Speech recognition manufacturers talk about how wonderful their programs are in many applications.

Manufacturers brag about how speech recognition programs provide accessibility options for visually-impaired individuals who might not otherwise be able to use computers.

The only special equipment that people need to use speech recognition programs is: a computer, the software itself and a good microphone.

Speech recognition microphones vary from traditional computer microphones, in that they are a higher-quality device designed to separate voice from background noise.

High-quality microphones are supposed to enhance the effectiveness of speech recognition programs.

The theory is that better sound quality improves accuracy for speech recognition software.

While special speech recognition microphones may, in fact, offer better accuracy for consumer software programs, they're not necessary for another brand of speech recognition application.

The government utilizes speech recognition programs to track people and listen in to conversations, and it can do it using practically any microphone.

In fact, one common method that the government uses to monitor people through speech recognition programs is through cell phone use; no special equipment required at all.

GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE SPIES ON PHONE CALLS

SPEECH RECOGNITION HAS MANY APPLICATIONS

The speech recognition applications that you hear about for consumer use are mild and innocuous. Consumers use speech recognition to take dictation. People with visual-impairments can use speech recognition software to operate a computer.

Big corporations use speech recognition programs to run corporate call centers, and avoid having to ever speak to potential customers as they're lost in an endless maze of phone menus.

Manufacturers even advocate speech recognition software as a security solution, although it's a poor option for security. Speech recognition security programs are easily broken, and expose people to a loss of sensitive personal data.

What no-one talks about is how the government uses speech recognition technology to track individual citizens, record conversations and archive data to a central government database.

Yes. That's right. The government uses speech recognition technology to spy on cell phone calls, landline phone calls; even microphones in public places or microphones connected to private computers. Speech recognition microphones are unnecessary for government applications.

THE GOVERNMENT USES SPEECH RECOGNITION AGAINST CITIZENS

The government uses speech recognition programs in two ways: to scan for certain keywords in conversations, and to listen for individual voices. In the first instance, any case where people say one of many targeted keywords is red-flagged for government follow up.

Popular keywords include president, bomb, assassinate, and a number of other politically-charged words. If speech recognition programs detect any of these keywords in conversation, the government red-flags the communications for investigation and potential questioning.

The government also uses speech recognition programs to track down individuals. This doesn't require any special speech recognition microphones at all. If the government detects a target individual speaking anywhere within range, including on phone calls, it zones in and works to pinpoint location.

This is one popular method that the government uses to locate fugitives, and it's also a big infringement against civil liberties. Unfortunately, the government has been walking all over civil liberties for so long that people don't even think to question it anymore.

After all - it's all in the name of security.