Word 97 Speech-Recognition Software Takes Dictation, Operates Menus 

by Brian McWilliams, PC World News Radio 
February 17, 1998 

Typhoon Software announced on Friday that it has released a new product that
adds speech-based dictation and navigation to Word 97. 

According to Typhoon president Phil Myers, Microsoft execs recently said
publicly that it will be years before the company can speech-enable its
operating systems and applications. But Myers says Typhoon's new product,
which is based on IBM's ViaVoice Gold technology, installs as a toolbar right
into Word 97. 

"You just click on a microphone [icon]," says Myers. "With the headset that
comes with our product, you can start speaking right into Microsoft Word and
the words show up right on the screen." He adds, "All of the menu commands
are voice-activated now, so you can say 'Table Menu, Insert Table' and create
the table, start dictating right into the [cells], say 'next field' and move
from field to field in the table."  

Myers says Spoken Word will list for $299, almost twice what IBM's ViaVoice
Gold sells for. But because of its superior integration into Word 97 and its
navigation capabilities, Myers says Spoken Word will appeal to legal and
medical professionals who want to save time and cut down on clerical staff.

http://www.typhoon.com/press3.html