Voice Recognition
Voice input may be used as a form of data entry. Although voice recognition technology is not advanced enough for unlimited vocabulary anmd speech pattern variation, ignificant function and products do exist and are being used.
ABLE-2 Product Family
The ABLE-2 Product Family supports computer users with special needs in a systematic program in four parts: needs assessment, workstation family, focused training, life cycle support. Needs assessment focuses on vision-impaired blind, hearing-impaired/deaf and neuromuscular impairment or para quadriplegic. Computer users with visual impairments are provided with optical character readers, voice synthesizers, screen readers, tactile output displays and Braille devices. The workstation family may be configured with voice input, mouse, foot pedal, joystick and headpointer.
ACS Medicom Computer System
The ACS Medicom system for communication, environmental control and computer access is based on two IBM Pcs connected as a parallel system, allowing access to all IBM PC software. Two input systems are provided: voice and switch body movement. Voice input allows the user to create vocabularies; switch body movement output allows the user to enter data with a single switch, multiple switches or a joystick. A voice output option reads the screen via a speech synthesizer. With the system, the user may run standard software, control various appliances with BSR X-10 control modules, dial and talk on the phone or communicate via computer networks. The system may be used for wheelchair and robotics control. Expansion options are available.
BUG Voice Command System
BUG is a speech recognizer for use with DOS based applications running on IBM PC/XT AT and compatible systems. It works by recognizing a spoken command and entering keystrokes just as if they had been entered from the keyboard. Recognition is performed real-time by a dedicated 25 MHz microcomputer on an expansion card that fits in a 8 or 16 bit slot. BUG is transparent and compatible with CAD workstation peripherals. A voice operated microphone turns system on/off.
Butler-in-a-box
Butler-In-a-box is a voice-activated environmental control system with speech output. The user trains the Butler to recognize the user’s voice. Commands activate appliances: lights, TV, stereo, etc. Appliances may be set to turn on or off and are activated remotely using X-10 remote control modules. A telephone allows the user to remote-dial, answer and speak on the phone. Butler-In-A-Box may be programmed to respond vocally and to detect the presence of intruders and request their identity. The device acts as a voice input unit for the IBM-PC. Various appliance control units (lamp control, thermostat control, etc.) are available.
CINTEX
CINTEX allows computer input by eyebrow switch, sip-n-puff switch, joystick or other contact switches. It offers functions for word processing and word prediction, printing, appliance and environmental control, telephone support, games, music composition and calculator use. A speech output and voice input function recognize repeated sounds. The word processor contains anticipatory arrays providing word prediction. Its environmental controller operates up to 256 household devices. Telephone support includes automatic dialing, switch to speaker phone, a note-taking function, touch or pulse dialing and easy touch-tone access. The word processor accepts and stores musical notes for music composition. The system provides musical playback without additional hardware. Full keyboard support is provided for those using mouthsticks or head pointer.
Dragon Dictate
Dragon Dictate is a complete speech recognition system with phonetic models built for 30,000 words to allow the user to run a computer by voice - creating memo, reports, any free text by speaking. It adapts to your voice, learning how you say words and predicting how you will say similar words (usually at 35 words per minute). It requires an IBM PS/2 286 or compatible running MS-DOS and 5 1/4 disk-drive.
IBM Voice Type
IBM Voice Type, a multimedia speech recognition product, allows a person to use DOS 5.0, word-processing, database, and spreadsheet applications simply by dictation a word or command. Voice Type provides an accessible workstation that may be used by people who can’t easily use a keyboard or who can only use the keyboard in a limited way. An 80,000 word dictionary assists in word prediction.
IntroVoice III
IntroVoice III is a combination keyboard and voice input system for an IBM PC, AT and ST. The keyboard offers separate numeric and cursor keypads, top-row function keys, and a voice on/off key. The system recognizes utterances of up to 1.25 seconds in length and programs a particular character string (1 to 76 characters long) for each trained utterance spoken into the microphone. Software includes a program to create and store vocabulary, one to load an applications program and its vocabulary by voice, and one with pre-programmed vocabularies for some applications. The portable system comes with microphone, manual, and software.
IntroVoice V
The IntroVoice V voice input system for the IBM PC, XT/AT, and PS/2 Model 30 may be trained to recognize certain spoken utterances (up to 1.25) seconds long); when the user speaks a trained utterance into the system’s microphone, the programmed string of characters is sent to the computer as if it were input from the keyboard. Sets of trained utterances may be created; the vocabularies can contain up to 500 utterances. The number of characters triggered by each utterance depends on memory; the maximum number of characters is 1,0000. The microphone can be turned on and off by voice command. Software includes a program to assist the user in creating trained utterances may be created; the vocabularies can contain up to 500 utterances. The number of characters triggered by each utterance depends on memory; the maximum number of characters is 1,0000. The microphone can be turned on and off by voice command. Software includes a program to assist the user in creating vocabularies, as well as one with predetermined vocabularies for certain popular applications. The system includes a PC board, microphone, manual, and software; it hooks up to DECTalk or Speech Plus for output for the blind to say and hear voice input and output.
IntroVoice VI
IntroVoice VI is a complete voice input/output system for the IBM PC, XT, and AT. The compact half-size circuit board combines voice recognition of 500 words with 98 percent accuracy and also provides unlimited text-to-speech synthesis. IntroVoice listens to commands and responds by sending keystrokes to the computer and text to the synthesizer for audio output verification and prompting. Both voice input and output can be used with any IBM application program, with no modification to software. Voice recognition and synthesis character strings are defined by the Voice Utility Program.
Kurzweil Voiceworks (KVW)
The Kurzwiel Voiceworks (KVW) is a speech recognition system for creating written text and documents. With its 20,000 word vocabulary and advanced word processing features, the KVW can display, edit, process, store and print documents by having the user speak the commands.
Pronounce
Pronounce is a voice input system for the IBM PC consisting of a microphone, a circuit card and special software. Pronounce learns a word or phrase after being exposed to it once. The user defines the utterances stored as commands for any standard software. Up to 128 utterances of 0.5 to 2 seconds duration can be stored in a single vocabulary, and the number of vocabularies possible is limited only by available memory of the computer. Utterances of several words can also be interlinked. Commands triggered may be up to 255 keystrokes long. Pronounce requires 68K of RAM and works with most MS-DOS and PC-DOS software. Contact the manufacturer regarding compatibility of software.
PTVC-756 (Portable Transaction Voice Computer)
PTVC, a Portable Voice Data Logger, is a self-contained battery-powered data entry device consisting of a Telxon Portable Transacton Computer with built-in Intro Voice recognition/synthesis unit. This hand-held microcomputer with Voice I/O collects and delivers information; it is ideal for warehouse or in-plant applications such as onsite data collection and inventory management, meter reading, real estate estimation, shipping/receiving and material handling.,
R/S H Series Wireless Link
The R/S II Series Wireless Link system transmits speech from a remote location to the voice input module of a computer. The user speaks into a microphone connected to a portable transmitter sending the signal via radio wave to a receiver unit connected to a computer’s voice input module. The R/S II can be equipped with input circuitry to accept audio signals sent back from the computer. The Series does not actually provide input to a computer, but transmits audio to an existing voice input module hooked up to a computer. An IBM PC type expansion board version of the base radio is available. Cost includes headset, housing for 10-hour duty cycle, battery pack, charger, base radio and interconnect cable to recognizer.
Speech Recognition Board
Connect speech recognition board.
VocaLink Series 4000
VocaLink Series 4000 is a voice recognition system that provides voice input to a computer. The user trains the system to recognize certain spoken utterances (1 to 2 seconds long) and to associate each one with a character or string of characters that can be sent to a computer as input. The Series 4000 will accept continuous speech; unnatural pauses between words are not necessary. Up to 100 words or phrases may be stored in memory, and vocabularies for different users or different applications may be stored on cartridges and loaded when needed. Software is provided to train the user. The VocaLink Series 4000 is an external unit. The system sends ASCII characters as input to the computer via an RS-232 interface. A headset with microphone is provided. A more extensive software package for vocabulary management, the Voice Planner, is also available (extra).
VocaLink Speech Recognition Board (SRB-LC II)
The VocaLink Speech Recognition Board (SRB-LC II), a voice recognition voice response device for the IBM PC and compatibles, recognizes the user’s voice pattern for each word or command used. Once trained, the device recognizes vocabulary with 99 percent accuracy. It does not occupy any of the computer’s available memory while operating. The keyboard remains active while the CSRB is in use. Software is provided to help create vocabularies. Starter vocabularies are provided for some popular applications programs. It provides voice digitization, recording playback and telephone I/O.
Voice Card
Voice Card is a plug-in circuit card for entering data and commands by voice. Utterances of more than one word can be recognized when spoken continuously (without pauses). The card stores up to 300 continuous voice templates and up to 425 isolated (one-word) voice templates. Additional templates may be stored; the keyboard continues to operate while the Voice Card is engaged. The Voice Card can digitize, store and play back speech, so pre-recorded speech output can be added to programs with the card. Input and output for Voice card can be transmit via telephone. Several software options are available, including VoiceKey (to allow a single utterance to trigger a sequence of up to 80 characters) and a Software Development Toolkit )to allow development of various custom supplications, including telephone answering and dialing). Software is extra and requires an extra disk drive and 256K RAM.
Voice Command
Voice Command is a voice-controlled workstation designed for use by persons who are quadriplegic or with upper body restrictions. The computer-based, robotic arm workstation allows persons to become more productive and self-sufficient. Voice Command features a programmable robotic arm and a telephone management system. The systems operate most MS/DOS software.
Voice Communications Option
The IBM PC Voice Communications Option allows for voice recognition, speech synthesis, variable speed data communication through emulation, message recording/playback, phone system management and line monitoring. It adds specialized processing capability to emulate a modem, record and play back voice (audio), recognize voice commands, convert text to speech and recognize and issue telephony signals for the IBM PC, XT and AT.
Voice Interactive Computing
TheVoice Interactive Computer allows the user to run popular business and educational programs with voice input and to communicate using an optional modem, voice output and emulator systems. It aids the user in operating computer functions such as print, copy, type and format. Voice patterns are stored and used for input as keyed data. The voice input system adapts to vocal changes over time, reducing the need to retrain. Voice variation as a result of physical disability is compensated by internal programming, tolerance and vocabulary enhancement. Voice output options include most synthesizers and review programs. Adaptive microphone designs include a headset, desk mount, throat mount and wireless design.
Voice Master Key
Voice Master Key is a desktop utility allowing the user to add voice commands to existing programs. It turns any series of keystroke entries into macros commanded by voice. The user may say “zoom” or “magnify” instead of moving a mouse and may perform functions by voice: “italic” or “check spelling” or “print”. It operates with most business programs, including Lotus 1-2-3. WordPerfect, Dbase III and Wordstar. The package includes developer software for speech and sound recording and editing.
VoiceBox
The VoiceBox is a high-level language application environment with voice recognition, recording, and playback capabilities; it is used with Votan’s multi-purpose voice cards to offer continuous speaker-dependent voice recognition, compression, and playback - on one PC-based printed circuit card. It is multi-tasking, supports up to 8 channels of voice, and runs under DOS 3.3.
VoiceCAD
Voice CAD is an alternative input device for creating AutoCAD drawings. Voice input simplifies and enhances the input process by allowing the user to focus attention on the drawing rather than on the input procedure.
VoiceScribe-1000
VoiceScribe-1000 is a voice input system with a potential 1000-word vocabulary. The user trains the system to recognize certain utterances (short words or phrases) and associates each one with a particular input to the computer. When the user speaks a trained utterance into a microphone, the programmed character or string of characters is sent to the computer. The package consists of an internal circuit card for the IBM PC, voice recognition software, documentation and the DragonKEY voice activated keyboard utility software, which allows the system to interface with most MS-DOS PC software.
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