Speech recognition was originally developed for people who have limited use of their hands, but these days, speech recognition is considered a “productivity enhancement.” Often, people who are controlling computer hardware devices with their hands use it. If you have a later model car, your vehicle may also be equipped with speech recognition technology that permits hands-free calling. Today, speech recognition is more mainstream than ever before.

Built-In Speech Recognition Can Increase Productivity

The speech recognition that’s included with Windows Vista is enables you to open programs and files, switch between tasks and dictate, among other things. The software itself is built into the Windows Vista operating system, but you will need hardware in the form of an external microphone of some sort. You can find USB microphones that plug into an available USB port, or you can use the traditional “audio-in” jack on the back of your computer. Usually these jacks accommodate the “mini-stereo” plugs and the jack may have a microphone icon or a label telling you what the input is. Be careful, because the headphones will also fit into this jack. If your microphone isn’t working, make sure you haven’t mixed up your inputs and your outputs!

You’ll also need to configure speech recognition before you can use it. You can find the speech recognition software in your system’s Control Panel. Choose Start > Control Panel > Ease of Access > Speech Recognition Options to open the speech recognition control panel.

From this control panel, you can start and stop the speech recognition software, configure your microphone, access the Speech Recognition tutorial, train your computer to understand your voice commands, and print a reference card that shows the standard commands that are built into speech recognition.

Speech Recognition uses a wizard to help you set up your microphone. The wizard can help you set the sound levels and verify that your set-up is working properly. You can also run the tutorial once your microphone is set up. You can skip the tutorial if you like, but Microsoft recommends that you run it, especially if you’re new to speech recognition.

Speech Recognition generally understands the commands you would access with your mouse, so you have a number of options for selecting and opening applications. You can also use the more advanced elements of speech recognition with Web browsers, email programs and applications to surf, write emails or create documents.

Photo Credit: Phillipa Willitts

Microsoft has announced that it will release a beta version of the Windows 7 operating system this week. Windows 7 is the scheduled replacement for Vista, but consumers are somewhat wary of what the new OS will offer. Windows 7 is built on Vista, and some consumers fear that it will contain the same features that made Vista unattractive. To win back its customer base, one key complaint that the new release must resolve is the availability of software drivers.

Windows 7: Fewer Interruptions

One feature Windows 7 plans to deliver is fewer alert interrupts, known as User Account Control messages. These windows pop up when the user does something that could result in data loss or a security breach. Microsoft researchers found that the system provided so many interrupts that users frequently approved every request, including those that would introduce malware onto the computer.
The new version of Windows promises about a one-third reduction in the number of system interrupts. Although the company has not confirmed a full set of features available in the new release candidate, some analysts speculate that Microsoft will add virtualization capabilities to Windows 7 and improve the overall user interface.

An early spring release seems to indicate that the latest version of Windows will indeed make it to store shelves, perhaps even in time to catch the legions of students returning to their classrooms in the Fall. One major concern of Microsoft is finding a way to offset the impact of netbook sales, those microlaptops that have recently hit the market. These miniature laptops also come with a miniature price, meaning that Microsoft’s cut of a PC laptop sale is reduced.

Last week, Microsoft reported a decline in sales for the first time in 23 years, and announced that revenues from the company’s servers and tools products bested its operating system client revenues for the first time ever. While electronics sales are generally up, Microsoft is taking a hit on server sales and is realizing lower revenues as consumers look for less expensive computing options. In addition, fewer PCs were shipped in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period one year ago.

A fall public release date for Windows 7 is assumed, based on licensing changes that Microsoft is making for Windows XP and Vista, but the company has not yet announced an official product launch date. If severe problems are discovered in Thursday’s release candidate, the launch date could be pushed back by weeks or months.

Photo Credit: Logo courtesy of Microsoft

According to published reports, Microsoft now says it will allow OEMs to license Windows XP as a downgrade option for six months following the introduction of Windows 7. The company has not said when it will release Windows 7 to the marketplace, but industry analysts believe Microsoft is readying the Vista replacement for a Fall 2009 release. There’s no word on how Microsoft will address the consumers’ big complaint with Vista: difficulty in finding software drivers.

XP Still Available On A Technicality

As a catch, new computers sold after Windows 7 is released must include the physical media for Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate. Those two implementations of Vista are the only ones that permit a user to downgrade to an earlier version of the operating system. Another catch: OEM advertising must market the computer with the OS that is normally pre-installed on the computer. Computers with Windows XP installed must not display the Vista logo and vice versa.
Currently, OEMs can sell Windows XP on notebooks only. June 2008 marked the last desktop models shipped with XP pre-installed. Like Vista, downgrade rights for Windows 7 won’t be available in every version. Only the Professional and Ultimate versions will include downgrade rights, but users who have those versions can either downgrade to the corresponding Vista Professional or Vista Ultimate versions, or downgrade to Windows XP Professional.

Six months after the release of Windows 7, users will no longer be able to request downgrade to Windows XP. The only downgrade rights available will allow users to step back to Windows Vista. Currently, Microsoft will make Windows XP media available to OEMs only through July 2009. The new plan suggests that this deadline will be extended to accommodate the new Windows 7 release.
If this has you all confused, don’t worry. In simple terms, if you buy a new desktop computer today, it will come loaded with Windows Vista. If you’re buying a new laptop today, you can request that your notebook ship with Windows XP, but you’ll be required to pop for one of the premium versions of Windows Vista in order to get the right to back down to Windows XP.

If you buy a new desktop computer six months from now, there’s a good chance that it will ship with the new Windows 7. If you spring for the premium version of Windows 7, you can request the manufacturer back your system down to Windows Vista or Windows XP, but only for a limited time. In the spring of 2010, you’ll lose the ability to get Windows XP (which isn’t supported by Microsoft, except on a per-incident basis) and your only downgrade rights will be to a premium version of Windows Vista.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Dell

Predicting the future of computing is always challenging, but if Microsoft research chief Craig Mundie is correct, the computer could take a much more active role in everyday tasks. Mundie says that touchscreen technologies, particularly multitouch capabilities, will transform the PC from a desktop creation to a central control device. The company is working on drivers and software needed to integrate this technology into future computers.

As users become more adept at interacting directly with the computer screen, tablet PCs – which Microsoft has long been a proponent of – will become more mainstream, perhaps replacing the desktop in the form of tabletop and wall mounted “room” computers.
Windows 7, which is in the testing stages right now, will feature support for both touch screen and multitouch screen technologies. In addition, Mundie says that future computers will become more adept at accepting voice commands and control gestures, making them more accessible and easier to use.

What’s Beyond Windows?

In February, Microsoft hosted TechFest 2009, its ninth annual research preview, which allows company employees see the technologies that Microsoft is actively developing. This year, the company’s research arm showcased “natural user interface” technologies that enable users to interact with computers in their homes, offices and automobiles using touch and voice recognition interfaces.

Among the technologies that Microsoft is working on is a way to allow people to use their physical space to interact with computers. For example, a “keyboard” that is projected onto a tabletop or wall surface could enable users to enter information into the computer wirelessly and eliminate the need to keep keyboards around.

Microsoft is also working on technologies that will improve the teleconferencing experience, to make it more realistic and a more viable and cost-effective travel alternative.
Touch screen capabilities could be added to even small devices by using the space on the back of the device for input and control, rather than using the front face of the device. That could enable more natural interaction with portable game consoles, mobile devices, and even wristwatches with a touchscreen interface integrated on the wristband.

Gesture-driven devices and those with voice recognition could enable mobile users to have access to phones, email and other networked services in the car, and in other areas where strict operator attention is required. Although voice recognition and hands-free calling are available for drivers now, the new technologies improve navigation, control and recognition capabilities of the devices, enabling more natural interaction and increasing the number of voice- and gesture-controllable features.

Photo Credit: Ron Wurzer, Microsoft