Voice Recognition Systems
Index
-
Voice Recognition
- Resources
- Products
- VXML
DescriptionVoice Recognition is a technology which allows a user to use
his/her voice as an input device. Voice recognition may be used to dictate text
into the computer or to give commands to the computer (such as opening
application programs, pulling down menus, or saving work).
Older voice
recognition applications require each word to be separated by a distinct space.
This allows the machine to determine where one word begins and the next stops.
These kinds of voice recognition applications are still used to navigate the
computer's system, and operate applications such as web browsers or spread
sheets.
Newer voice recognition applications allow a user to dictate
text fluently into the computer. These new applications can recognize speech at
up to 160 words per minute. Applications that allow continuous speech are
generally designed to recognize text and format it, rather then controlling the
computer system itself.
Voice recognition uses a neural net to "learn"
to recognize your voice. As you speak, the voice recognition software remembers
the way you say each word. This customization allows voice recognition, even
though everyone speaks with varying accents and inflection.
In addition
to learning how you pronounce words a voice recognition also uses grammatical
context and frequency of use to predict the word you wish to input. These
powerful statistical tools allow the software to cut down the massive language
data base before you even speak the next word.
While the accuracy of
voice recognition has improved over the past few years some users still
experience problems with accuracy either because of the way they speak or the
nature of their voice.
Index
Resources
- The
NatSpeak InfoPages by Joel Gould contains a wealth of information about
Dragon NaturallySpeaking, much of which you will find nowhere else. (Note
users using Screen Readers will have difficulty using this site)
- A Manual for
Implementing Dragon Dictate is a course on SNOW that teaches about the implementation
of voice recognition to assist students with learning disabilities.
- Computing Out Loud is a site intended
to help people using speech recognition software.
- The Voice Users mailing
list discusses the use of voice recognition. One can also view the list archive.
- Speaking to Write is an
information resource on voice recognition based at the The Education Development Centre.
- Speaking to Write (as referred to above) also runs a list serve on speech
recognition.
- Typing Injury FAQ Speech
Recognition page
Index
ProductsThis list of products is for reference purposes only and does
not reflect endorsement by the ATRC.
Products for Windows
- "DragonDictate and Naturally Speaking" from Dragon Systems.
Note: Dragon's new USB
compatible product that will ensure high quality sound. Note:
DeagonDictate may not be found on their website but is still available.
Note: On June 7, 2000 Dragon Systems was purchased by Learnout &
Hauspie.
- Freespeech by Philips
- Kolvox Lawtalk 2.0 for Windows from Kolvox
- Learout and Hauspie voice
recognition technology - Voice
Xpress.
- Metroplex Voice Computing, Inc
(MVC) has developed hands/mouse free programs which utilize Dragon Systems
speech recognition engines to dictate math.
- "Voice Pilot" for Windows by Voice
Pilot, Inc.
- "Via Voice" for Windows from IBM
Products for Macintosh
- Via Voice by IBM.
- Is a continuous speech product
- Uses its own dictation window
- Voice Power Pro is a
new voice recognition application developed in the UK.
- Apple's Speech
Recognition allows the user to control their operating system.
- Dragon Systems Inc. is planning to release continuous speech
products for the Macintosh.
- MacSpeech is presently working on
a voice recognition for Macintosh.
Digital Voice Recording Products
These products allow a user to dictate text which can be translated at a
later date by a voice recognition system.
- "Dragon
NaturallyMobile"
- The
Olympus D1000 digital recorder
This product works with IBM's Via
Voice.
- Norcom
Dictation Systems
This line of products use minicassettes and norcom
makes a hardware transcriber.
- The
Sony MZ-R55
This product is not associated with any voice recognition
product.
- Voice It Products
These products
are designed to work with Dragon systems Naturally Speaking.
Index
VXML
VXML is to be the standard with which
voice applications are developed on the internet. It will created by combining
several mark up languages that already exist which are based on the XML standard.
- JSML
(Java Speech Markup Language) by SUN
Microsystems
- SML (Speech Markup
Language) by IBM
- VoxML by Motorola
Index
|