Windows Speech Recognition in the Vista operating system is considered to be highly accurate. However, much of the functionality from Dragon NaturallySpeaking is missing. EMicrophones, Inc. with 15 years experience in Speech Recognition asked ourselves, what are the missing components and came up with a list of four or five items. We decided to develop them one at a time. We will release the applets bundled together as they become available or if they become available. The first applet, see below for FREE download, is a trial version good until July 31st. After that a licensed version will cost about $10.00. As we add applets the cost may increase slightly. We will likely give the applets away for free with the purchase of any microphone costing $40.00 or more. Also, people with severe disabilities will qualify for a free license.

Our first endeavor is called, "WSR'd Macro Command Builder." The "WSR'd" refers to Wizard and Windows Speech Recognition. Highly technical users are not likely to find significant reasons to use the Macro Builder applet. We did not write it for them although they are more than welcome to test it out and use it if they like.

Having used speech recognition and trained hundreds of people over the years, we know the vast majority of serious Speech Recognition users do not create scripting macros. We have found serious users use text macros.
These are commonly called boilerplate macros. With these, you can insert your complete address, repetitive text as a doctor doing a report might use, or a sign off with your name and relevant company information. The "WSR'd Macro Command Builder" Text Macro tab makes it easy to do just that.

In addition to easily creating Windows Speech Recognition text macros, you can create step by step macros using the Command Macro tab. Step by step macros allow a non-programmer to accomplish a series of commands by utilizing key strokes. For example in QuickBooks, I wrote a short step-by-step command macro to delete the previous invoice. First I use the Browse button to navigate to the QBW32.exe file in the QuickBooks folder.
This makes the macro specific only to QuickBooks instead of every other program. I then named the macro "Delete Previous Invoice." The following key presses accomplish the task:
1. Alt p (to go to previous invoice)
2. Ctrl d (to delete the invoice)
3. Enter (this presses the OK button)
Now I just say, "Delete Previous Invoice" and it is gone.

By utilizing Text Macros and step by step Command Macros, the average user can save time and make Windows Speech Recognition a lot more functional.

The trial version of program of "WSR'd Macro Command Builder" can be downloaded at:
http://www.emicrophones.com/download/MacroBuilder.zip

If you haven't already, you'll need to download and install the WSR Macro facility from Microsoft at http://download.speechmacros.com/

Once the WSR Macro facility is installed and running, you'll want to set macro security level to 'low'. This takes less than a minute. Instructions are in the readme file. This step may become unnecessary in the release version.

Marty Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc
See us at: http://www.mymsspeech.com