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