Dave,

I just ran across this new product in EE Times and thought you might want to
post information about it. It sounds great and has some unique features
(e.g., Easy Edit - synchronous playback and correction - playback words and
sentences while highlighting the selection) as well as a wide range of
application support. It is only $39 and available as a download at
http://www.FreeSpeech.com after June 15. I've included the press
announcement. I really appreciate your email postings ... good stuff! 

Barney Fleming, PhD, ATP
Rehabilitation Engineer
Human Development Institute
University of Kentucky
flemingb@ihdi.uky.edu
606/257-7225

____________________________________________________________________________

Philips Introduces FreeSpeech 98: Continuous Speech Recognition Software

ATLANTA - June 1, 1998 - Philips Speech Processing, developer of the first
natural continuous speech recognition technology, today announced that its
advanced speech technology will be available for PCs through FreeSpeech 98,
continuous speech recognition software. This new speech-to-text product,
priced affordably for the consumer PC market, will make speech recognition a
reality as a new interface for home or small office PC users. FreeSpeech
offers the latest features available in speech processing technology for PCs
and will be sold for $39, making it the most affordable speech recognition
software today. The US-American Version of FreeSpeech will be available for
purchase over the Internet only at www.FreeSpeech98.com. Versions for
European languages will be introduced by the End of 1998 and during 1999.  

"The consumer PC market is ready for Philips' high-end speech technology - at
a price every-one can afford," said Ron van den Bos, president & CEO of
Philips Speech Processing business unit. "This is the first time that
consumer computing hardware has been powerful enough to run the most advanced
speech technology in the way it should work. Speech recognition for PCs has
come of age."  

FreeSpeech 98 uses natural continuous speech recognition for dictation and
voice commands for application control. PC users will be able to create,
edit, format documents, and control the Window's environment by speaking
directly to the computer, via a microphone, without unnatural pauses between
words. With FreeSpeech 98, users will dictate directly into Windows
applications, instead of conventional typing on a keyboard.  

To assist in the process of dictation, Philips includes the patented "Easy
Edit" feature that allows for synchronous playback and correction. Easy Edit
plays back words and sentences, while simultaneously highlighting the
selection, enabling the user to proof text and make changes quickly and
easily. Words can be replaced by choosing from an alternative word list,
simply by speaking into the application like using a typical spell check
feature - only hands-free.  

"FreeSpeech 98 is the result of 40 years of research, development and
production of dictation machines, and more than 25 years of experience with
speech recognition systems," added van den Bos. "We're now able to bring this
technology to the voice of the PC user and we look forward to watching this
software be integrated by those who will have a new tool for PC interaction,
or for those who haven't learned to use or can't use a keyboard."  

Freeing the user from difficult and time consuming editing, FreeSpeech 98
includes a lexicon of over 200,000 words, based on the Oxford University
Press dictionary. It also comes with a comprehensive, customizable vocabulary
and language model which is designed to facilitate the creation of
correspondence documents such as business letters, personal letters, memos,
short notes, emails, etc. The vocabulary includes most common terms, phrases
and names, and can be easily customized to a maximum size of 64,000 words.
Assisting in the important process of word recognition, FreeSpeech 98 learns
during use, which means faster, more accurate recognition. The software will
adapt to the user's voice, dialect and natural dictation style. Additionally,
a built-in tuner gives the possibility to analyze existing documents on the
PC for words to add to the vocabulary.  

FreeSpeech 98 supports most Windows applications, such as those in Office 97
and 95, and other popular PC applications, like email. FreeSpeech 98 supports
standard microphones for voice input, recommending those that are high
quality. The speech recognition experience can be enhanced with the Philips'
SpeechMike, a revolutionary all-in-one trackball, microphone, and speaker
that maximizes the convenience and ergonomics for speech applications on PCs.
SpeechMike is also available on the Internet at
http://www.speech.be.philips.com or http://www.speechmike.philips.com.  

FreeSpeech first introduced in the US-American version. The European
languages German, French, Dutch, Flemish, and British English will follow by
the end of this year. Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese are scheduled for
1999.  

News from Philips is located at http://www.news.philips.com. 

Philips Speech Processing
Corporate Centre
Ralph Preclik
Computerstrasse 6 
1101 Vienna, Austria
Phone: ++43 (1) 60101 1128
Fax:   ++43 (1) 603 25 40
E-mail: rpreclik@austria.ds.philips.com

