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I’ve been a cheerleader for MacSpeech’s iListen dictation software since I first heard about it back in 1998. Not that I have anything against IBM/Scansoft’s rival product, ViaVoice, which has its comparative virtues (although there have been no updates for the past two years or so — indeed ViaVoice has not been significantly upgraded other than a bug fix patch for OS 10.2.2 since it was first released in the fall of 2001). It’s just that iListen is a Mac-only application engineered by a team of developers who are committed to the Mac platform.
I get asked about iListen vs. ViaVoice a lot, so I'll recap here. In my estimation, iListen’s biggest advantages over ViaVoice are:
1. Its comprehensive, no hassle, “dictate anywhere� capability. While the OS X version ViaVoice has the ability to dictate directly into a certain other programs, it’s really only at its best when transcribing speech into its own dedicated SpeakPad word processing application, from which you transfer dictated text to its ultimate destination via the Clipboard or in certain instances with voice commands to supported applications. With iListen, you can dictate directly into virtually any application or text field that can accept typed text, and this facility makes iListen significantly less cumbersome and more versatile to use than ViaVoice is.
2. iListen is easier to install, and to keep working once it is installed, than ViaVoice. On the other hand, I've found that iListen demands more training -- reading stories to the application so it can learn your voice -- than ViaVoice does. I got pretty good accuracy after reading ViaVoice X just one training story, and never bothered with more than three. I’ve found that you need at least four all with iListen for starters, and it doesn’t hurt to read a few more than that. However, at least once that task has been completed, you don’t have to do it again so long as you’re sure to keep your voice profile files backed up.
3. iListen has been a happy camper with a fairly wide variety of mics in my experience, everything from cheap PC-style microphones to Apple PlainTalk microphones, to the Andrea USB headset that ships with ViaVoice, to the VXI Parrott headset mic and the coolMacMice MicFlex the latter two being mics MacSpeech officially recommends. MacSpeech suggests that for the best dictation results, you use a quality, noise canceling microphone recommended by them, and that’s good advice, but their program also works well with lesser equipment. ViaVoice X, on the other hand, demands its own dedicated microphone. MacSpeech suggests that to keep good audio quality you should run the Set Up My Microphone routine at least once a week. I must get around to that.
4. iListen is cheaper to purchase them ViaVoice, although it’s an apples and oranges comparison, since the IBM product ships with a microphone and iListen doesn’t. However, even with of the recommended VXI Parrott headset added, iListen still comes in cheaper than ViaVoice.
New in version 1.6.6:
• This release provides a bug fix to the registration process. It also includes new documentation, the iListen_Tutorial, that provides a step by step guide to learning iListen.
• The total number of commands in an individual command set has been increased from 256 to 2,048.
• Individual commands can now be disabled.
• The Command Set version number has been added to the command set list display.
• New dictation commands have been added.
• Changed the behavior of deleting a word in Correction when the "no space" flag is on.
• The behavior of "No Leading Space" in Correction mode has been modified.
• The "Commit Corrections" command has been modified in Correction mode.
• Includes a new Mac OS X Voice Launcher command set.
• Miscellaneous bug fixes
1.6.6 is a free update to all version 1.6 users. A complete description of all the bug fixes and enhancements are included with this release.
One very noticable and much appreciated improvement that was introduced with version 1.6.5 is that the upgrade install procedure has been streamlined, and you no longer have to reenter your serial number key and username, which the installer now assimilates automatically.
iListen allows you to dictate virtually anywhere you would type. TalkAnywhere technology allows users to dictate and correct directly into almost any application on Mac OS 9.2.2 or Mac OS X.
iListen also provides Speech Navigation. You can press buttons, control the mouse, navigate the Finder and File Dialogs, open and close files, print, etc. by voice.
iListen will transcribe text from audio files and supports the Olympus series of Digital Voice Recorders, and an OS 9 version (1.5.6) is bundled with the software package. Transcription will generate text from your WAV and AIFF audio files.
Hands Free Correction lets you correct, update and teach iListen new words and phrases.
iListen's new Dock Menu provides you with one click access to iListen's most used funtions.
The package includes iListen 1.6.6 for Mac OS X, iListen 1.5.6 for Mac OS 9.2.2. iListen on Mac OS 9.2.2. has not kept pace with the development of iListen 1.6.6 for Mac OS X. The new advanced features of iListen 1.6.6 are not available on Mac OS 9.2.2.
iListen Feature Summary
• Easy to install, train and use
• Continuous Speech Recognition - Dictation in normal tone of voice and at a normal pace using the Philips FreeSpeech 2000 speech engine
• Direct Dictation - Dictate, edit and format text directly in any Application
• Correction - Correct and Update your Voice Model in almost any Application.
• Hands Free Correction - Correct using your voice, no need to use the keyboard or mouse!, (Mac OS X only)
• Correction Playback - Hear what you said - in your own Voice!
• Adapts to your Speech - iListen adapts to your pronunciation of words faster and more accurately!
• Transcription - Use a Digital Voice Recorder such as the Olympus DM-1, DS-330, or DS-2000 with your Mac. Let iListen read and transcribe your AIFF or WAV audio files into text. See the iListen Transcription Solution special offer.
• Huge Vocabulary - Vocabulary of more than 330,000 words developed in cooperation with Oxford University
• Command and Control - Speech control of the computer through built-in normal language and individually created commands
• Constant Feedback - The iListen Floating Palette provides you with constant feedback.
• Dock Menu - You can even use the Dock to access iListen functions on Mac OS X.
• Multiple Profiles - Everyone in your home can create their own voice profile, now everyone can use it!
• Text Macro Capabilities - Insert (up to 32,000 character) standardized or predetermined phrases and text - with a single spoken phrase
• Speech Navigation - Open, close and control applications and navigate the desktop by speech
• AppleScript Compatible - Ability to take advantage of Apple's built-in scripting language
• Internet Ready - Surf the web with your voice
You can reduce the amount of disk space iListen takes by selecting one of the custom install options and installing for the operating system that you are using. You can install iListen for the "other" operating system later without ill effect.
iListen creates a voice file that stores your unique vocal characteristics. The software supports multiple profiles, so others in your home or office can create their own voice files. The number of profiles you can create is limited only by your hard drive space.
iListen is designed to operate in the background while you dictate into your favorite applications. You can tell if iListen is running if you see the Feedback Palette on your screen. If at any time you want to make iListen the front most application, simply click the button on the Feedback Palette with the MacSpeech logo on it.
You can and should back up your voice profile by selecting "Profiles..." from the File menu. A backup of your voice file will be stored in iListen's Backups folder. You can then restore your voice file should something happen to it at a later time.
In order to use Voice Activated Menus in AppleScripts on Mac OS 10.2.x you must go to the Universal Access panel in System Preferences and check the "Enable Access for Assistive Devices" checkbox.
A particularly cool ScriptPak option for iListen is caled MouseAnywhere, and allows the user to position the mouse cursor using commands like "Go," "Nudge," and "Move Mouse with specific vectors added," as well as using voice commands to click or drag the mouse while holding down a modifier key such as the Shift, Option, or Control keys.
It works, and it's really cool. These commands require the use of Apple’s Accessibility tools. You need to activate these as follows:
- Launch System Preferences
- Click on the Universal Access Panel
- Turn on Allow Universal Access Shortcuts
- Turn on Enable Access for assistive devices
The MouseAnywhere movement navigation commands use compass directions to determine the direction that the mouse will move, ie: "North" "North East" "East", "South East", "South", "South West", "West", "North West".
Several kinds of commands are provided:
"Go" commands move the mouse cursor to an absolute position on the screen based on a percentage of the size of the screen. So "Go North 86" takes you 86 percent of the way to the top of the screen. "Go South 90" would move the cursor 90 percent of the way to the bottom of the screen. "Go South 90" and "Go North 10" get you to the same place. You may optionally say the word "Percent" following the percentage value you want to go to. If you do not say a percentage value, the command defaults to 10 percent of the direction provided.
With "Nudge" commands, the mouse cursor is moved the stated number of pixels in the stated direction from the current position of the mouse cursor.
The "Move Mouse" command moves the mouse cursor to the stated position on the screen. First you say the vertical position then the horizontal position. So to move to location 45 pixels down from the top of the screen, 300 pixels from the left edge of the screen, you would say: "Move Mouse 45 comma 300". Monitors to the right and below the main monitor are in a positive direction. Monitors to the left and above the main monitor are reached by saying "minus" in front of the indicated value.
Once you have positioned the mouse, the "Start Drag" command presses the mouse button down and holds it down. You can then issue any modifier key presses that you want to be down while you move the mouse, and start issuing mouse movement commands to position the cursor where you want it. The cursor will not update on the first or second mouse movement. (MacSpeech says this is an operating system problem). Once the cursor arrives where you want it, say "Stop Drag", which will release the virtual mouse button and any modifier keys that are being used as well.
"Click" commands can either just click the mouse button down and up by itself or with a modifier key. In addition they can hold the mouse button down and the modifier key down.
Examples:
Control Click - Control key down, mouse button down, mouse button up, Control Key up.
Click Mouse - mouse button down, mouse button up. (found in Global comand list)
Double Click - click the mouse button down, up twice. (found in Global comand list)
Triple Click - click the mouse button down, up three times.
"Modifier Key" commands press the indicated modifier and hold that key down until you issue a release command: "Clear Keys" (VERY IMPORTANT to prevent unintended consequences).
There are a couple limitations with these commands. Users are warned to not use them with the "Repeatedly" or "Really Repeatedly" acceleration commands, or to navigate any kind of menu in iListen itself. You can use them to navigate menus in other applications.
The MouseAnywhere ScriptPack installed quickly and smoothly, and I found response to spoken cursor movement commands instantaneous on my 550 MHz G4 PowerBook. It's quite a trip to be able to order the cursor around the screen and have it do your bidding without hesitation.
There will be a learning curve to climb with this function in terms of memorizing commands and becoming accustomed to applying them, but the rewards are potentially great for users who suffer from mousing pain or physical disability.
The only evidence of bugginess I encountered in this early going was when I verbally mangled a drag command, which locked up the Finder. I had to use Command>Option>Control>Escape to summon the Force Quit dialog and use it to relaunch the Finder. That worked, and there werre no other ill effects.
The MouseAnywhere ScriptPak is available from the MacSpeech Store for $19.95 and requires iListen 1.6.5 and Mac OS X 10.3 or later in order to function.
For more information, visit:
http://www.macspeech.com/
iLi
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