Features

• Transfer spoken text easily to documents, or use your voice commands to navigate online with Internet Explorer
• Transform the way you interact with computers by stepping away from the keyboard and using your voice to enter commands, text, etc.
• Boost your personal productivity with the new speech engine and enhanced dictation tools
• Design your own voice shortcuts by having ViaVoice assign commands to specific blocks of spoken text
• Edit or correct your dictated text with just a few spoken commands

Reviews (2)

Software Compatibility Issues
After installing Via Voice 10 (Standard Edition), I discovered that it wouldn't launch. I kept getting an error message stating that the TCP/IP protocol was unavailable. I sent an email to IBM's tech support and received a prompt, detailed reply. It turns out that ViaVoice 10 (in all editions) is incompatible with most firewalls, including ZoneAlarm and Ontrack System Suite.

The ZoneAlarm fix is a fairly complicated workaround. For Ontrack, there is no fix except to completely uninstall System Suite (disabling it won't help). Well, I like Ontrack System Suite and use it a lot, so I wasn't going to give it up. Instead, I returned ViaVoice 10.

By the way, ViaVoice 10 also caused Microsoft Word 97 to freeze whenever I tried to open it. I'm not sure why.

Bottom line: there are some serious compability problems here. I'm told that earlier versions of ViaVoice (version 9 and below) did not use the TCP/IP protocol and so should not interfere with your firewall/antivirus program. This seems to be a case of "improving" the product so much that it no longer works!

Does NOT support Windows 2000 or XP Pro
Picked this up at [a local store], and to my horror, it does not support win 2k or XP pro.It DOES say this on the side of the box, so it's not a total rip off, but still - they say 'for windows' everywhere and only in the small type do they point this out.They DO support XP home; just not XP pro, or win 2k pro.

I don't know how to get around this; the more advanced versions of the software support the 'pro' editions! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

iListen from MacSpeech brings advanced speech recognition to the Macintosh. iListen taps directly into hundreds of popular Macintosh applications. No need to use a notepad application and the cut-and-paste shuffle. With MacSpeech's exclusive TalkAnywhere technology, iListen works with the programs you use every day--e-mail, word processors, graphics applications, and Internet software--virtually anywhere you normally type.

iListen also offers full command and control of your Mac. Open applications, click the mouse, and even surf the Web using nothing more than your voice. Use the exclusive Voice Launcher to open your favorite applications, along with more than 150 of the most popular sites on the World Wide Web. Work smarter, not harder with voice-activated AppleScripts. iListen uses AppleScript to perform a virtually unlimited range of tasks, all by voice. You can also easily create scripts of your own using iListen's convenient built-in script editor.

iListen is faster and more accurate than other speech recognition programs thanks in part to a native vocabulary of about 30,000 words and a background vocabulary of 300,000 words, developed in partnership with Oxford University Press. iListen will learn your voice in as little as 15 minutes. iListen keeps you informed with a feedback palette that floats above other applications. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

iListen does it good
I purchased iListen to try out a Digital Recorder, (I have the Olympus DS-330). I'm runnning iListen 1.5.2 on Mac OS X 10.2.1.

It works great for Direct Dictation, and once I figured out I had to create a different profile for the Olympus, accuracy jumped up there too.

Really cool product, buy it!!!

iListen does it good
I purchased iListen to try out a Digital Recorder, (I have the Olympus DS-330). I'm runnning iListen 1.5.2 on Mac OS X 10.2.1.

It works great for Direct Dictation, and once I figured out I had to create a different profile for the Olympus, accuracy jumped up there too.

Really cool product, buy it!!!

desparately needed, but not there yet
Product worked for a few minutes, then crashed repeatedly on new, loaded iBook.

This will be the best dictation program available!
This is truly a piece of amazing software! Even better, further improvements are expected in a very short period of time. No other software developer has ever been so responsive to the comments and needs of their users. I need an accurate and fast dictation system for my professional activities, and iListen has rapidly become the best solution. The recognition is as good as the competing product, and the ability to add your own vocabulary will put this product far out in front of the competition. IT'S GREAT!

Best Voice Dictation Solution For Your Mac
iListen is the best voice dictation solution for the Mac OS. (It's even more accurate than anything I've used on Windows.) IBM is still playing catch up with their "Via Voice for Mac, Enhanced Edition". Now that Mac OS X 10.1 is out, I am eagerly anticipating an OS X version of iListen.

BTW, be sure to pick up a quality microphone for best results. The built-in mics on iMacs and iBooks/PowerBooks don't quite cut it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Voice Xpress Advanced 5.0 is voice recognition software for writing reports, letters, proposals, resumes, and almost any other type of text document. After training the system to recognize your voice and pronunciation, you can achieve up to 98 percent accuracy with continued use. Create special macros that automatically insert an entire section of text when you speak a short phrase. Make editing easier by listening to your documents or e-mail read out loud. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not Bad, Not Bad at All
I bought this title a couple of days ago. I gave it four out of five stars because the enrollment was a bit frustrating. The setup was as easy as pie. The enrollment took about 15 minutes, not the five they said. I had to read three stories about iinventors. Hey, it was worth the hassles. The second day that i used it, it went extremely well. It recognized 99% of what i was saying. The technology is great. When you say something, it processes first. It is a bit behind you though. You may be sayingsomething 2 or three sentences ahead of what it is typing. I recommend this product to anybody. You are getting a great buy for the price! Look, I'm typing with it right now! (I editted a couple of words) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With L&H Voice Xpress Mobile Professional 5.0, you can "say it your way"with patented Natural Language Technology. A voice-powered word processor letsyou use your own words as commands, such as "Center this" or "Bold this."Natural Language Technology will understand what you mean. Now, there's no needto memorize commands; just use your everyday speech.

Start dictating in as few as five minutes using L&H XpressStart technology. It'seasy to install and set up. You can dictate at a rate of up to 160 words perminute. This system not only enables you to dictate into virtually anyWindows-based program, but also to control Microsoft Office applications with your ownwords. And with Mobile Professional 5.0, you can work on the go with the OlympusDS-150 digital recording device, included in the package. Record your thoughts,e-mails, or documents while away from your computer, then upload the files lateras .wav files for transcription by L&H Voice Xpress.

Other features include the Sample Commands View, which lists the top commandsfor the application that you are currently using without interrupting yourproductivity; the list automatically updates each time you switch to or open anew application. Insert a paragraph of frequently used text or graphics, such asa letter closing, using the Dictation Shortcuts feature. Vastly improved speechmodels enable Voice Xpress users to achieve up to 98 percent accuracy. With a307,000-plus-word vocabulary, spelling mistakes are reduced and accuracy isimproved. Enter numbers, letters, dates, and dollar amounts in your naturalspeech; for example, if you say "three thousand and four dollars," L&H VoiceXpress Standard types "$3,004.00" on your screen. The program also includesdocument editing using the text-to-speech feature, where L&H Voice XpressStandard reads your documents back, making editing easier than ever. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It" a Greatway to write a book.
All you need to know is, I am writing a novel and voice express is

verey good for that.

DJ

Just a friendly word of warning:
L & H filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2000.

Their products are usually good, and their people do their best to support them.The algorithms are sound. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It Takes Time, But It's Worth It
Having tried the L&H program, I returned it and bought Dragon NaturallySpeaking Standard v. 4. It took about a week for me to "teach" it enough to take dictation faster than I could type. Inow dictate with much higher accuracy than I type.

However, the"Preferred" version will read back what you write or scan into adocument, and I wish I had bought that version. The upgrade is much tooexpensive, in my opinion, because the cost of Standard plus the cost of theupgrade is much higher than the Preferred version costs. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This upgrade to version 5.0 of NaturallySpeaking features improved accuracy from a company already recognized for its accuracy. Make corrections faster and easier with the new, convenient Quick Correct Box. Learn with ahands-on tutorial that leads you through basic dictation techniques.Dictate into popular e-mail programs, or use voice commands to send andmanage your mail. Use the new Add Words from Document feature to addterminology quickly. Get started promptly--all machines that meet thesoftware's minimum system requirements now learn your voice in underfive minutes. Advanced features include Text-to-Speech, letting you listento your work, hearing any text--such as incoming e-mail--read aloud;Dictation Playback, to help your editing and proofreading; and CommonlyUsed Text, which allows you to create dictation shortcuts so you can insertmultiple lines of text (such as a letter closing) with only a few words.Dragon NaturallySpeaking 5.0 Preferred also supports the transcription ofyour words directly into documents from approved portable recording devices(sold separately). ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

UTStarGate is a real-time Internet-based program that gives users the ability to search and understand the global Internet. It instantly translates Web pages, documents, electronic mail, newsgroups, chat, and more. With UTStarGate, users can search and understand Web pages in 10 languages. UTStarGate features Universal Translator technology, a translation engine that uses algorithms governing linguistic rules including lexicons of words and phrases, syntax, and grammar. This results in translations that not only convey words but also communicate the meaning of the original text.

With a browser based on Internet Explorer 5, UTStarGate has everything you need to take full advantage of the wealth of information and communication capabilities of the Internet. It is compatible with frames, dynamic HTML, and Java. UTStarGate also allows you to send and receive messages while simultaneously translating the conversation.

As an e-mail client, UTStarGate has the ability to filter, redirect, and forward mail. It supports HTML-enriched email, which lets you include graphics and stylized and formatted text in your messages.

UTStarGate Chat allows users to carry on real-time conversations in multilingual chat rooms with people from all over the world. You can connect to IRC chat servers, chat in more than one room, and send and receive formatted text. UTStarGate allows you to send sounds and actions from previously sent messages. .

UTStarGate's NetMeeting integrates audio, data, and video conferencing into one package. By using your PC and the Internet, you can have face-to-face meetings with friends, family members, or business colleagues around the world. UTStarGate simultaneously translates all conversations and data so people speaking different languages can participate in the same meeting.

UTStarGates's search feature finds not only English-language sites but also finds sites in the languages pertaining to your search. It eliminates redundant sites and organizes the search results onto the UTStarGate Internet browser.

As a document translator, UTStarGate is optimized for creating, editing, formatting, and translating documents in all Microsoft Office applications. This seamless integration gives you the power of Microsoft Office in multiple languages.

Using IBM Via Voice technology, UTStarGate offers direct dictation into all UTStarGate applications. Navigate and perform tasks using natural spoken commands.

UTStarGate also has an international broadcasting receiver for tapping into Internet radio and TV stations from all over the world. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With robust dictation, Internet, and command and control features, ViaVoice Advanced Edition 9.0 can be great for the PC user who views voice dictation and navigation as productivity tools for getting computer tasks completed quickly and efficiently. ViaVoice Advanced Edition comes with a noise-canceling headset microphone with earpiece and USB adapter, allowing you to either plug the headset into your sound card, or into a USB port for a consistent, digital voice signal.

Dictation Macros lets you augment your ViaVoice vocabulary by customizing the special names, terms, acronyms, and addresses you use during dictation. Create and edit text directly in the popular business productivity suites you use every day, including Microsoft Office 97, 2000, and XP, and Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition 9.5. Dictate, edit, and format text in SpeakPad, the ViaVoice speech-enabled word processor, or directly in Microsoft Word 2000 and 2002. Voice Marks monitors your macro commands as ViaVoice carries them out. With ViaVoice Documents, custom templates are ready for quick and easy creation of business and personal letters, faxes, and memos in Microsoft Word 97, 2000, and 2002.

Create customized voice shortcuts with the Navigation Macro Center, which allows you to cut down on keystrokes and mouse clicks. The Dynamic Web Navigation feature lets you surf Web sites using your voice in popular Internet applications, just by saying the first few words of a URL. Included is a group of specialized vocabulary topics for computers, business and finance, cuisine, and "chatter's" jargon. These can be switched on or off as a complement to the standard 160,000-word vocabulary. With the Text to Speech feature, ViaVoice can read back both your typed and dictated text, making editing your documents easier. An improved Analyze My Documents feature allows ViaVoice to recognize your writing style and the words you use frequently, leading to greater accuracy. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Via Voice - pretty good, even better with a better computer
I have a severe case of tendonitis that has reduced my ability to type for the last 7 years.I am now in law school, and even 20 minutes of typing leaves me in pain for a few days.So I must make voice dictation work for me - this is not optional but mandatory for me to survive in the working world in the future!That said. . .

Via Voice can be frustrating.After many corrections, it still gets some things wrong (like it always thinks I'm saying "bid" when I say "good" even after correcting it a few times).However - after getting a new computer - a Dell Dimension 8400 with Pentium 4, 3.0 GHZ, 1.0 GB RAM - it is SO much better than it was with my 4 year old Compaq laptop.Friends and family are amazed at its accuracy and comment that they should stop typing.I even had laryngitis when I was showing it to my mom, and it still had about 90% accuracy.

I do have a bit of an accent/twang, and it has learned my voice in a really amazing way.For example - new English speakers have a hard time understanding me because I speak quickly and run words together and over-pronounce my Es sometimes (I grew up in New Mexico!).But I have done my 80 page study outlines for law school with Via Voice.Granted, it took about longer than it would have taken if I could type.However, since I can't type, it works - and really, I think I am becoming a better writer by needing to proofread things a little more rigorously.

I would recommend it not only to people with disabilities/injuries like myself, but also to people who just type really slowly.I think even with doing the corrections, it's still a better deal than typing if you're one of those people who types with two fingers really slowly!

This is an amazing deal for the money.The dictation program does playback.(I have the personal cheap version - with Dragon, you need to get the professional verson for $170 to be able to play back.)Play back is wonderful for reading along and finding mistakes.I'd say Via Voice now makes probably one mistake in every 2 or 3 sentences, which is not too bad.

It has some quirks - the quotation marks put a space between the " and the first letter.But I can deal with that.You must be patient with Via Voice.And I haven't tried Dragon so I don't know if it's better.I do know this was cheaper for me, and it has met my needs.

Very good product
IBM hits the mark with this product. They also, somewhat amazingly, avoid most of the usual IBM mistakes. Easy set-up allows quick use of the application. Documentation is pretty good - although there are areas where more in-depth info is desired. Also, there are some elements in which audio and visual clues appear but no documentation explains what they are or why they are there - typical IBM in that respect. The enclosed microphone is my only complaint - poor quality. I use a high end mic and have very few recognition errors as a result. Spend some extra dough and invest in a decent mic.

Overall - a good product. I'd recommend it to a friend.

No good on NT or W2000!
Beware! This product won't work with Windows NT or W2000! It only works with W98 or Me. If you have W2000 you must buy the Professional edition ... which doesn't seem to have any real additional features, it just costs ... more.

Excellent Software!
I recently purchased this new ViaVoice advanced 9 edition.My first ViaVoice was the personal 8 edition which was a very good voice recognition software for the money.I upgraded to this version to see what better applications it has to offer.I have been pleasantly surprised with this new version.I am able to talk directly into instant messengers such as yahoo, msn, aol and also able to talk directly into fields such as the one I am filling out right now.You talk, it types.It really does work and if you like to send instant messages or spend more time doing other things than typing, then get this software.You will enjoy it.

Also the installation process was very easy.For those of you that already have a ViaVoice software and want to upgrade, the software does all the work, you don't have to re-teach your voice model because it upgrades it automatically with the new software.

I hope this was helpful in making your decision.

Fast and accurate!!
I was impressed on how easy this software sets up!
Within an hour of training it with my voice it got very accurate. However there are some words it had difficulty to get them at first. You have to keep correcting it within the first days so it can be well trained. Great product! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Allowing the software to speak for itself, the first few paragraphs ofthis review were written, or spoken, using IBM's ViaVoice 9. Any typos you seeare there resell--er, are the result--of a misinterpretation on the partof ViaVoice. The new voice and dictation program shows a marked improvement overprevious dictation packages, but it also proves that such technology still has away to go before it true we could come--uh, make that trulybecomes--convenient.

It's important to distinguish between limitations of consumer computing powerand the quality of dictation programs relative to each other. Voice dictation isextremely complex, and it is difficult to create truly reliable software withoutmassive, NASA-level computers to run it on. With that in mind, ViaVoice 9 is anexcellent dictation package, and the Pro U.S. bee (that should be USB)addition (edition) comes with the plant phonics Dee's pee 300 (uh, makethat Plantronics DSP-300), a headset with outstanding microphone qualityand fairly decent earphones.

Upon installation, the program asks you to read several paragraphs aloud to helpit get to know your voice. The better "trained" ViaVoice is to your vocalnuances, the more adapted it is at translating your vocal commands anddictation. Unfortunately, even after hours of training, you can see it's stillfar from perfect, which is why I'm typing from this point on.

If you can get past its vocal follies, you'll appreciate the rest of ViaVoice9's package. It's loaded with outstanding, user-friendly features, including itsown dictation pad, a direct-dictate mode that works with just about every wordprocessor you can think of, and the ability to format text and manipulatepull-down menus with intuitive vocal commands. It lets your voice perform othertasks, too, such as checking e-mail, surfing the Web, and using an applet calledVoice Mouse to command the mouse cursor. In addition, ViaVoice packs the besthelp interface we've seen in years. For instance, for a list of vocal commands,you only have to utter the words "What can I say?"

Although its specs recommend differently, we suggest running ViaVoice on amachine equipped with a 1 GHz or faster processor and 256 MB or more RAM.Dictation was slow and error prone on our 1.5 GHz/256 MB test bed.

If you have a lot of patience, some spare time for extra proofreading, and theneed or desire for a dictation suite, ViaVoice 9 is an excellent choice. Just beprepared for silly misinterpretations. --Joel Durham Jr. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

OK, not great
I tried both Via Voice 8 and 9. For the most part I still prefer L&H Voice Xpress V.4

The accuracy of IBM Via Voice V 9 is better, but lacks featurs such as adjusting the microphone level found in Voice Xpress.

I see that version 10 of Via Voice is out as an upgrade (a change in the previous policy). I would have considered spending the $90 or so bucks to upgrade and get the mike control for background noise, but I never got my $75 rebate from IBM for purchasing Version 9 a year ago. You can get Voice Xpress V 4 (standard) with the Platronics DSP folding headset for the price of the Upgrade cost of Via Voice alone. A better way to go if you are on a budget.

The software update policy ...
This is not a review for this version, but a comment on IBM's update policy. I have an earlier version of ViaVoice, namely the Millenium Pro version, which I previously wrote a positive review about. However, if I want to update to the newest version I have to pay full price, since IBM only allows users who bought the previous version within a narrow, specified time period to get the upgrade price. Everyone else has to pay full price!
Not even Microsoft who has often, deserved or undeserved, been called predatory, has to my knowledge never had such a restrictive software upgrade policy towards end-users.
This is outrageous, and it certainly makes me want to look for alternatives!

SOME RECOGNITION, but HOURS of talking
This software can recognize voiced speech, but it takes several hours to configure it so that it doesn't make lots of mistakes.

For a person who has Arthritis of Carpel Tunnel this is a great program, but they likely will need to voice out commmands for several hours to ready the program for near errorless preformance.

Via Voice
Via Voice works on my Pentium 4 XP operating system.
It recognizes a large percentage of my speaking BUT not all and makes some amazing mistakes.It may get better with more training.It is not yet working well enough to use for full time work BUT works very well when my carpel tunnel kicks in.The computer responses well to my spoken commands.Not as quick as the mouse but when you can not move the mouse without pain it is the only way to get work done.

Excellent stuff
Having read the above reviews I am astounded at the misfortune of the guy with 3 computers and the recommended specs given in the other review.
I have a bog-standard Compaq Presario 450mhz - 192mb RAM and have recently installed WinXP and - in a spate of idleness - Viavoice Release 9 along with the patch from the IBM website for WinXP compatibilty. The product works beautifully!!
Much better than Release 8 on Win98 (which already worked well). Recognition seems vastly improved and desktop navigation works splendidly (direct dictation into MS-DOS prompts is great fun).
I'd love to have a 1.4ghz with 256mb to try it on but given that my recognition accuracy is around 95% anyway I can't see what difference it would make. ... Read more