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SpeakQ 2
What can I do with SpeakQ?
You can do everything that WordQ does, plus you can write by
speaking. At any time you have the choice of typing with the
keyboard, using word prediction, or speaking straight into your
text. Speech recognition and word prediction are integrated to
enhance the effectiveness of each other.
You can train SpeakQ to recognize your speech using texts provided
that match your reading level or you can write your own training
texts. An innovative training interface makes training simple. Just
listen to the computer speak and repeat after it!:
Once you have finished training, you can begin dictation using one
of two dictation modes:
In the Speak and select mode spoken words are displayed as a
list of choices enhanced by word predictions. You then select from
the list of words or phrases (using the keyboard or mouse), or type
letters to further refine the suggestions.
In the Speak continuously mode your spoken words are typed
directly into your document as you say them.
Recognized words and phrases are immediately read aloud to help you
identify mis-recognitions. To help you make any corrections, highly
accurate word predictions are suggested by combining speech with
predictive information. As a result, the desired word can be
selected with a minimum number of keystrokes.
It may take you some time to work out for yourself how to balance
typing with speaking. Everyone is different.
Key Benefits
Enjoy all of the existing benefits of WordQ
Train speech recognition using training text of your choice
Train using speech prompting if you have difficulty reading the training text
Work directly within any standard application (e.g. Microsoft Word, Wordpad, Outlook)
Dictate either continuously into a document or discretely into the word prediction box
Dictate in phrases or individual words
Hear what the computer recognizes
Type, use word prediction, or speak-to-write at any point in your writing
Make corrections using speech-enabled word prediction
Back-up and restore your speech profile
Use speech recognition without having to learn and memorize speech commands
SpeakQ 1.2 Improvements
Microsoft English (U.S.) v6.1 Recognizer is now included
with SpeakQ. Previously, this advanced recognition engine was only
available if Office 2003 was installed with the Speech Recognition
option.
An option has been added to permit users in school settings to store
their WordQ vocabulary files and SpeakQ speech
files on a
central server instead of the local workstation. This capability
permits a student to move from workstation to workstation and have
access to their WordQ/SpeakQ settings available wherever they log
in. Network administrators can find out more about enabling this
option by viewing the FAQ WordQ v2.2 and SpeakQ v1.2 Network
Installation
The Acapela text-to-speech engine has been upgraded to address a
potential incompatibility with other applications using Acapela's
text-to-speech products.
Background
SpeakQ was developed by a research and development team at Bloorview
MacMillan Children's Centre in collaboration with the Education
Development Center (Newton, MA) with funding from the National
Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research, US Department
of Education Grant No. H133G000204-02 as well as the Ontario
Rehabilitation Technology Consortium.
Speech recognition technology enhances the writing abilities of many
individuals, yet some individuals who may benefit from this
technology, do not pursue its use. In the case of some students with
learning disabilities, present-day speech recognition products do
not meet their needs due to reading demands, operational complexity,
and the lack of integration with assistive technologies such as word
prediction and text-to-speech. This has led to the development of
SpeakQ, an innovative new software program that combines the power
of speech recognition with concurrent access to other technologies,
and offers students a writing solution with distinct advantages.
SpeakQ enables users to dictate words into any standard Microsoft
Windows document in either a continuous or discrete word-by-word
manner. SpeakQ is used in combination with WordQ 2, a writing tool
with advanced word prediction and text-to-speech capabilities.
Together, these tools provide an integrated and flexible approach to
writing, and assist students with their spelling, proofreading, and
editing activities. Students now have the option to dictate text,
type on their keyboard, choose word predictions from a list, or
alternate between these methods, each of which has been optimized to
enhance the effectiveness of the other.
Designed with ease-of-use in mind, SpeakQ simplifies speech
recognition technology. During the training (or enrollment) process,
SpeakQ automatically reads the required training text to users, who
then need only to repeat the spoken words or phrases at their own
pace. At the same time, the training display minimizes visual
distractions, and accommodates users with visual differences. To
reduce the complexity of dictation, SpeakQ emphasizes the task of
writing, and eliminates the need to memorize voice commands. In
addition, recognized words and phrases are immediately read aloud to
facilitate the detection of recognition errors. Then, to facilitate
error correction, highly accurate word alternatives are suggested by
combining speech data with statistical predictive data. As a result,
the desired word can be selected with a minimum number of
keystrokes.
SpeakQ supports two styles of dictation. Like other speech
recognition products, it allows users to dictate text directly into
their documents. In addition, it also supports a style of dictation
that is unique to SpeakQ. This approach uses word prediction
capabilities and introduces a concept we call speech-enabled word
prediction. In effect, spoken words are displayed as a list of
choices enhanced by word predictions. Users select from the list of
words, or type letters to further refine their choices. By using
this approach, not only can students control the words that are
entered into their documents as they speak, but they can also
improve the accuracy of the words. Consequently, they can spend less
time correcting recognition errors, and more time on the real task
of writing.
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