
# Sprague WebLog said on August 15, 2005 11:01 PM:
Remember my investigations on Dictomail, the transcription service claiming to be automated, but which...
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