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Increased demands on catalogers to increase productivity, while maintaining quality and accuracy, can be difficult to meet, and may even be hazardous to their health. OCLC Passport for Windows (PFW) and CatME provide some ability to create macros and shortcuts to speed cataloging activities, but do not solve the problems created by long work sessions. Voice recognition software, which works with most applications, is an effective way to input commands and data accurately into a computer. The software can be customized to provide single word input of complex commands, allowing the cataloger to concentrate more on the content of their records, rather than the input. This type of software is helpful not only to workers with repetitive strain injury (RSI) or physical disabilities, but also to anyone requiring accurate input during extended work sessions. This article explains how the software works, offers examples, and provides tips on working with using voice recognition.

The increasing power of PCs, in particular, the advances in Pentium III and the AMD‐K6 with 3DNow technology have boosted speech recognition. Decades of research and development have yielded impressive results. The new generation of speech recognition software programs turns spoken phrases, paragraphs, and punctuation in to text at a conversational pace. This article reviews advantages and disadvantages of these programs.

The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the difficulties encountered in the implementation of a voice picking system at a large multinational company of the tractor industrial segment, outlining a comparison related to the main critical factors concerning the system implementation at a Brazilian and a USA plant.

The methodology utilised was qualitative and exploratory conducted through case studies in the two plants of the multinational company. The main data were collected through interviews with key managers directly involved in the project of voice picking system implementation.

The results indicate that the picking processes in the two plants were similar, since both were designed for the production line and conducted using bar-code readers and paper lists. Nevertheless, the internal warehousing process in the USA was more mature and computerised, whereas the Brazilian process still had opportunity for improvement, such as, the visual storage process, where the operator was responsible for locating an empty position.

Since this research is an exploratory case study, its results cannot be generalised.

The paper provides relevant practical information and experiences to managers interested in implementing voice picking systems, as well as interested in improving the accuracy and productivity of logistics processes within warehouses.

The voice picking systems are more widespread in the USA than in Brazil, and therefore, companies around the world can use this studied case to better understand about the voice picking systems implementation process in both emerging and mature marketplaces.

A variety of brain pathologies can result in difficulties performing complex behavioural sequences. Assistive technology for cognition (ATC) attempts support of complex sequences with the aim of reducing disability. Traditional ATCs are cognitively demanding to use and thus have had poor uptake. A more intuitive interface may allow ATCs to reach their potential. Insights from psychological science may be useful to technologists in this area. We propose that an auditory‐verbal interface is more intuitive than a visual interface and reduces cognitive demands on users. Two experiments demonstrate a novel ATC, the General User Interface for Disorders of Execution (GUIDE). GUIDE is novel because it simulates normal conversational prompting to support task performance. GUIDE provides verbal prompts and questions and voice recognition allows the user to interact with the GUIDE. Research with non‐cognitively impaired participants and a single participant experiment involving a person with vascular dementia provide support for using interactive auditory‐verbal interfaces. Suggestions for the future development of auditory‐verbal interfaces are discussed.

Patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) must be transferred between one hospital, seven miles away to a trust, for access to the V/Q scanner. The aim of this audit was to examine delays in obtaining scans and delays in same day reporting.

The methodology used the Same Working Day guidelines (National Diagnostic Imaging board (UK); the target was 90 per cent. The indicators were: time from request to scan attendance; time from scan to typed, accessible report. Data from 141 inpatient V/Q scans between March 2009 and 2010 were collected retrospectively. In the re‐audit 89 V/Q scans for the period of June 2010 to May 2011 were collected retrospectively.

In the first round there were 31 scans from EGH and 110 from StH. Overall 64 per cent of scans were reported on the same day. There was a significant delay in scanning EGH patients due to transportation. The introduction of voice recognition software was aimed at reducing the time between dictation and reports being available for viewing. CT Pulmonary Angiograms (CTPA) would be utilised more at EGH as it was available on site. In the second round there were 62 scans at STH, 27 at EGH. Overall, 84 per cent scans were reported on the same working day. This was a statistically significant improvement (p=0.001). Only 17 per cent of scans were reported after 12 hours.

Speech recognition software should allow a more efficient method of diagnosing and reporting pulmonary embolism, which in turn assists in patient management.

Aims to demonstrate how robot technology, machine vision, voice recognition and artificial intelligence can be applied to creating an automated surgeon's assistant that is functional and cost‐effective.

Presents the development process that led to the construction of the Penelope Surgical Instrument Server (SIS), outlines the mechanical design of the robot, describes the control strategy and reports on the first real live implementation in an operating room. Machine vision, voice recognition and artificial intelligence are combined to create a robot assistant that is able to anticipate a specific surgeon's needs for a specific surgical procedure.

Finds that a robot can manage an array of surgical instruments and present the right one to the surgeon at the right time.

A robot for assisting a surgeon can relieve support staff in hospital operating rooms of repetitive tasks and thereby improve patient care.

Introduces the concept of a robot for assisting surgeons in operating rooms and freeing up scarce financial and human resources to provide for better nursing coverage in patient care areas.

Focuses on current and near‐term efforts to integrate Web browsing, computing, e‐mail, video telephony and voice telephony in a hand‐held device. Concludes with observations about the probable product/markets resulting from integration. Concludes the Far East seems to be the potential market for smart phones.

Security is becoming an increasingly more important concern both at the desktop level and at the network level. This article discusses several approaches to authenticating individuals through the use of biometric devices. While libraries might not implement such devices, they may appear in the near future of desktop computing, particularly for access to institutional computers or for access to sensitive information. Other approaches to computer security focus on protecting the contents of electronic transmissions and verification of individual users. After a brief overview of encryption technologies, the article examines public‐key cryptography which is getting a lot of attention in the business world in what is called public key infrastructure. It also examines other efforts, such as IBM’s Cryptolope, the Secure Sockets Layer of Web browsers, and Digital Certificates and Signatures. Secure electronic transmissions are an important condition for conducting business on the Net. These business transactions are not limited to purchase orders, invoices, and contracts. This could become an important tool for information vendors and publishers to control access to the electronic resources they license. As license negotiators and contract administrators, librarians need to be aware of what is happening in these new technologies and the impact that will have on their operations.

The purpose of this paper is to enable busy health care professionals to gain a quick overview of the current articles in CGIJ.

The paper takes the form of a review.

Clinical governance continues to be an important issue in contemporary healthcare and the concept is being applied to many different facets of healthcare provision.

The papers in the issue recommend changes to: knowledge sharing, risk management, defining low value/high value treatments, use of voice recognition software and clinical supervision.

Knowledge sharing and considering patient quality of life (QOL) rather than basing treatment decisions on cost alone are considered.

The paper provides an overview of current subjects.