Probably the most underrated feature of Windows in general

[Coke Robot]

Good night!

So I'm here to tell about something that probably is the most advanced feature in Windows compared to its competition, and the most underrated in general: Speech Recognition.

I was once reading a long while back, this opinion article about how Microsoft should had put its TellMe speech recognition in Windows 8 (primarily for tablets). TellMe is the speech recognition on Windows Phone 7 and 8, which by the way was built into Windows Phone well before apple cooked in a third party app that was used on iphone 4 into the 4s release and demanded money for it. Now, I thought that was superfluous to have, as it can only do about four major commands of searching with Bing, opening an app (which siri is now doing with ios 6, an advanced mobile OS my pooper!), calling someone or texting someone. All of those commands have a few different options, like to call someone. you can say to call someone on speaker or on Bluetooth or calling their mobile. And with Windows Phone 8 it is able to use a new Speech API to control apps through speech commands. Heck, I even use TellMe when I'm driving, and believe you me, it's UBER better than using siri for voice texting, as it ACTUALLY reads back what it thinks you said whereas siri must not. I'm assuming this as I've seen many a screenshot of siri drunkenness.

This is nice and all, but I thought that since Windows 8 supports mouse input, keyboard input and navigation, and touch input, that should be enough. Nope!

I stumbled upon this when I was exploring the Control Panel and it hit me, Windows 8 doesn't need TellMe, it has an incredibly advanced speech command and recognition platform that has been watered down into mobile apps, and has been around with Windows since I believe earlier than xp. Yet, it's now becoming the most used feature on smartphones and phablets. Even the company that built siri is building a new app that is able to recognize your voice profile and be able to use that as biometric safeguard. Windows doesn't have that, yet, but it's able to be trained to your unique voice profile and improve its abilities.

Windows 7 Speech Recognition - YouTube

This here is a video, looks like it was taped in 1998, of it being shown off in Windows 7 by a younger Bill Gates.

I've also looked through the reference card of speech commands, and you're literally able to control EVERYTHING with speech, where as Windows Phone 8 is now getting that ability, IF the app itself uses that new API. I have yet to use it, as I need a mic to test it out and I don't have one around. But seeing that literally 90 percent of new laptops today and even from the vista age have built in mics, it's surprising that this feature isn't being touted around as I would bet many of those built in mics could work fine. Even on desktops, you could just get a decent mic and be good with it, and AIO PCs usually have one built in as well. I personally will be showing people how to use it now, as it makes sense that a new Windows version that combines tablet-like features along with traditional features should have a speech recognition engine that should be known of and used.

And what I REALLY want to be able to do one day if my puter starts acting up, I want to say, "Computer! What are you doing?! COMPUTER! STOP!"

 

[tseven]

It's a good feature but it's probably not shown around since it probably isn't extremely accurate similar to most speech recognition software. As opposed to something that could work all the time much more accurately such as the swiping through open apps or something similar.

 

[Coke Robot]

True, but then again Speech Recognition in Windows was primarily intended for people with disabilities. But the actual speech recognition is fairly accurate. Even from the video and some others do show that just without training it, it works pretty flawlessly. Shoot, even TellMe works real well for accuracy! The HUGE difference between Windows' speech recognition and other software on other platforms is the fact that you can train it personally so it can recognize your speech profile better as you use it more.

But I'd like to use speech recognition just for the hell of it.

 

[pcRat]

I know this is an old thread but adding my 2¢ anyway.
I've been using Windows Voice Recognition on and off since Vista.
It's a program that does require a little work but very well worth it. Especially after you learn the biggest time saving trick for it.

It can get frustrating especially with a speech impediment. Until you learn how to train it quickly.
It only wastes your time to keep saying a word over and over. After the second time say "spell it" or as I learned a week ago, say "open speech dictionary", spell it and record it into the dictionary. (only say the word once and wait for Finish button)

 

[dirtyvu]

I think when they integrate some of the tech they're using for the speech recognition on the Xbox side of things, it will help Windows immensely. the Xbox speech recognition requires no training. You bring up the Bing search and it's surprisingly accurate. it must be cloud-computed because I have no idea how it can be so accurate. I think I was disconnected from the Internet one time and the Bing search wasn't even available which may suggest that it is cloud-based. then again, maybe it was pointless to run bing search since I couldn't access the internet.

 

[Coke Robot]

I know this is an old thread but adding my 2¢ anyway.
I've been using Windows Voice Recognition on and off since Vista.
It's a program that does require a little work but very well worth it. Especially after you learn the biggest time saving trick for it.

It can get frustrating especially with a speech impediment. Until you learn how to train it quickly.
It only wastes your time to keep saying a word over and over. After the second time say "spell it" or as I learned a week ago, say "open speech dictionary", spell it and record it into the dictionary. (only say the word once and wait for Finish button)

Very good to know! :thumb:

 

[Coke Robot]

I think when they integrate some of the tech they're using for the speech recognition on the Xbox side of things, it will help Windows immensely. the Xbox speech recognition requires no training. You bring up the Bing search and it's surprisingly accurate. it must be cloud-computed because I have no idea how it can be so accurate. I think I was disconnected from the Internet one time and the Bing search wasn't even available which may suggest that it is cloud-based. then again, maybe it was pointless to run bing search since I couldn't access the internet.

Yeah, Bing Search on Xbox is Cloud based. I believe even on Windows Phone, part of the TellMe service I THINK is cloud based. I've had times where I said something and my Windows Phone wasn't connected to any data and the Windows Phone Lady would reply, "Sorry, couldn't reach the network." Or something like that. That wasn't a Bing Search though...

I would rather prefer having a speech recognition software that needs training to an extent. Like, it works right off the bat, but improves around YOUR specific vocal profile. Even the company that made Siri is developing something similar to that where it learns your specific vocal profile as a means of biometric security. It would suck if one day speech input on the PC was used mainstream and someone near you said, "Open Word please" pretty loud and it opened Word on your PC as well because there isn't a voice profile in place that has been trained to you.

 

[pcRat]

dirtyvu— you had me interested for sec. Then I realized you didn't make it clear if your Xbox speech recognition could be trained or not. If it can't be trained it's a very limited program.

Reality is good. Windows speech recognition is on every computer running Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. I'm already familiar with its cheat sheet and so many of the commands.

Since I added about 10 words into the speech dictionary, windows speech recognition has been flowing quite smoothly. Now I really hate to type!

Coke—you're right. That is good to know and the sooner the better. Which is why I shared.

Now it's start my own thread to see if there's a Windows Speech Recognition data file or other file — that I can save a copy to a jump drive before doing a clean install on this computer. Just to save time without retraining

Maybe just saving the speech recognition dictionary file will do it. Which would also allow me to use the other computers as well!

 

[Coke Robot]

Lately, I've been trying to get people to use the Speech Recognition software I as I just really want people to use that as that's just freaking cool! Use your PC to its FULLEST capabilities! I've been pinning that tile to the Start Screen and hopefully someone uses it, or least after being shown how to at least.

I'm wondering why Microsoft didn't revamp it some for Windows 8, it would had made sense if they did for a mobile operating system, as well as being an aspect of the Natural User Interface as well.

 

[pcRat]

Coke— I accidentally stumbled on this page a little while ago. Short & clear directions for speech recognition program. It says this to button is all the same. Windows Vista Speech Recognition - How to use and configure speech recognition with Vista

I have a friend that finally gave in and tried it. Mainly because he can't spell good. He loves it.