Key Technologies: Voice I/O

There are many ways in which voice is relevant to mobile information technology. On the one hand, one moves information by voice over telephone systems. On the other hand, one can record voice into a "thing" which is sent from point to point (such as a cassette tape), or one can record information in a "thing" and take the "thing" along. If voice is recorded, it can be done in analog format, which is generally bulkier, and does not integrate well with information systems, or it can be done digitally. Digital information can be purely a numerical representation of the sounds, or it can be interpreted using recognition software (or firmware) to its most fundamental form of information (text or numerical content).
[1999/02/15]

Centigram to Use Voice Control Systems' Speech Recognition

Aug. 28, 1997, Business Wire reports that Centigram Communications Corporation will use voice recognition technology from Voice Control Systems Inc., with their Series 6 communications server. [This seems to be a voice mail system.]
[1997/09/02]

IBM Includes Andrea Headsets for Voice Systems

Aug. 26, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Andrea Electronics Corporation announced that they will supply noise cancelling headsets to be included with IBM ViaVoice(TM) and VoiceType(R) speech recognition products.
[1997/08/26]

IBM Affordable Continuous Speech Recognition for Windows

Aug. 19, 1997, Business Wire reports that IBM has shipped ViaVoice for Windows 95 and Windows NT at $99.00 (US). Capable of data entry as fast as 140 words per minute with a vocabulary of up to 64,000 words, ViaVoice comes with a noise cancelling headset, but requires no other special hardware. A minimum system is a 150 MHz Pentium MMX or 166 MHz Pentium with 32 MB RAM (48 MB for Window NT) and 125 MB of free hard disk space. In September, IBM will ship ViaVoice for UK English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.

http://www.software.ibm.com/is/voicetype/
[1997/08/22]

Virtual Worldwide PC-to-Phone Calling Network

Aug. 18, 1997, Canada News Wire reports that VocalTec Communications Ltd., the Internet (IP) Telephony Company has launched the first virtual PC-to-standard telephone network. The effort is supported by Motorola Dialogic Corporation, ITXC Corp., Compaq Computer Corporation and Digital Equipment Corporation.

http://www.vocaltec.com/
[1997/08/22]

CLM Sales To Distribute BCB Holdings' PC Talk and NetBoard

Aug. 14, 1997 Canadian Corporate News reports that CLM Sales of Atlanta Georgia has signed an exclusive one-year contract to distribute BCB Holdings Inc.'s PC Talk voice e-mail and "personal voice logging software" and NetBoard voice compression sound card.
[1997/08/22]

IBM Approves Telex's Nomad Headsets for Voice Recognition

Aug. 13, 1997, PR Newswire reports that IBM has approved three models of Telex Computer Audio Group's Nomad(TM) noise cancelling headsets for use with ViaVoice(R), VoiceType(R) Simply Speaking and Simply Speaking Gold voice recognition systems.
[1997/08/19]

Meridian Technology to Resell Data Race's "Be There"

Aug. 12,1997, PR Newswire reports that Meridian Technology Corp. will resell Data Race's "Be There!" voice remote access through desktop or mobile computer system.

http://www.datarace.com/
[1997/08/15]

Intel Licenses ClearSpeech-PC/COM

Aug. 4, 1997, Business Wire reports that Intel has licensed Noise Cancellation Technologies, Inc.'s ClearSpeech-PC/COM (TM) software which reduces background noise.

http://www.nct-active.com/
[1997/08/06]

Tech Data to Distribute Computer Devices Voice System

July 9, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Computer Devices announced that their VoiSys International subisidiary's product Voice Power will be distributed in North and South America by Tech Data. The system adds voice command to Netscape Navigator or controls applications programs.

http://www.voisys.com
[1997/07/14]

IBM Unveils Lower Cost Speech Strategy

June 12, 1997, Newsbytes reports that IBM has announced advanced speech recognition packages at much lower costs than previous offerings. Priced at $199 (US) for ViaVoice and $49 US for Simply Speaking no special hardware is required.
[1997/06/18]

Dragon Naturally Speaking Best of COMDEX/Spring '97

June 6, 1997, Business Wire reports that Dragon's "Naturally Speaking" continuous speech recognition software has won Byte Magazine's Best of Show award for COMDEX/Spring '97. Best portable was the Gateway 2000 Solo 9100. Other finalists for best portable were Toshiba Portege 300CT with 1024 * 600 display, and Toshiba Satellite 440CDX with new "Fast Scan" display technology. For other awards information see the COMDEX website.

http://www.comdex.com
[1997/06/13]

Motorola Introduces New PCM CoDec Filters

Apr. 8, 1997, Business Wire reports that Motorola has introduced a new series of PCM codec filters for digitized voice transmission. The MC14LC5480 series includes 3V low power versions and 5V versions.

www.mot.com/codec
[1997/04/15]

Continuous Speech Recognition System

Apr. 3, 1997, Computer Reseller News reports that Dragon Systems has developed Naturally Speaking speech recognition package that works with natural, continuous English speech. The system will sell for about $695 (US) and works on Windows 95 and Windows NT systems with 133 MHz 32MB RAM for Win 95 or 48MB RAM for Windows NT. Processor type was not identified in the article.
[1997/04/10]

Motorola uses DVSI's AMBE Vocoder for IRIDIUM Satellite

Mar. 19, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Motorola has licenced Digital Voice Systems, Inc. (DVSI)'s Advanced Multi-Band Excitation (AMBE(R)) speech coder for their Satellite Communictations Group to use in the IRIDIUM(R) satellite communications system.
[1997/03/30]

IBM VoiceType for Netscape Navigator

Mar. 14, 1997, Newsbytes reports that IBM released VoiceType Connection which is a voice interface package for Netscape Navigator for $14.95 US.
[1997/03/21]

Book Index

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Last update 1999/03/15