Three Things You Should Know About Windows Speech Recognition
Windows Speech Recognition is one of the best kept secrets in consumer computing.
I don't know how many times I personally have gone blazing by the inconspicuous microphone icon in the control panel.
I have always wanted to try speech recognition software, but money is now and has always been of importance to me, and I never made purchasing that software a priority.
Well, for me, the good news is that I--and you as well, gentle reader--already own a bit of serious speech recognition software if you have either Windows Vista or Windows 7.
That simple fact is also the first thing that you should know about Windows Speech Recognition.
Yes, it's right there in the control panel; hiding there in plain sight.
In spite of my desire for some of this software, I had no idea it would work.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking advertisements were everywhere this Christmas.
There were plenty of advertisements for Microsoft also: but most were for Windows 7.
I saw none touting WSR.
But Microsoft's competitors' advertisements made me aware, piqued my interest, and remembering that lonely microphone icon, I begin to wonder what I could get for nothing.
Would a Microsoft freebie really work? Which brings us to the second thing you should know about Windows Speech Recognition software: Eureka, it works! And not only does it work, it works well! If you click on the lonely icon and follow the steps, conscientiously following directions until the speech engine has a recognizable profile of your voice, you will be amazed at what you can get for nothing.
From time to time I had heard that speech engines improved their accuracy the more you used them--frankly, I didn't believe it.
I was more than a little surprised to discover that the Windows recognition system will do exactly that: at first I thought that it was only my diction that was getting better, but when my daughter tried to dictate using my profile, not one word in 10 was correct.
As you might imagine WSR works best when using a Microsoft product.
It is particularly accurate in Microsoft Word--I can't get it to cooperate at all in Google docs; but then I have a an old copy of Windows Vista and it may work in Google docs on Windows 7.
In any case, I had found that I couldn't get along anymore without speech recognition software.
And that new-found love affair reflects the third thing you should know about WSR: once you try this software, you will never again be content working with keyboard and mouse.
I for example was determined to dictate in Google Docs.
I managed to get my hands on some free speech recognition software that did work minimally on Google docs: it is called Tazti and uses the Windows Speech Recognition engine.
Tazti was created more for gamers than writers, but it was free and it whetted my appetite for still more.
Windows speech recognition software is there for you if you think it's time to try something new.
Look for the microphone icon in the Windows control panel.
Follow the indicated steps: you'll find it works.
On the other hand, if you don't want to get hooked on something new, stay away from speech recognition software, I've found it addictive!
I don't know how many times I personally have gone blazing by the inconspicuous microphone icon in the control panel.
I have always wanted to try speech recognition software, but money is now and has always been of importance to me, and I never made purchasing that software a priority.
Well, for me, the good news is that I--and you as well, gentle reader--already own a bit of serious speech recognition software if you have either Windows Vista or Windows 7.
That simple fact is also the first thing that you should know about Windows Speech Recognition.
Yes, it's right there in the control panel; hiding there in plain sight.
In spite of my desire for some of this software, I had no idea it would work.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking advertisements were everywhere this Christmas.
There were plenty of advertisements for Microsoft also: but most were for Windows 7.
I saw none touting WSR.
But Microsoft's competitors' advertisements made me aware, piqued my interest, and remembering that lonely microphone icon, I begin to wonder what I could get for nothing.
Would a Microsoft freebie really work? Which brings us to the second thing you should know about Windows Speech Recognition software: Eureka, it works! And not only does it work, it works well! If you click on the lonely icon and follow the steps, conscientiously following directions until the speech engine has a recognizable profile of your voice, you will be amazed at what you can get for nothing.
From time to time I had heard that speech engines improved their accuracy the more you used them--frankly, I didn't believe it.
I was more than a little surprised to discover that the Windows recognition system will do exactly that: at first I thought that it was only my diction that was getting better, but when my daughter tried to dictate using my profile, not one word in 10 was correct.
As you might imagine WSR works best when using a Microsoft product.
It is particularly accurate in Microsoft Word--I can't get it to cooperate at all in Google docs; but then I have a an old copy of Windows Vista and it may work in Google docs on Windows 7.
In any case, I had found that I couldn't get along anymore without speech recognition software.
And that new-found love affair reflects the third thing you should know about WSR: once you try this software, you will never again be content working with keyboard and mouse.
I for example was determined to dictate in Google Docs.
I managed to get my hands on some free speech recognition software that did work minimally on Google docs: it is called Tazti and uses the Windows Speech Recognition engine.
Tazti was created more for gamers than writers, but it was free and it whetted my appetite for still more.
Windows speech recognition software is there for you if you think it's time to try something new.
Look for the microphone icon in the Windows control panel.
Follow the indicated steps: you'll find it works.
On the other hand, if you don't want to get hooked on something new, stay away from speech recognition software, I've found it addictive!
