Entered CNET Catalog: 08/13/2003
SKU: 792843
Manufacturer: Nuance Communications, Inc. (ScanSoft)
Manufacturer description
IBM ViaVoice Advanced Edition Release 10 is a feature-rich voice recognition product designed for experienced PC users. Windows XP Home and Professional, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Me are the supported operating systems for Advanced Edition. Advanced Edition contains many of the customizable features that can make Pro USB a powerful productivity tool, such as dictation and correction into SpeakPad and supported applications within Microsoft Office, and direct dictation into a host of other PC applications. Advanced Edition also includes cross-application use of customized macros, and support for selected digital handheld recorders. On the Internet, dynamic navigation of the Web allows Advanced Edition users to access Web sites merely by speaking the link name, while navigating to bookmarks with a simple voice command. Natural Language Commands and Voice Navigation macros provide Command and Control to navigate within the supported operating system and within many popular Windows applications. Surfing the Web with voice activated linkage, creating e-mail or voice chats are tools within Advanced Edition, which allow users to enjoy the comfort of these productivity features while working on the Web.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 1 user reviews
Has handsfree control in 2 editions under $150
Pros: Learns well if you take the time to teach it
Cons: Not as good out of the box as Dragon
Review: I was really surprised to see the CNET review say ViaVoice doesn't have handsfree control. I am quadriplegic and have been dependent on ViaVoice for over 5 years. It def. has hands free control including VoiceMouse. But only in the two top editions (Pro and Advanced, as of edition 10). So I guess they tested the personal edition. Anyway, Advanced lists at $79 and Pro is under $150. I use a desktop microphone (logitech, $12) because I can't manage a headset. Here's my take. Straight out of the box, Dragon will blow your socks off. But to get full voice navigation you need the $600 version. ViaVoice isn't "buggy" in my experience--but straight out of the box, it doesn't recognize individual variations in pronunciation, so it makes more errors. HOWEVER (a big however), ViaVoice learns beautifully. If you're willing to invest 40 hours in reading to it and correcting its misunderstandings, you'll end up with something with super high accuracy, voice macros, and handsfree navigation at a much lower cost than Dragon. Dragon has been pitched at medical professionals who have the money to spend up front and don't want to take the time to "train" the system. If that's you, get Dragon. But if you are on a tighter budget or are happy to spend the time to train it properly, ViaVoice is an excellent choice. Just read the features list carefully to make sure it has VoiceMouse and Direct Dictation as features.
