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Softquad International Inc
SKI TSE
April 16, 1997
Voice Recognition Software
BURLINGTON, Mass., April 16 /CNW/ - Alpha Software, a division of SoftQuad International (Nasdaq: SWEBF; Toronto: SKI), today announced the availability of two new award-winning voice recognition programs for Windows 95 and Windows 3.1x -- Kurzweil VoicePad and Kurzweil VoicePlus.
Kurzweil VoicePad is a freestanding word processing application that allows users to create and format documents, such as memos, letters and reports, using breakthrough voice recognition technology. Text can be copied into the clipboard for use in any Windows application that handles text of any kind. VoicePlus enables users to dictate text as well as control menus and dialog boxes in most popular word processing, spreadsheet, database and e-mail programs.
Using Kurzweil VoicePad and VoicePlus, users can format text, preview and print documents, and navigate through menus and dialog boxes using intuitive voice commands. Both products allow users to dictate text directly into documents using discrete speech. Numeric data can be entered quickly and easily using Kurzweil's Continuous Digit Recognizer. VoicePad and VoicePlus include an Andrea noise-canceling headset microphone.
VoicePad incorporates a 17,000-word vocabulary, while VoicePlus includes a 30,000-word vocabulary. VoicePad can be customized with an additional
3,000 user-specific words and commands, such as the names of people, companies and products, while VoicePlus supports up to 10,000 customized words and commands. The programs actually listen, learn and adapt to a user's speech pattern, boosting their ongoing accuracy rate too greater than 97 percent. Both products can adapt to various accents, and include models for children and teens for improved accuracy.
Adapting to Your Voice
``Clearly the challenge in computing has always been adapting the machine to the person, so work can be accomplished in the most comfortable and efficient manner possible,'' said Howard March, Vice President, Alpha Software. ``Alpha Software's Kurzweil VoicePad and VoicePlus provide a flexible alternative to traditional keyboard input that will benefit users who prefer not to type, can't type for physical reasons, or require a hands-free environment.''
Kurzweil VoicePad and Voice Plus are a natural alternative to typing that anyone -- including children -- can use. VoicePad and VoicePlus are ideal solutions for people with limited typing skills, those who need their hands free (from doctors and dentists to technicians), those engaged in extensive data entry tasks, novice PC users, and those who suffer from repetitive motion injury from prolonged keyboard use.
Custom commands can be added to insert entire paragraphs of formatted text -- addresses, for example -- simply by reciting a customized command. Similarly, Kurzweil's Continuous Digit Recognizer technology enables users to quickly enter telephone numbers, street addresses, zip codes, dollar amounts, social security numbers and other numeric data into documents.
Both products handle homonyms with ease. When the user dictates a word that can be spelled in more than one way (e.g., to, too, two), Kurzweil VoicePad and VoicePlus determine the correct spelling based on context. Kurzweil VoicePad and VoicePlus also take advantage of Intel's MMX technology to deliver superior performance.
Both products are now available at selected retailers. VoicePad is available at Comp USA, Computer City, Best Buy, Egghead, Office Max, and Staples. VoicePlus is available at Comp USA, Best Buy, Egghead, Micro Center, and Fry's Electronics.
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