Improving how machines listen

These patterns are wirelessly sent to rooms full of whirring, blinking supercomputers that translate them into words, meanings and actions. Behind this technology are decades of artificial intelligence research and millions of lines of computer code. We stand on the shoulders of giants when we say, Play Beethoven's Fifth, and our device responds with music to our ears: "da-da-da DUM," the opening of the composer's most famous symphony. Today, Stanford Medicine researchers are exploring ways to use intelligent listening technologies, natural language processing, machine learning and data mining to deliver better, more efficient health care. Here are a few of these projects.