We used purpose made floor pedals on the sociology research office to control a transcription software. It allowed precise control over a voice recording so any of us lowly students could quickly transcribe interviews and focus groups without removing the hands from the home row of the keyboard. It was already 30 years old technology by the time I got to college. It was apparently first invented for work with actual tape players.

I work at a MSP with several law firms and several medical companies along with other types. Multiple lawyers and a few doctors we've worked with had foot pedals and something like Dragon Naturally Speaking doing dictation for them. With the use of VDIs this was sometimes a pin because of USB redirection and all, but they absolutely needed to have it working.