Everywhere I look, the Marriott Marquis is crawling with Speech-Heads: all the biggest and brightest from the World of Speech Technology are gathering in New York City for SpeechTEK 2009.

My Speech Brother Eric B. and I are running around shaking hands, passing out business cards, kissing babies and covering All The Speech News That’s Fit To Print.

For the latest coverage, check out Speech Technology Magazine’s online News Features.  And don’t forget about the SpeechTech Twitter Feed.

My Speech Brother Eric B. says: If you haven’t registered yet, DO IT today!

Nuance has announced the results of its “I Speak Dragon” contest, Speech Heads—a contest aimed at asking Dragon users to tell the company how the software has successfully impacted their lives. The awards were given in five categories: educational, personal, social, professional, and legal.

The winners Mike Fejes, a public school teacher; Bob Bieber, a sufferer of rheumatoid arthritis; Ronald W. Banks a psychologist; Shirley Bowman, an alternate media specialist; and attorney Judy Chorlog don’t, as you can plainly see, include me or my brother Adam B.

Adam has taken it particularly hard. He is totally unresponsive to our pleas. He’s just repeatedly slamming his head into the desk.

A Nuance spokesperson has tried to soothe us by telling us that there were nearly 1,000 entries this year from across the company’s customer base, but Adam is inconsolable.

“How could I have made better, more life changing, more positive. use of Dragon? Just tell me! How?” he rages at no one in particular. Our editor has been all choked up himself. He can’t even meet Adam’s eyes when he walks past our desks on his way to the water cooler.

To find out how Adam could have used Dragon better himself, check out the winners from Nuance.

SpeechTEK 2009 is almost here, Speech-Heads, and my Speech Brother Eric B. and I are literally chomping at the bit.

If you haven’t registered yet, DO IT! What are you waiting for.  Carpe Diem!

As a Great Speech-Head once said: “In some circles, SpeechTEK is a far, far greater thing than the Superbowl, the Kentucky Derby and the Oakland Roller Derby all rolled into one.”

Hey Speech-Heads,

I know with SpeechTEK 2009 (a.k.a. The Big Dance) fast approaching, most of you aren’t yet looking ahead to 2010.

But here at Speech Tech HQ, my Speech Brother Eric B. and I are doing just that.  Last night, we met up for a Mind Showering Session in an effort to put together The Speech Technology Editorial Calendar for 2010.  And while we tossed out a lot of great story ideas, WE ALWAYS  NEED MORE!

And that’s where YOU come in, Speech-Heads: What do you think the magazine should cover in 2010?  What stories do you want to see written, what hot topics need examination, what did we miss this year, what do you want to know?

Eric B. and I are now accepting suggestions, comments, thoughts, proposals, and ideas for the 2010 Ed. Cal.  So, feel free to drop us a line: aboretz@infotoday.com and/or ebarkin@infotoday.com.

Lo’ Speech Heads! From high atop Mount Apple, the sentence was handed down. Today, Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO, will have to find a seat outside Apple’s boardroom. Schmidt had served on the board for three years. In a statement from Apple, Steve Jobs noted Schmidt’s contributions and said that the departure was mutual.

“Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest,” Jobs said.

There may be more to the story than just that, Speech Heads. Schmidt’s departure follows a murmur of rumors that the FTC was investigating whether his position on the Apple board would constitute a violation of anti-trust laws. It also follows Apple rejection of Google Voice from the App Store—meow!—which, according to Techcrunch, is being looked at by the FCC. Apparently, Apple, Google, and AT&T were all given letters of inquiry on Friday asking about the decision. Citing pending proceedings regarding wireless access and handset exclusivity the FCC wants to know what role AT&T plays in deciding what makes it into the App Store.

No clue what the answer is, but by brother Adam B. says it’s bound to be juicy!