This speech recognition program was an older version of the package. (Cost!)

I “trained” the package to my voice as per the instructions.

I found this a very lengthy process that resulted in a reasonable “recognition” rate – but only if I made sure I spoke with exactly the same inflection each time I used the package.

I introduced the package to a young dyslexic student (7 years old). This involved helping him to “train” ViaVoice.

This was frustrating as he was required to read from the screen in order to allow the package to assign his voice to the words.

We both became quite frustrated with the process. I shortened the exercise to avoid him refusing to continue. We then used the package to produce a narrative about his visit to the beach with his family.

Actually speaking to the computer was not a problem and he quite enjoyed verbally outlining his story. When we reviewed the story with the package (in order to “fix” those words that the package has problems with) we realised how badly the translation had occurred.

Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the story that ViaVoice created – but for all the wrong reasons. The package had turned his narrative into a completely different, and hilarious, story. We agreed that neither of us have ever laughed that much!!

We discussed the package and decided that this program would not be helpful at all. The student was very hopeful, however, that a newer version or more expensive version would be able to “do as it was told”.

I narrated to the student my experience with voice recognition on much more expensive software (Dragon Naturally Speaking and the Kurzweil 3000) through my work at the University. He is very keen for me to organise for him to try it.

S.G. (NSW, Australia)

IBM ViaVoice USA | UK

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