Welcome to the Speech Recognition FAQ!

This FAQ covers speech recognition systems and related topics. Manufacturer descriptions of their products, where they can be purchased, and comments from users of these systems. While we try to include accurate information, please visit manufacturer and reseller links for current prices and system requirements.

Commentaries and Information

Ruth Rose's Dragon Pages
How to Improve NaturallySpeaking's Performance
http://www.brightok.net/~edrose/page9.html
How to Treat a Sick Dragon
http://brightok.net/~edrose/page10.html

New World Creation's Speech.Users Desktop
http://www.speechtechnology.com/users/
Explore the full capacity of speech recognition systems, take the opportunity to help manufacturers find and fix bugs, suggest user interface enhancements, and help the novice user get the best out of their speech recognition system.

Mailing Lists

Voice-Users (AKA VRUG: Voice-Users Recognition Group)
http://www.voicerecognition.com/voice-users
This is the home page for the voice-users mailing list. The list was established in January of 1996 for discussing all aspects of using voice recognition input systems. Sample topics include:

• Using such systems safely, without muscle or voice strain;
• Techniques for improving recognition accuracy;
• How to set up the physical voice workstation optimally;
• General tips for effective use of voice interfaces;
• Configuration of specific systems, troubleshooting, etc.

The owner does work for a commercial entity, however this is a public list and shall continue to serve as a public list for users with no commercial intervention. If any subscribers have suggestions for the list, the owner would love to hear them and will try to satisfy all of your needs.

• To subscribe and unsubscribe from the list, you may go to its new home page at http://www.voicerecognition.com/voice-users
• If you would like to send the owner email, you may do so by sending it to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

VoiceCoder List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VoiceCoder
A Forum for discussing using VR for the purpose of writing computer code, or dictating other complex (i.e. non-prose) documents. Any VR software can be discussed.

MacVoice, Speech Recognition List
http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/MacVoiceFAQ.html
The MacVoice is a forum for discussion of everything having to do with speech recognition on the Macintosh including, but not limited to IBM's ViaVoice, Apple's Speech Recognition, Dragon's Naturally Speaking and MacSpeech.

• To subscribe, send e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fill out the form at their website to be included as a subscriber. A message asking you to confirm your subscription will be sent.
• Posting: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• List-Unsubscribe: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• List-Archive: http://lists.themacintoshguy.com/Lists/MacVoice/List.html
• Digest mode: Send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Newsgroups

Newsgroup - comp.speech
Comp.speech is an unmoderated newsgroup for discussion of speech technology and speech science. It covers a wide range of issues from the application of speech technology, to research, to products and lots more. By its nature, speech technology is an inter-disciplinary field and the newsgroup reflects this. However, computer application is the basic theme of the group. Their web site has an archive of everything posted to the newsgroup since its formation: http://www.speech.cs.cmu.edu/comp.speech/

Articles/Publications

Computer Dictation: It Rights It Wrong
http://www.businessweek.com/1997/16/b352339.htm
BusinessWeek article on new, low-cost voice recognition software.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Guide (19.95)
Paperback - 304 pages 3 Ed edition, Waveside Publishing; ISBN: 0967038987
By Dan Newman
Learn Dragon NaturallySpeaking easily with this complete, essential guide. Learn to automate work with shortcuts and macros, tune your system for best accuracy, use digital recorders, transition from typing to dictating, and much more, including how to send e-mail and surf the Web by voice and use Word and WordPerfect voice commands. For use with all versions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking (except Point & Speak and Essentials).
First Edition--for NaturallySpeaking versions 1.0 to 3.52
Second Edition--for NaturallySpeaking version 4.0
Third Edition--for NaturallySpeaking version 5
"Say I Can" Offers Dragon NaturallySpeaking Guide as First Free Online Computer Book! 
(Second Edition, version 4.0). See http://www.sayican.com/bookpr1.html

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Complete ($39.95)
Paperback - 768 pages, Insync Pub; ISBN: 096860370X
by Parmod Gandhi, Walt Kuryliak, Ted Kempster, Judith Evans, Ruth Rose, Judy Evans, Dr. G. Hugh Johnson, Martin Halliday, Al Greifenberger, Joel Gould, Halliday. Martin, Laura Barrios (Editor)

A book for beginners and experienced users, "DNS Complete" introduces and explains both basic and advanced features and uses of the Dragon NaturallySpeaking family of programs.  It has over 700 pages and covers the range from simple dictation for general writing to use by various professionals in fields including medicine and law, and from the first steps in using the programs to advanced macro writing techniques. The book also discusses suitable hardware for Dragon NaturallySpeaking, including microphones and sound cards.  Its aim is to aid users at all levels to choose the program best suited to them, and use it with success. DNS Complete is accompanied by a CD containing macros, manuals, shareware programs particularly suitable for NaturallySpeaking users, and NatView Macro Viewer, written for this book.

Research

Microsoft Research Speech Technology Group
http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/groups/srg/
The Speech Technology Group engages in research and development of spoken language technologies. We are interested not only in creating state-of-the-art spoken language components, but also in how these disparate components can come together with other modes of human-computer interaction to form a unified, consistent computing environment. We are pursuing several projects to help us reach our vision of a fully speech-enabled computer.

General

Yahoo on Voice Recognition

http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Computers/Software/Voice_Recognition/