Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Good Cross-Platform Speech-Recognition Programs?

Posted by timothy on from the get-back-in-your-hood-worm dept.

CryoStasis writes "I am a graduate student getting my degree in biomedical sciences. Because my work often requires me to maintain a local sterile environment (under a biological hood) I find that I am unable to physically touch my computer, which sits beside me, in order to open my notes, protocols, etc. while I'm working. As a result, I have begun to search for a voice-recognition program that will allow me to tell the computer what files/programs to launch. I know that the general field of voice recognition has come a long way, but I find that the built-in speech recognition systems in both OS X and Vista are clunky and difficult to use. Are there any good, cross-platform speech-recognition programs available that might fit the bill?"

2 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Use PocketSphinx by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    We have pocketshinx working on windows, mac and linux in FreeSWITCH. http://www.freeswitch.org/ /b

  2. Re:Nope, there isn't. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I, for one, read the summary, but would like to contradict it.

    I got RSI and finished a 100-page document using Vista voice recognition only. Just train it properly with a good mike and it's perfectly ok. Apart from dictation, you can say a word in any link or button in properly coded apps, and spell stuff out using the radio alphabet. Alternatively, you can use the commands "mousegrid" and "show numbers" to move the mouse directly or label every control with numbers, respectively.

    Oh, and if you get RSI, don't even think about trying to configure anything in Linux until you recover. Ditch it for Vista on day 1. Your hands and sanity will thank you.