Uses of Voice Recognition

[Guest_imported]

I'm finding that i got a lot of cash lying around ready to be spent. I was wondering what I can do with voice recognition and my computer. Can i use voice recognition to start my computer? shut it down?? open applications ?? etc. If this is all possible, can you tell me what i need to buy (hardware/software) and about how much this will likely cost??

Are there any other non-essential hardware(s) i can buy for my computer to add some neat and perhaps useless features??

Thanks all, Im open to any kind of suggestions.

Sarina

 

[Out0fOrder]

Hello,
Extra Cash? There's no such thing. But if you really want to play with your system there are a few things you can do.
One fun project is to go to your local Radio Shack and invest in X-10 devices and have your computer control your house (lights, coffee maker, alarm, tv).
Another project would be to use voice recognition software (Dragon Dictate?) to turn lights on and off throughout your home. Voice recognition can do almost anything except turn on your computer. A cheap alternative to Voice Recognition Software would be Microsofts Game Voice (us $50). Its a simple device designed for voice controlled gamming, that can be easily modified to start programs.

Hope this gives you some Ideas.

-Out0fOrder

 

[SSJpn]

Controlling the lights and stuff with my computer?? -- Sounds great. Thats exactly the kind of thing I was talking about, thanks OutOfOrder. If you got anymore projects please tell me some more.

SSJpn

 

[CitrixEngineer]

I got a copy of IBM's ViaVoice free with a magazine - it's a fairly good representative of what can be done with speech recognition.

Yes, you can use it to open applications, shut down the computer, dictate (after a fashion!), etc, but it's not perfect - and you have to spend a while "training" it.

As OutOfOrder says, many electronics stores, such as Radio Shack, Maplins, etc do some entertaining lines in computer-controlled stuff.

http://www.radioshack.com/

http://www.maplin.co.uk/

Also, there are some good magazines, like practical electronics,

http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/

Hope this helps