Speech Recognition Review

Please see my Speech Recognition Blog here.

Free Speech Recognition Software

If you have an iPhone, iPod or iPad, you can get free Voice Recognition Software from the FREE Dragon Dictation app, which does Text-to-Speech with very impressive results.

DIf you have an Android device, versions 2.1 and above come with FREE speech recognition included. Although the Text-to-Speech results are frustrating because they are nowhere near as good as the Dragon Dictation application for the Apple products, the ability to dictate into any text field is awesome, and means I find more opportunities to use it.

Speech & voice recognition reviews

Coming soon:

How to buy voice recognition software. How to choose which brand & version of dictation software is right for you.

I will write speech recognition reviews, post other user reviews (please e-mail yours) and link to reviews on other sites and logs.

Voice Recognition Guide

Coming soon:

  • Difference between "speech recognition" and "voice recognition".
  • 3 myths of speech recognition
  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking vs. Windows 7 Speech Recognition
  • Speech Recognition Videos
  • Modes of Speech Recognition: Dictation vs. Voice Command (Voice-control)

Mobile Speech Recognition

Speech recognition on your mobile phone or mobile data device including iPhone & Android-powered devices (version 2.1 and above)

  • Mobile Voice Control
  • Mobile Dictation
  • Voice Search

Speech Recognition Videos

Coming soon:

  • Speech recognition demonstrations of what's possible
    • Blog by voice.
    • Use and control Microsoft Excel by voice. Enter data and formulas; format, add & remove sheets, charts and tables; navigate within & between sheets and workbooks; even record macros and edit/write code in VBA.
    • Launch programs & navigate within Microsoft Windows. Add, copy-paste, rename and remove folders and files. Close, maximize, minimize, resize & restore Windows. Change settings in your control panel.
    • Surf the Web & browse by voice. Speak your searches. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.
    • Dictate text into your favorite word processor such as Microsoft Word, WordPad, Notepad & OpenOffice. Format text & layouts.
    • E-mail. Read, reply, forward & compose e-mails. Navigate between folders & move e-mails. Mark e-mails as read or unread. Have the computer read them to you. Works with Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, Gmconnects to remote hostail, Hotmail, etc.
    • Use and control Microsoft Access by voice. Create and use tables, queries, forms and reports by voice.
    • Adobe Dreamweaver by voice. (I am creating this web page by voice right now...)
    • Control your mouse by voice.
    • Print by voice & adjust print settings.
    • Save files, close files by voice.
    • Format text & objects by voice.
    • Automate repetitive tasks by voice.
    • Lookup reference numbers (like your friends addresses) by voice: "Mike Schmidt's address"
    • Have the computer read text to you. (Text-to-speech)
  • Voice recognition tutorials & speech recognition training

Speech Recognition Software & Programs

  • Dragon NaturallySpeaking (currently on version 10.2)
  • Windows 7 Speech Recognition (& Windows Vista)
  • MacSpeech Dictate for Macintosh
  • Other speech recognition solutions & add-ons

Return to Productivity (Return to Work)

Your livelihood depends on your ability to use a computer.

For most people, that means you need to be able to use your hands to input data and control your computer.

Fortunately for you -- if you've suffered an injury (RSI or otherwise) to your hands -- you now have an alternative method to both input data and control your computer. And it's only getting faster, more accurate and available in more places.

Sidelined by RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury) such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, or tennis elbow?

Unable to use your hands to type on your computer due to do a workplace or other injury such as a car accident or sports injury?

10 years ago, when I felt the pain of tendinitis in my wrists & forearms (and loss of strength), I spent nights worrying about how to earn a living. Speech recognition software (Dragon NaturallySpeaking professional version 5) came to the rescue. It enabled me to remain productive and with some tasks even become more efficient and productive. I actually got a promotion soon after that it continued to have success in my career. With most jobs so dependent on computers these days, if it wasn't for speech recognition software, I don't know what I would have done.

Voice Automation

With voice macros, continuous command recognition, voice shortcuts, custom-voice-macros-on-the-fly, and other tools available in speech recognition packages, you can increase your efficiency & productivity when using a computer.

Embedded Speech Recognition

Speech recognition embedded in TVs, automobiles, etc.

Speech Recognition Training and Consultants

If you would like some hands on or remote training or consulting regarding your speech recognition solutions, I recommend talking to Renee. I got some help from her last year, and I highly recommend Renee and her company.

Her business is headquartered in Southern California, with offices in Northern California, Washington, Arizona and Nevada.

If Renee is unable to help you, I'm sure she will refer you to somebody who can.

Speech Recognition by Industry

Nuance, who makes Dragon NaturallySpeaking and MacSpeech Dictate, makes editions of speech recognition software for:

  • Doctors & Other Health-care Professionals
  • Lawyers
  • Other business & government professionals

Speech Recognition Trends

Accuracy is now very good and will continue to improve more.

  • One of the most exciting developments of the past few years is mobile speech recognition.
  • More natural and powerful commands such as the Web search commands in the latest version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking."Search Web [eBay/global/Amazon] for [whenever keywords you want]"
  • Continuous command recognition -- this is something I've been doing since 2000 or 2001. But I'm a special case. It's very powerful for automation and productivity, and I will make a video to show you what I'm talking about. It's not yet ready for mainstream.
  • Speech recognition is already becoming more important for user interfaces in small devices without physical keyboards (think mobile phones: iPhones, Android devices). Speech and audio user interfaces will become more common.