dictatesS

DictatesS is a proposed specification for dictation-oriented data exchange that seeks to standardize the representation of dictated text, embedded commands, and formatting signals. The project envisions a structured model in which each document comprises utterances, phrases, and commands, all annotated with timing, speaker identity, and confidence information.

Key components include a hierarchical document model (Document, Utterance, Phrase), a Command layer for stylistic or control actions (erase, insert, select, punctuation), and a Formatting layer for punctuation, capitalization, and layout signals. The semantics layer distinguishes content text from executable commands, enabling downstream editors or assistants to interpret intent and apply changes consistently across platforms.

Serializations are designed to be language-agnostic and machine-readable, typically expressed in JSON-like schemas or XML, with optional JSON-LD context for linked data. The spec supports integration with existing speech-to-text engines and editors, providing hooks for confidence scores and provenance metadata.

Potential applications include enterprise transcription workflows, live captioning, voice-enabled document editing, and accessibility tools. Benefits include improved interoperability among tools, more accurate post-editing, and easier alignment of transcripts with multimedia. By separating content from control signals, dictation systems can be more adaptable to multi-language environments and diverse workflow needs.

Adoption challenges include the complexity of natural language and voice command interpretation, performance overhead, privacy considerations, and the need for consensus among vendors. As a developing concept, dictatesS aims to balance expressiveness with interoperability to support a range of dictation use cases.

See also: speech recognition, transcription standards, natural language processing, voice user interfaces.