A voice response system is a computer system that responds to voice commands, rather than input from a keystroke or a mouse. Uses for this kind of system range from convenience to necessity to security.

People who are visually or otherwise physically impaired are prime candidates for a voice response system. Because they cannot see or otherwise access a keyboard or mouse, they have no way to access a computer without a voice response system, unless they want to depend entirely on other people. Being able literally to tell a computer what to do may be a revelation for someone who ordinarily has little hope of controlling a computer.

A voice response system would also come in handy for someone who is not physically impaired. With a voice response system, you wouldn't need to be very close to your computer in order to access it or give it commands. As long as you are in earshot of the PC, it can use its voice response system to accept voice commands from you in the same way that it traditionally accepts keystroke and mouse commands.

Another prime use of voice response systems is for record keeping. Certain software protocols can turn data entry into voice-activated data entry, allowing you to enter data without using your hands. Since you are relying on the computer to interpret your voice commands, you run a certain amount of risk of confusion based on your ability to speak clearly. This can be more than made up for, however, by the computer's inability to make a typing mistake, unlike humans.

Your probably interact with voice response systems in your daily life more than you know. Every time you dial a bank or a catalog company and the first thing you hear is an electronic voice, you are accessing a voice response system. Based on what you say, your requests are transmitted by the central computer into specific actions.

In certain cases, your entire phone experience might take place via a voice response system. One drawback of this kind of experience is that it does not allow for responses outside the parameters programmed into the software. Ask a question that is not on the approved list, and you may not get the answer you want.

Financial institutions and other companies that want to keep money or information from prying eyes and hands will use a voice response system to restrict access to that money or information. Such voice response systems are programmed to respond only to certain passwords or voice patterns.

Now more than ever, you can easily use your voice to activate and run software programs. Certain applications are available now for voice response systems to run basic household functions, such as turning lights on and off or opening and closing a garage door. The futuristic movies that portray characters using voice commands to do nearly everything might be closer to reality than you think.