Windows XP and the vocal syntesis
In about ten years sentient computers, on the following the example of "A Space Odyssey" or "Star Trek", will be ordinary objects. In the meantime, if you want to try the thrill to talk to your PC - and to be understood - I supply step by step instructions to qualify Windows XP to voice recognition. The all one without spending a cent - unless for microphone and headphones! 

The computer of new millennium are called Tablet PC, Pocket PC, SmartPhone. Compact forms and multi-input technology, they approach users to the modern society "in the net".

Among the various modalities of interaction with the computer, the natural more is the dialogue. To speak and hearing answer in our language, would increase considerably the productivity, and also give a touch of humanity to our virtual assistant. Today we are to a step from this aim, but will be necessary a few years to have compact and convenient devices for the consumer market.


The research in this sector starts in 1950, when Bell laboratories invent a computer able to recognize isolated words (pronounced and well separated by pauses). In the following years the progress is poor, up to when the public opinion stays charmed by the movie "2001:A Space Odyssey" (1968) and the capricious but human HAL 9000. In 1971 the Department of Defence of  the United States launches a project of research on the "continuos speech" (without pauses). The road to pilot the computers by voice is begun!


Since those years, thanks to the dizzy increasing of the calulation power, were born numerous products for the "vocal synthesis" and the "speech recognition". Vocal synthesizers read texts and give information about the work context: useful functions for the disabled persons to browse windows and menus. Voice recognition programs executes orders and write text listening to the user voice.


Many companies invested on this technology; their products are often expensive and destined to professionals or companies.


For who wants to spend little... or nothing, there is Windows XP. The article continues on the web site Tom' s Hardware Italy at the following link:
http://www.tomshw.it/software.php?guide=20040607
The cost for each review is 100 EURO, including VAT, product test, research and deepenings (possible creation of user manuals), graphics and photographic production, italian translation. Please ask for multimedia and conference delivering.