Newsgroups: comp.speech
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!satisfied.apocalypse.org!news.mathworks.com!uunet!EU.net!uknet!cix.compulink.co.uk!usenet
From: jpageb@cix.compulink.co.uk ("James Page")
Subject: Re: Speech recognition in Windows or DOS
Message-ID: <D6Kq5J.M0t@cix.compulink.co.uk>
Organization: Aptech Limited
References: <3lrbia$1bo@is.bbsrc.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 1995 18:03:19 GMT
X-News-Software: Ameol
Lines: 39

Commercial Speech Recognition Packages for Windows/DOS

For a few years now the most popular speech recognition app. for DOS has 
been DragonDictate from Dragon Systems. A Windows version came out a few 
months ago, and a UK English vocabularies in the last month. Prices start 
from 395ukp (DOS/Windows).

Kurzweil AI produce a Windows dictation system as well, which works on 
similar principles to DragonDictate. Both DragonDictate and Kurzweil 
Voice are isolated-word recognisers (ie. you have to leave a slight gap 
between the pronunciation of each word). You can dictate into a Windows 
application (both systems work well with WordPerfect), as well as control 
the Windows environment with speech commands/macros. I'm sorry I don't 
know the latest prices for Kurzweil Voice, but I'll give you an address 
if you want.

IBM's VoiceType for Windows is a continuous-word recogniser. Since it 
uses a more sophisticated parser than the other to you can speak more 
like your normal conversational voice as it corrects its errors according 
to its language model. However, unlike the other two, you can't dictate 
direct into your Windows application. Nonetheless, WordPerfect v6.0 is 
supported, and from all accounts it is an excellent package. Again I 
can't give you up to date prices.

With all the above systems you will need a 486SX at least, 12-16MB RAM 
and a compatible audio card (typically 100-120ukp). Microphones are 
usually included with the software package. All will serve more than 
adequately as a dictation machine, and they are coming down in price all 
the time.

The only one I've used extensively is DragonDictate, but I'd recommend 
looking at the others too, as they might have features that you are 
specifically looking for. I can mail you addresses of distributors in the 
UK, or if you want more info.

Hope this helps,


++++++++ James Page, Aptech Ltd (UK) ++++++
