We all speak and listen and understand what others
say. We have the capacity to speak, listen, understand
and based on it can take a decision to solve some problems
around us. But, it is not same for the computer, though
it is a highly intelligent machine, which can make calculations
faster than man!
Check the live demo video of Windows Vista
speech recognition.
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A computer can perform only what man has fed in to
it, through softwares. The softwares can be developed
for taking its own decisions by taking the inputs from
man through keyboard or mouse or through any device
such as sensors, which is attached to it. The software
usually works within that limit. This is basic working
principle behind computers.
The software usually accepts the commands and takes
actions based on it. The computer user normally, usually
types the command through keyboard or clicks on a menu
item using mouse. The computer takes input from the
keyboard or mouse and takes action upon what it is instructed
to do.
Use Of Speech recognition
In daily life, we come across many people with disabilities.
Out of them, some have lost their hands during some
accidents and or they cannot operate mouse or keyboards.
How to make them using the computers is the question
to be answered.
One possible answer is to make the computer understand
what such persons speak. Making the computer understand
human voice and work accordingly is called as speech
recognition or voice recognition.
In the past, computers were used only for calculation
and storing typed matter as said above. Today, computers
are used for producing music, video etc. Speech recognition
is the emerging new technology, which takes human voice,
recognizes what the person says, and takes action based
on that. Though looks simple from out side, internally
the process is very complex.
Brief History of Voice Recognition
Earlier, computers did not have speech recognition
capabilities. It was during earlier 1990’s these
concepts and technologies got boosted up. The invention
of sound cards gave higher boost and support for the
technology. Many companies invested to develop sophisticated,
intelligent softwares to recognize speech. One of the
most popular software in the area of speech recognition
is the Dragon Naturally Speaking. By looking into its
popularity, Microsoft started development of its own
speech recognition engine, which was released with its
office suite, the MS-Office. Later it was introduced
in Windows XP too.
Version 7.0 speech recognition engine in Windows Vista
Windows Vista, the new version of Windows family,
includes version 7.0 of speech recognition engine. As
said above, the speech engine helps one to make use
of voice commands to direct the computer to perform
certain things. One can give dictation to compose letters
or email messages in commonly used applications. From
the user point of view, it is easy to implement and
use the built-in speech recognition engine.
First get sound card, microphone and a speaker installed
For making use of speech recognition software to work,
one should have sound card, microphone and a speaker
installed in the computer. The sound card must be of
Vista compatible. Not all sound cards work with Windows
Vista. For checking compatible devices one should visit
Microsoft.com. The sound may be older one, may work
in the system. But, the manufacturer of sound card must
provide updated drivers to make the sound card work
in the system. Some manufacturers may provide, but,
some of them do not. You may need to change the sound
card if there is no update for driver is provided.
A good quality microphone and a speaker are needed
when using the speech recognition engine. It is recommended
to use a head-phone based microphone, as it works better
in noisy conditions. Headphone based microphones are
more comfortable to use than the hand held microphones.
After choosing and connecting the devices, you have
little more tasks to do before comfortably make use
of the speech recognition engine. First task is to prepare
Windows Vista for speech recognition.
Windows Vista provides five different tasks to implement
and use the speech recognition. To access these tasks,
one should,
Open Ease of access from the control panel,
Click on Speech Recognition Options.
Use the Speech Recognition options to work with five
tasks which are required to start speech recognition.
One of the easiest way to get into speech recognition
software by clicking start button then type “speech”
in the search box. Select Windows Speech Recognition
from the search results. You will be guided through
First Time User Experience (FTUE) dialogs for setting
up speech recognition.
Speech recognition wizard first collects sample voice
To set the computer to know ones voice, the computer
needs to record his or her voice. The speech recognition
wizard first starts the process of collecting sample
voices for future use. When one clicks next button in
the welcome screen of the wizard, he will be prompted
to select the type of microphone. Here, one needs to
select whether they use headset, desktop or any other
microphones. After selecting the microphone type, the
wizard will start to collect sample voices, asking the
user to read aloud the sentences which are given in
the screen. Remember to use your natural voice in speaking
out the sentences. This will allow the computer to get
well adjusted to your voice and use the pattern for
all future voice commands and dictations. One can improve
the experience with speech recognition software by turning
ON the document review option. This will help computer
to learn some terms that you use often. The option will
be displayed after setting the microphone.
Take Speech Tutorial
The next step in the Windows speech recognition is
to take up Tutorials. Windows Speech Recognition provides
a helpful tutorial designed to teach not only basic
commands, dictation but, also, how to recognize the
ways in which the user interface changes when one instructed
to do so. It also recognizes both vocal commands and
mouse clicks. One can change in between tutorial pages
by using the tabs which are provided at the bottom of
the screen.
One must setup the Windows Speech Recognition through
its wizard, before using the tutorial. In order to run
the tutorial, one needs to select the option “Take
Speech Tutorial” in the speech recognition option
page. It is not compulsory to take all tutorial lessons.
You can skip by clicking tabs provided in the tutorial
page training.
There is another option besides the tutorial, which
is training. For an average user, there is no need of
taking training option, as the training provided in
the tutorial is highly sufficient. One should finish
the tutorial completely before taking up the process
of training. For the first time users, this wizard displays
a line of text for one to read. After reading the line,
one needs to click “Train your computer to better
understand you”. The introduction sentence will
be displayed and one needs to read out the sentence
and then proceed further. One can temporarily stop the
training by clicking Pause button provided in the wizard.
Sspeech Reference Card
One can use the speech reference card which is a part
of Windows help and support, in case, if one has questions
and doubts regarding speech recognition software. One
can also use online help to get better picture of speech
recognition. It lists almost all problems faced so far
and delivers solutions for the same. It also provides
information on how handle the system problems related
to Windows Vista speech recognition software.
Reverse function of speech recognition, convert text
into speech
One can also convert text into speech, which is a
reverse function of speech recognition, which is, convert
speech into text, by using the speech recognition options.
In the speech recognition options, you can set the
option to convert the text to speech. In the speech
properties dialog box, select the text to speech tab.
Here one can select the speed of flow, which device
to be used as output device etc. The default voice will
be Anna, which is in the form of American English. You
can test the voice by clicking “Preview Voice”.
This feature blocks the text as it reads it out. One
can select different voice by clicking voice selection
list provided.
Create & store different profiles
One can create different profiles and store that profile,
in case, if the computer is used by more than one users.
This will enable the speech recognition to keep the
database of different voices under profile names, and
load it whenever needed. One needs to train again, when
he notices the change in the voice. Otherwise, the computer
may produce different words and commands, other than
the dictated ones. Keep training, when one has nothing
to do. This will help the computer to get better adjusted
to the voice dictations.
In built utility to instruct and dictate computers
Windows Vista Voice Recognition software will enable
the user to use voice as the medium to instruct and
dictate computers, without the need for installing third
party voice recognition software. Things have improved
in terms of faster and better voice comparisons and
patterns. Windows Vista Voice recognition will cause
a good effect in voice related technologies. One can
use the Windows Vista Speech Recognition software to
dictate, in case of problems with typing. This will
give boost, influence and aid, the physically challenged
person to use the computer without the need for keyboard
and mouse as input device. The Speech recognition software
will be an attractive feature in the coming days, if
further improvements are carried out.
