Speech Recognition Technology Speech recognition technology is a computer's ability to understand human language, formulate speech into text, and even develop responses to questions. Speech recognition first appeared during the 1970's, when early applications for its use first became known. Since then, companies have been competing to develop the most accurate and sophisticated version of speech recognition technology. Consumers have long fantasized about the day that they could have a conversation with their computers. Until recently, they have been extremely disappointed, because the software requires users to pause between every word, and the accuracy rate floats around