Talking TO Computers
Without fully developed AI (Artificial Intelligence) being perfected, which may be difficult because we don’t really even have a definition for real Intelligence yet, and the numbers of those displaying the characteristics of it seem to be decreasing daily, our computers aren’t going to be carrying on witty repartee any time soon.
So what can we do with our computers and Voice technology?
Another level of computers using Voice technology is being able to use spoken commands to operate the computer. Programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking come at a price but allow many kinds of voice interaction with your computer.
From Windows XP, Microsoft included support for Voice technology, meaning that we can actually use voice commands to control things like Microsoft Office programs as well as parts of Windows. It is possible, once Windows has started, to use words to operate the file and application interfaces.
So you could sit comfortably on your couch and say ‘Open Word’ ‘File’ ‘Open’ ‘ebay purchases’ and have the document open and ready for editing. The next step is to have Word allow dictation so you can enter the necessary text without having to type.
Of course, that’s how it used to be. Microsoft has declined to include Voice recognition functions in Office 2007 which means you have to have Microsoft Vista installed to be able to use Voice recognition now. If you’re using Windows XP, your only option (using Microsoft products) is to stick with Office XP or Office 2003.
Or install a third-party product to do the job for you.
Mr JM has a theory that Microsoft programmers have a lot of trouble making human-friendly software as none of them have actually met a human. This would appear to be another of the cases that tends to bear him out; rather than make the Voice Recognition a useful part of the software, (a definite possibility given the power of modern computers) they drop it out.
Microsoft seem to be making it a habit to decide what you and I will run on our computers – the message here? Go Vista or else…
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