.co.uk Review

VoicePad is a basic voice-recognition package designed for dictating text or controlling your computer using voice commands. You can't use VoicePadto dictate directly into other applications, but text can be cut and pasted, or saved in Word 6 format or RTF (Rich Text Format), which are readable by many word processors. Do note that this is truly a basic package: don't expect cutting-edge technology. VoicePad uses single-word recognition, so that users must pause between each word, rather than the more advanced continuous speech recognition.

It is now standard practice to claim high accuracy rates straight out of the box--in other words, without first training the software to recognise your voice pattern. In fact, getting computers to recognise a voice is very difficult, and even with the most up-to-date products some training time is required. (This is known as "enrolment" in voice-recognition jargon). VoicePad improves slightly with initial training, but still peforms with some inaccuracies.

In 1997 Kurzweil was bought out by Lernout & Hauspie, who went on to develop their voice recognition product Voice Xpress. This and other major products such as IBM's ViaVoice and Dragon's Naturally Speaking all come in several versions--generally more expensive than VoicePad--but after training they may well give considerably better results.

To use VoicePad you will need a compatible sound card and microphone. --Frank Pennycook