A Keyboard-less Computer Era at Gallaudet University?

In about 5 years perhaps that just might happen according to Bill Gates as a start when computer keyboards start to phase out in favor of speech interfacing:

“In five years, Microsoft expects more Internet searches to be done through speech than through typing on a keyboard” Gates also stated that Microsoft is following up its support of UC but will use both speech and text interfaces for information access and search technologies."

Now, can you imagine Gallaudet students sitting in front of their computers at one of Gallaudet University's computer rooms 10 years down the road with nary a keyboard in sight trying to talk to a computer by asking it to look up a particular subject while doing an internet search for a homework assignment? Don't worry, even today hearing people have trouble with their OnStar computer recognition software on the simple task of saying a phone number for the car's computer to dial out. Though it's too bad that Gallaudet University does not seem to have an interest in Christian Vogler's work on his years of work on computer ASL recognition while he was at Gallaudet University. Will Gallaudet University sit around hoping ASL-recognition technology will come to them? Or will Gallaudet University be the catalyst to encourage and support on the development of ASL recognition software on their own campus instead? Five years away isn't that far off before things begin to change.


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