16. The method of claim 10 wherein the speech information request comprises previously transcribed formatted spoken text.
10. A method of providing transcribed spoken text among users, the method comprising: generating a speech information request using a user interface device capable of bi-directional communication with the system transaction manager and supporting dictation applications including prompts to direct user dictation in response to user system protocol commands and system transaction manager commands, the user interface being in bi-directional communication with the systems transaction manager wherein the speech information request is comprised of spoken text obtained through a first user legacy protocol; transmitting the speech information request to a speech recognition and/or transcription engine via a Systems Transaction Manager, the Systems Transaction Manager using a uniform system protocol; generating a response to the speech information request using the speech recognition and/or transcription engine, the response comprised of a transcription sending the response to a user via the system transaction manager; and providing the user with a transcription of the spoken text that is compatible with a second user legacy protocol that is different than the first legacy protocol; wherein the transmitting step and the sending step includes translating between the first user legacy protocol and the uniform system protocol and between the second user legacy protocol and the uniform system protocol, respectively.