IBM REINVENTS VIAVOICE SPEECH RECOGNITION SOFTWARE, MAKING IT
MORE NATURAL, MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EASIER TO USE
MARKHAM, Ont., June 8 /CNW/ - IBM today introduced ViaVoice(x) 98, the
next generation of IBM's best selling speech recognition software that
includes breakthrough technologies designed to deliver simplicity and
naturalness while making it easier for individuals to use their computers.
Leading the numerous innovations in ViaVoice 98 are features that provide
the PC user with the ability to use Natural Language Commands to create, edit
and format documents in Microsoft Word 97(xx) in a more natural way. Applying
thousands of variations for computer commands is a breakthrough in usability,
providing users with the ability to say what they want to have happen more
naturally and the computer will react. Another innovation is the hands-free
editing and correction mode into popular applications, including Word 97 and
Lotus Word Pro(xxx).
''IBM took a customer-centric approach in developing ViaVoice 98. We
talked to thousands of users and leveraged the experience we gained with our
best selling ViaVoice products,'' said Glenn Rogers, Market Manager, Speech
Recognition, IBM Canada Ltd.. ''We believe we offer the most easy to use,
powerful, feature-rich software in the industry, which makes it possible for
people to interact with their PCs the most natural way. Attention to the user
experience is what sets this product apart from all other offerings in the
market place.''
ViaVoice 98 Family
The IBM ViaVoice 98 Speech Family consists of three products designed to
meet the needs and budget of both the consumer and business customer: IBM
ViaVoice 98 Executive Edition, ViaVoice 98 Office Edition and ViaVoice 98 Home
Edition.
ViaVoice 98 Executive Edition is IBM's most powerful continuous speech
software and can be the finest productivity tool for writers, executives and
experienced PC users. ViaVoice Executive offers direct dictation into most
popular Windows applications, voice control of the desktop and applications
and includes two Topics -- ViaVoice Computer and ViaVoice Business & Finance
-- which supplement the base vocabulary.
ViaVoice 98 Office Edition is a continuous speech dictation and voice
control software tool designed to help maximize the efficiency of a small
office/home office user, faculty member and advanced student. Users can
supplement their vocabulary with the included ViaVoice Business & Finance
Topic.
ViaVoice 98 Home Edition is IBM's entry-level continuous speech dictation
product and is ideal for the family to use to create letters, reports or
e-mail at home. ViaVoice 98 Home includes the ViaVoice Cuisine Topic to let
users use their voice to write original recipes or make a keepsake of family
recipes.
Innovations in Speech - What's New
IBM ViaVoice 98 includes many new features that are not found in other
speech recognition software products.
- Natural Language Commands -- Users can quickly and easily edit and
format text in Microsoft Word 97 by saying commands naturally. A
single natural command can be said in a variety of ways. For example,
a user can say, ''double space this paragraph'' or ''change the
spacing of this paragraph to double'' to perform the same task.
- Hands-free Correction and Editing -- ViaVoice 98 now includes easier
to use voice commands, including ''select (text)'' on any visible
text; ''correct this'' to use correction pop-up and ''scratch that''
to delete words spoken since last pause, without having to switch in
and out of dictation mode. Users can spell corrections or re-dictate
naturally to manage changes.
- Modeless Operation -- Users can now dictate text and issue commands
interchangeably without saying any extra words -- just pausing
slightly before and after speaking the command. Users will no longer
have to recall whether they are in dictation mode or not. Commands to
bold, underline, italicize, uppercase, print and more are simply a
pause during dictation - visualize it - say it - see it.
- Natural Number Formatting -- Dictated numbers automatically appear on
the screen in the correct format, including dates, currencies, times,
weights and measurements. For example, for phone numbers, users can
simply say ''phone number 9055551212'' for it to appear on screen as
(905) 555-1212.
- ''Say What You See'' Navigation - On Microsoft Windows 95(xx) and
Windows 98(xx) systems where Microsoft Active Accessibility(xx) is
supported, Executive and Office Edition users can generally speak menu
commands, file names, toolbar buttons, dialogue items and even
activate desktop icons -- creating a more hands-free experience.
- More User Assistance -- Start with ''What Can I Say,'' a unique and
useful feature that enables users to explore what commands they can
execute in any given application that is active on their desktop. Add
''How do I Say?'' features and a number of pop-up helpers and
multimedia Quick Tours and users have never had so much help before.
- Topic Support -- Topics are special interest vocabularies that add to
the existing base vocabulary and increase accuracy. Users can use one
or more in conjunction with their base vocabulary. Each product in the
family comes with sample Topics and more can be added by purchase and
download from the web. Business & Finance terms and Computer words can
be added to the base vocabulary to provide users with greater
recognition accuracy. A Topic Factory tool is available to enable
developers to create additional specialty Topics for use with ViaVoice
98 products.
- VoiceCenter -- The VoiceCenter is a single focal area on the desktop
that integrates all functions -- menu, recognized voice command,
status display, microphone button, audio level, help and user name --
into a central interface to make it easy to locate the vital
information needed.
- Windows 98-ready -- The first speech recognition product designed
ready for the next version of Microsoft's operating system.
- Easy Enrollment -- A short two-sentence Quick Training to get started
quickly is followed up by a choice of user scripts for enrollment.
Users have the option to complete their enrollments in increments as
well.
- ViaVoice Transcription -- Support for a number of hand-held dictation
devices is included.
- Industry's Largest Active Vocabulary -- 128,000 active vocabulary
(64,000 active base vocabulary and 64,000 more user-added words using
Vocabulary Expander and Vocabulary Manager) with the ability to
include, into the active vocabulary, multiple topics (each Topic can
have up to 64,000 words) and a backup vocabulary of 260,000 words.
- Industry-Specific Vocabularies -- ViaVoice 98 supports
industry-specific vocabularies. The first vocabularies will be
ViaVoice Medical and ViaVoice Legal in U.S. English. These are
specialized vocabularies with 25,000 or more words for use by medical
and legal professionals. They will be available in July for $209
(CDN).
Also, IBM has added a comprehensive User Guide with samples, examples,
troubleshooting guides and user-friendly graphics.
Availability and Pricing
IBM ViaVoice 98 Executive and Office Editions will be available first in
US English in June. The Executive Edition will be available for $209.00 (CDN),
with the Office Edition priced at $129.00 (CDN). ViaVoice 98 Home Edition is
priced at $69.00 (CDN) and will be available in July. All products come with a
noise-canceling headset microphone. IBM will ship the Executive and Home
Editions in French, German, Spanish, Italian and UK English, available this
fall. Japanese and Chinese versions of the product will be available this
summer. A customized, integrated version of IBM ViaVoice will be included with
Lotus SmartSuite(xxx) Millennium Edition, which is expected to ship on June
17.
IBM Speech Recognition Leadership
IBM set the industry standard for speech recognition software when it
launched the VoiceType family of products and expanded this standard in 1997
with the introduction of its ViaVoice family of products. With more than 25
years of research in the field, the company has built a team of speech
recognition specialists worldwide, dedicated to the development, support,
marketing, and sale of IBM speech solutions in many languages. For more
information about IBM Speech Systems, visit the World Wide Web at
ibm.com.
PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
(x)IBM and ViaVoice are trademarks or registered trademarks of
International Business Machines Corporation.
(xx)Microsoft Word 97, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Active Accessibility
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
(xxx)Lotus, Word Pro and SmartSuite are registered trademarks of Lotus
Development Corporation.
Note: ViaVoice 98 uses Microsoft Active Accessibility as a tool in
performing some of its navigation and command and control functions and
only applies to ViaVoice 98 Office and Executive Editions. Microsoft
Active Accessibility is not supported on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, or in
the French, German, Italian and Spanish version of Windows 95, thus
limiting navigation and command and control functions of ViaVoice 98.
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the Canadian Press Photo Network/
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For further information: Chris MacDonald, IBM Canada Ltd.,
(905) 316-2252, cmacdona@ca.ibm.com
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