Logo
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows Azure
Windows Server
Windows Phone
World Cup news
 
 
Windows Vista

Using Voice and Sounds : Directing Your Computer with Voice Commands, Dictating Text

3/17/2013 11:41:31 AM

1. Directing Your Computer with Voice Commands


Windows Vista includes a powerful speech-recognition program that makes it possible for you to use your voice to command the computer. Although speech recognition is designed primarily for people who have difficulty using the keyboard and/or the mouse, the ability to direct Windows and your other programs with your voice has a certain authoritative appeal. And, as with the mouse or the keyboard, there are numerous ways to accomplish any specific task.

Start Speech Recognition

1. Start Windows Speech Recognition from the Start menu if it isn’t already running. If it’s running but sleeping, say “Start listening.”

2. Use the commands that you learned in the tutorial or from Help. If you can’t remember a command, say “What can I say?” to display Windows Help And Support, which lists all the commands you can use.

3. If you want to access something in a window but can’t figure out how, say “Show numbers.” Say the number for the item, and then say “OK.”

Use the Commands
To do thisSay this
Start a program“Start,” and then the name of the program.
Open the Start menu“Start.”
Open a menu in a program or windowThe name of the menu.
Activate a toolbar buttonThe name of the button.
Activate a linkThe name of the link.
Click an item“Click,” and then the name of the item.
Use the equivalent of keystrokes“Press,” and then the name of the key or the name of the keyboard shortcut.
Switch to a program“Switch to,” and then the name of the program.
Scroll in a window“Scroll down” or “Scroll up.”
Scroll a specific number of lines“Scroll,” and then the number of lines.
Move the speech-recognition program out of the way“Move speech recognition.”
Work without using speech recognition“Stop listening.”

Tip

You must go through a full setup process prior to using the speech-recognition program for the first time, including setting up your microphone and stepping through a tutorial that teaches you the basics of using speech recognition.


Caution

Don’t skip the tutorial! As you work your way through it, the speech-recognition program is learning to understand your voice and the way you pronounce words. If you skip the tutorial, the speech-recognition program won’t be very effective.


2. Dictating Text

The speech-recognition program lets you issue commands to your computer and dictate text in a document. Of course, while you’re dictating, you’ll also be issuing some commands—for example, telling the computer to correct or change some words, to start paragraphs, and to scroll through the document. Fortunately, the speech-recognition program is usually smart enough to know when you’re dictating text and when you’re issuing commands. Even if the speech-recognition program gets something wrong, however, you can easily correct it.

Dictate Your Text

1. In a document that accepts text, start dictating your text. If the speech-recognition program is sleeping, say “Start listening” before you start dictating.

2. Speak as you did in the tutorial, pausing only after completing a phrase or sentence. The text will be inserted after a brief pause. Do any of the following in the table at the right:


Use the Commands
To do thisSay this
Insert a punctuation markThe name of the mark—“Period, comma, question mark,” and so on.
Insert a numberThe name of the number.
Insert special charactersThe name of the character—“Double quote, open parenthesis, close parenthesis, hyphen, ampersand,” and so on.
Insert an unusual name or wordSpell the word one letter at a time.
Start a new paragraph“Enter.”
Undo your last entry“Undo.”
Move the insertion point around in a documentThe type of move—“End, backspace, move down two lines,” and so on.
Select text“Select,” and then the word or range—“Sentence” or “paragraph.”
Apply formatting or other items on a toolbarThe name of the item—“Bold, italic,” and so on. If you don’t know the name of the item, say “Show numbers,” say the number of the item, and then “OK.”
Figure out how to enter or edit something if you can’t remember the command“What can I say?” and then review the Help file.

Correct Errors

1. Say “Correct” and then the word or phrase that needs to be corrected to display the Alternates Panel.

2. Say the number of the correct item, and then say “OK.” If the correct word or phrase doesn’t appear in the Alternates Panel, say the word or phrase again, say the number of the correct item, and then say “OK.”

3. If you’re trying to correct a word that the program never recognizes, say “Spell it.”

4. In the Spelling Panel that appears, spell the word slowly, one letter at a time. If you make a mistake, say the number of the wrong letter, and then say the correct letter. If a letter is routinely misunderstood, say it with an example, such as “H as in hotel.” When the spelling is correct, say “OK.”

5. If the Add Word To Dictionary dialog box appears, specify whether you want to add the word to the dictionary used to identify spoken words, or whether you want to insert the word just this time.

Tip

Dictating text can be quite frustrating when you first start, but, as you use the program, both you and the program get better. Also, for better recognition, you can do some additional speech training.


Tip

To directly add, delete, or correct words in the dictionary, say “Show speech options,” and, when the shortcut menu appears, say “Open the speech dictionary.”


Top Search -----------------
- Enabling and Customizing Pen and Touch Features
- Microsoft Visio 2010 : Creating Swimlane Diagrams
- Managing Printing : Deploying Printers Using Group Policy
- Activating and Validating Windows 7
- Managing Disks from the Command Prompt
- Microsoft Excel 2010 : Adding and Deleting a Data Series
- Networking with Windows 7 : Resolving Names to IP Addresses
- Sharing Printers, Scanners, and Fax Machines
- Microsoft Word 2010 : Saving a Document with Macros & Opening a Document with Macros
- Managing Printers Using Print Management (part 2) - Configuring Printer Driver Isolation Mode
Other -----------------
- Using Voice and Sounds : Controlling the Volume
- Preparing Windows PE : Working with Windows PE (part 3) - Customizing Windows PE
- Preparing Windows PE : Working with Windows PE (part 2)
- Preparing Windows PE : Working with Windows PE (part 1) - Adding Optional Components
- Maintaining Security : Restricting Content in Windows Media Center, Creating Trusted Contacts, Installing Critical Fixes
- Maintaining Security : Restricting Content in Windows Media Center, Creating Trusted Contacts
- Maintaining Security : Restricting DVD Movies in Windows Media Player, Preventing Access While Using Windows Media Player
- Maintaining Security : Maintaining High Security, Setting Internet Explorer Security
- Maintaining Security : Restricting Access on the Computer
- Preparing Windows PE : Setting up the Environment
 
 
Most view of day
- Windows Server 2008 R2 high-availability and recovery features : Installing and Administering Failover Clustering (part 2) - Adding Failover Clustering feature
- Microsoft Access 2010 : Relationships Explained, Enforcing Referential Integrity
- Deploying the Client for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 : Outlook 2007 Auto Account Setup, Understanding Deployment Options
- Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 : Setting Up Transport Rules (part 5) - Creating New Rules with the Exchange Management Shell
- Installing and Configuring the Basics of Exchange Server 2013 for a Brand-New Environment (part 3)
- Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 : Preventing Errors in Dynamics GP - Preventing account selection errors with Chart Segment names
- System Center Configuration Manager 2007 : Network Design - Troubleshooting Configuration Manager Network Issues (part 1)
Top 10
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Using the Research and Translate Tools (part 3) - Translating Text with the Mini Translator
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Using the Research and Translate Tools (part 2) - Translating a Word or Phrase with the Research Pane
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Using the Research and Translate Tools (part 1) - Setting Options for the Research Task Pane, Searching with the Research Task Pane
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Doing Research with Linked Notes (part 2) - Ending a Linked Notes Session, Viewing Linked Notes
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Doing Research with Linked Notes (part 1) - Beginning a Linked Notes Session
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Doing Research with Side Notes (part 3) - Moving Side Notes to Your Existing Notes
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Doing Research with Side Notes (part 2) - Reviewing Side Notes
- Microsoft OneNote 2010 : Doing Research with Side Notes (part 1) - Creating Side Notes
- Games and Windows 7 : Installing and Playing Third-Party Games
- Games and Windows 7 : Using the Games Explorer (part 4) - Managing Your Game Controllers and Other Game-Related Hardware
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows Azure
Windows Server
Windows Phone
Cars Review