Freeware or Low Cost Speech Recognition for XP

What is the best freeware or low cost way to use speech recogntion
with xp? I just recently got a microphone and am interesting in
navagating and interacting with the desktop software via speech
recognition.

Any help appreciated,
Matt

Install the Microsoft Speech Recognition Engine 4.0 (English) by
downloading the file [spklite.exe] and then executing (by double-clicking
on the file) it to install the Speech Recognition Engine that utilizes
Microsoft's built-in speech synthesizer component - M$ Agent (Ring).

Download [spklite.exe] from brothersoft.com...
http://www.brothersoft.com/d.php?sof...%2Fspklite.exe

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"softandmicroey" wrote in message
...
What is the best freeware or low cost way to use speech recogntion
with xp? I just recently got a microphone and am interesting in
navagating and interacting with the desktop software via speech
recognition.

Any help appreciated,
Matt

Please ignore the link in my previous post.

I do apolagise, it's been a very long time since I installed the Speech
Recognition and Text-to-Speech Engines onto my system.

After doing a search of my, usually complete and up-to-date collection of
downloaded installation files, I found a file that I thought was the right
one and quoted where I obtained it.

I was wrong, the file was a 3rd-party utillity application that just uses
the MS Agent components.

But, to use Speech Regocnition and Text-to-speech, you need to follow these
steps;
(If you are using Windows XP, you can skip step no.(1))


Installing MS Agent Speech
==========================
(http://www.msagentring.org/setup.aspx)

Download the following components and then execute each in turn by
double-clicking on them and following the setup prompts as they appear...



1). Install Microsoft Agent Core Components version 2.0 (395K)*

*(Skip this step if using Windows XP, ME, 2K, Vista or Win7)

http://activex.microsoft.com/activex...t2/MSagent.exe

----------------------------------------------------

2). Install the Lernout & Hauspie TruVoice,
Text-to-Speech Engine (English version) (1MB).

http://activex.microsoft.com/activex...t2/tv_enua.exe

----------------------------------------------------

3). Install the Microsoft Speech Recognition Engine,
version 4.0 (6MB)

http://activex.microsoft.com/activex...nt2/actcnc.exe

----------------------------------------------------

4a). Install the Microsoft Speech Control Panel (840K)

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...39/SpchCpl.exe

and also;

4b). Agent 2.0 Add-in: SAPI 4 control panel applet (928K)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...4-d5de6023aa23


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"softandmicroey" wrote in message
...
What is the best freeware or low cost way to use speech recogntion
with xp? I just recently got a microphone and am interesting in
navagating and interacting with the desktop software via speech
recognition.

Any help appreciated,
Matt

After following the steps (2-4b for XP) outlined in my last post, you will
then be able to configure both Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech by
going to ;

"Control Panel" "Speech"

You may use the "Train Profile" button on the "Speech Recognition" page to
teach the computer how to recognise your unique speech patterns to improve
accuracy.

Then you will be able to use programs such as Office Word to dictate a
letter.

You can control elements such as turning on the microphone for dictation,
by right-clicking on an empty area of the TaskBar, and selecting "Toolbars"
"Language Bar".

When the "Language Bar" appears on your TaskBar, click on the microphone
icon to start dictation in M$ Word.

You can also access the "Speech" Control Panel from the "Language Bar" by
clicking on the "Speech Tools" icon and selecting "Options".

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)

On Apr 14, 8:32*pm, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
After following the steps (2-4b for XP) outlined in my last post, you will
then be able to configure both Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech by
going to ;

"Control Panel" * *"Speech"

You may use the "Train Profile" button on the "Speech Recognition" page to
teach the computer how to recognise your unique speech patterns to improve
accuracy.

Then you will be able to use programs such as Office Word to dictate a
letter.

You can control elements such as turning on the microphone for dictation,
by right-clicking on an empty area of the TaskBar, and selecting "Toolbars"
* "Language Bar".

When the "Language Bar" appears on your TaskBar, click on the microphone
icon to start dictation in M$ Word.

You can also access the "Speech" Control Panel from the "Language Bar" by
clicking on the "Speech Tools" icon and selecting "Options".

==

Cheers, * *Tim Meddick, * *Peckham, London. * *:-)

Is there a way to navigate the desktop and applications using speech
recognition in XP? I have followed the steps you layed out including
doing the trainined, but don't see how you carry out this use.

"Speech Recognition" is already built-in as part of the Windows XP
Operating System.

Earlier versions of Windows can install the free Microsoft software
environment from :
http://www.msagentring.org/setup.aspx
(the site is 3-rd party but the software available for download *is* from
Microsoft)

The component is called Microsoft Agent and, although MSAgent is
pre-installed on XP, from the above website you may download [free] a
selection of other "voices" and Microsoft Agent Characters (animated
"avatars" that go with speech output employed by some programs - the
"clipit" character that appears with MS Office applications, is one such).

You should be able to find it on your [XP] computer by going to :

"Control Panel" "Speech"

...from the "Speech" control panel, you can configure ; "Speech
Recognition" , "Text to Speech" , set microphone volume levels and pick &
preview the style of output voice from a selection of pre-installed male
and female choices.

From there, you can also educate [train] the "Speech Recognition Engine" to
more effectively understand your particular voice.

You will need to enable "Advanced Text Services" if it not been already.

To do this, first open the "Text Services and Input Languages" control (see
below for that) and under the "Advanced" tab, make sure the check-box named
"Turn off advanced text services" is *not* checked - if it is - uncheck
it...

Above this option, you have the opportunity to "Extend support of advanced
text services to all programs" by checkmarking the box of that name. This
will enable functions like dictation and the reading of text to many other
word processing applications you have.

You should also activate the "The Language Bar" (a taskbar toolbar) so you
can control "Speech Tools" such as Microphone and other settings more
easily. To turn on the "The Language Bar" either choose it from the list
of existing available taskbar toolbars by right-clicking on an empty area
of the taskbar, then choose "Toolbars" "Language Bar".

Or you may have to open the "Regional and Language Options" control panel,
click on the "Languages" tab (across the top), click on the "Details"
button to open "Text Services and Input Languages" - finally, press the
"Language Bar" button and select the "Show the Language Bar on the desktop"
check-box.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"softandmicroey" wrote in message
...
On Apr 14, 8:32 pm, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
After following the steps (2-4b for XP) outlined in my last post, you
will
then be able to configure both Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech by
going to ;

"Control Panel" "Speech"

You may use the "Train Profile" button on the "Speech Recognition" page
to
teach the computer how to recognise your unique speech patterns to
improve
accuracy.

Then you will be able to use programs such as Office Word to dictate a
letter.

You can control elements such as turning on the microphone for dictation,
by right-clicking on an empty area of the TaskBar, and selecting
"Toolbars"
"Language Bar".

When the "Language Bar" appears on your TaskBar, click on the microphone
icon to start dictation in M$ Word.

You can also access the "Speech" Control Panel from the "Language Bar" by
clicking on the "Speech Tools" icon and selecting "Options".

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)

Is there a way to navigate the desktop and applications using speech
recognition in XP? I have followed the steps you layed out including
doing the trainined, but don't see how you carry out this use.

On Jun 8, 3:56*am, "Tim Meddick" wrote:
"Speech Recognition" is already built-in as part of the Windows XP
Operating System.

Earlier versions of Windows can install the free Microsoft software
environment from :http://www.msagentring.org/setup.aspx
(the site is 3-rd party but the software available for download *is* from
Microsoft)

The component is called Microsoft Agent and, although MSAgent is
pre-installed on XP, from the above website you may download [free] a
selection of other "voices" and Microsoft Agent Characters (animated
"avatars" that go with speech output employed by some programs - the
"clipit" character that appears with MS Office applications, is one such)..

You should be able to find it on your [XP] computer by going to :

"Control Panel" "Speech"

..from the "Speech" control panel, you can configure ; *"Speech
Recognition" , *"Text to Speech" , set microphone volume levels and pick &
preview the style of output voice from a selection of pre-installed male
and female choices.

From there, you can also educate [train] the "Speech Recognition Engine" to
more effectively understand your particular voice.

You will need to enable "Advanced Text Services" if it not been already.

To do this, first open the "Text Services and Input Languages" control (see
below for that) and under the "Advanced" tab, make sure the check-box named
"Turn off advanced text services" is *not* checked - if it is - uncheck
it...

Above this option, you have the opportunity to "Extend support of advanced
text services to all programs" by checkmarking the box of that name. * This
will enable functions like dictation and the reading of text to many other
word processing applications you have.

You should also activate the "The Language Bar" (a taskbar toolbar) so you
can control "Speech Tools" such as Microphone and other settings more
easily. *To turn on the "The Language Bar" either choose it from the list
of existing available taskbar toolbars by right-clicking on an empty area
of the taskbar, then choose "Toolbars" "Language Bar".

Or you may have to open the "Regional and Language Options" control panel,
click on the "Languages" tab (across the top), click on the "Details"
button to open "Text Services and Input Languages" - finally, press the
"Language Bar" button and select the "Show the Language Bar on the desktop"
check-box.

==

Cheers, * *Tim Meddick, * *Peckham, London. * *:-)

"softandmicroey" wrote in message

...
On Apr 14, 8:32 pm, "Tim Meddick" wrote:









After following the steps (2-4b for XP) outlined in my last post, you
will
then be able to configure both Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech by
going to ;

"Control Panel" "Speech"

You may use the "Train Profile" button on the "Speech Recognition" page
to
teach the computer how to recognise your unique speech patterns to
improve
accuracy.

Then you will be able to use programs such as Office Word to dictate a
letter.

You can control elements such as turning on the microphone for dictation,
by right-clicking on an empty area of the TaskBar, and selecting
"Toolbars"
"Language Bar".

When the "Language Bar" appears on your TaskBar, click on the microphone
icon to start dictation in M$ Word.

You can also access the "Speech" Control Panel from the "Language Bar" by
clicking on the "Speech Tools" icon and selecting "Options".

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)

Is there a way to navigate the desktop and applications using speech
recognition in XP? I have followed the steps you layed out including
doing the trainined, but don't see how you carry out this use.

I see I'll have to forgo the use of Word with SR of XP because mine is
outdated (word 2007), but are there other applications that can use SR
in XP?

I have spotted a discrepancy in the list of downloads that I hadn't
noticed...

You only need to download and install ONE of the links for number (4)
because 4a + 4b turns out they are the exact-same file (SpchCpl.exe)(928K).

Sorry.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)