Speech Recognition: Where and How

The built-in speech recognition is somewhat limited. It is not usable for text entry and the command set is limited. It is expandable if you know how to write AppleScripts. Select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "speech recognition" without quotes. All you need will be listed in the results.

It all starts in the Speech preference pane of System Preferences.

If you want true speech recognition including text entry then the only viable product is MacSpeech's Dictate..

There is a new program coming out this month called MacSpeech Dictate which will do much more than entering basic Finder commands. The program won Best of Show at this year's MacWorld Expo and has been given pretty good reviews.

Please visit this site for more information:

http://www.macspeech.com/pages.php?pID=53

Keith

To my knowledge, you cannot train the built-in speech recognition software.

You have to write new commands using AppleScript. Commands are stored in /Home/Library/Speech/SpeakableItems/ folder.

However, any of the Application commands work in all applications including Firefox. If you click on the tiny triangle below the speech control it will open a window in which all available commands can be seen.

Commands for most Mac software are included. As I said most all applications use similar commands, so they should work in all software. However, specialized commands unique to a particular program may not be included.

I don't use Speech Recognition so I can't really help you with all the ins and outs. Select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "speech recognition" without the quotes. There will be a list of articles you can peruse that may assist you.

Using Macspeech Dictate, and although there are a lot of features yet to come, this program is EXCELLENT at recognition....
recommended!!

Keith Parobek wrote:
To my knowledge, you cannot train the built-in speech recognition software.

This is incorrect. You can, and should, calibrate the voice recognition each time your computer changes to a new physical location with different ambient noise. To calibrate it, say "Open Speech Preferences" or go to System Preferences > Speech > Settings > Calibrate.

Kappy wrote:
You have to write new commands using AppleScript. Commands are stored in /Home/Library/Speech/SpeakableItems/ folder.

You don't have to write new commands with AppleScript.

Once you've calibrated the voice (in Speech Preferences), you can use various commands to set up speakable items, such as "Define a keyboard command" or "Make this speakable." Options include whether or not the command applies to all applications or just a single application.

Open the Speech Commands panel by saying, "Show me what to say." This opens a contextual panel that shows what phrases the computer is listening for at any given time. You can set it up to listen for more, such as Menu items or Front Window, by changing the settings in the Commands tab of the Speech Preferences.

I bought MacSpeech Dictate with high hopes but the program crashes and will not run. I have been thru all the support and MacSpeech say's that they have escalated the support request but after two months I am out $200 and still no working program.

Because MacSpeech is a third-party product, you're not going to get much help on this forum. I suggest being persistent with the MacSpeech support staff or a MacSpeech-specific forum.

Hi,

Just on the topic of speakable items.
How can I create a little folder inside the speakable items folder, where all the voice commands for Firefox are stored (like the one for Safari). I used the suggestions from another site that had the folder already prepared, but although I placed it in the speakable items folder, it does not appear on the command window when I open Firefox (differently from Safari).

Does anybody know the answer or at least a thread where I can find the answer?

Thanks