IBM Voice Type Dictation

In <DLIIIp. @freenet.carleton.ca>, a @FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Michael Stott) writes:

Hah!  I've got you beat.
How about all us DB/2 1.2 users who now run Warp?  An IBM application
that can't load itself under its native operating system!

I run IBM Voice Type Dictation on a P90 with 32MB RAM and it
seems totally incompatible with
WIN-OS2 sessions of any type. It even screws up if you run
WIN-OS2 after you've finished VTD!!! I find it astounding
that the only application I have which crashes OS2 is an IBM
app. I wish they'd fix it!
Mike Stott  a @freenet.carleton.ca

-> From: dal @idirect.com (Damian J. May)
-> Subject: Re: IBM Voice Type Dictation
->
-> In message <4clpo4$ @caesar.ultra.net> - qctym @ultranet.com   (J
-> :>
-> :>I'm considering purchasing the PCMCIA version of the product and ha
-> :>not been successful in securing an answer to this question:
-> :>
-> :>          Will IBM Voice Dictation interact with applications run
-> :>          in the WIN-OS/2 subsystem?
-> :>
-> :>Thanks for any insights!
-> :>
-> In a word... yes... It works on my apps, ie wordperfect.  However,
-> check out your resources... I run 24 meg of ram on a 486dx66 system
-> and I is sluggish. I think voice type thrives in a pentium
-> environment
->
-> Damian J May
-> dal @idirect.com
->
Well now, we don't run ANY windows programs and most of our machines
are 486/33 with 8-16-24 megs of ram.  We have seven folks now using
the VoiceType Dictation software, including the Boss on his 486/33,
and it works pretty good.  On those systems with 24 megs it does
sail along at incredible speeds but if the user just avoid Windows
(use Describe, Mesa/2, Colorworks, and other PM apps and VoiceType
works just great).  We do use several ThinkPads with pentiums and
they too use VoiceType, some have 8 megs but most have 16 megs,
one or two have 32megs.  But none have Windows and that's the
resource hog.

Nick Marc, Office Manager
Chauvet & Company

In message <4clpo4$ @caesar.ultra.net> - qctym @ultranet.com   (John J. Cup
:>
:>I'm considering purchasing the PCMCIA version of the product and have
:>not been successful in securing an answer to this question:
:>
:>          Will IBM Voice Dictation interact with applications run
:>          in the WIN-OS/2 subsystem?
:>
:>Thanks for any insights!
:>
In a word... yes... It works on my apps, ie wordperfect.  However, check out
your resources... I run 24 meg of ram on a 486dx66 system and I is sluggish.
I think voice type thrives in a pentium environment

Damian J May
dal @idirect.com

I'm considering purchasing the PCMCIA version of the product and have
not been successful in securing an answer to this question:

          Will IBM Voice Dictation interact with applications run
          in the WIN-OS/2 subsystem?

Thanks for any insights!

 I don't think that the PC Company is planning to sell any more Aptiva's
models with warp preinstalled.  It is rummered that an exec in the pc co is
against installing warp om any aptiva models.

Please send your cards and letters to Louis Gerstner, IBM Corporation, Old
Orchard Road, Armonk NY 10504.

The above opions are my own, and not necessary of my employers.

j @nando.net

In message <4clpo4$ @caesar.ultra.net> - qctym @ultranet.com   (John J. Cup
:>
:>I'm considering purchasing the PCMCIA version of the product and have
:>not been successful in securing an answer to this question:
:>
:>          Will IBM Voice Dictation interact with applications run
:>          in the WIN-OS/2 subsystem?
:>

Yes, it will.  I cut and paste to Ami pro for Win.  Navigation takes more
work however.  Under OS/2 many of the menu items are automatically
recognized, so under Win-OS2 you need a macro to do any navigation in a
Win-OS2 app.  They are not hard to make however.

//============================­==========//
Paul M Blais - pbl @MR.Net - St Paul, MN

-> From: j @nando.net
-> Subject: Re: IBM Voice Type Dictation
->
-> In <4bv2ea$ @news.ais.net>, i @starnetinc.com writes:
-> >In <4b6jpd$ @donatello.leonardo.net>, jda @infodial.net (John
-> >>I don't know about the Mwave being offered seperatly. Currently it
-> >>being offered in the Aptiva M70.
-> >
-> >       Most (if not all) of the higher-end IBM Thinkpads (the 700-se
-> >have it as well, although they could be slightly different versions.
-> >
-> >Steve
->
You don't need an Aptiva to run VoiceType.  I've got it and it
runs very well on my IBM (series) 300 machine.  Comes with a
voice recognition card (for ISA and PCMCIA) and saves me LOTS
of time.

                     ---====> James B. Foster
                     ---====> Warped by IBM

I would suggest that Jose Garcia hear from you. He is featured on the
Aptiva web page. ....BILL

William J DeLong
Nicholasville, KY

Just like with video cards, the fact that the Miro card uses the MWAVE chip
does not mean the cards are the same.

In <4b6jpd$ @donatello.leonardo.net>, jda @infodial.net (John Darbyshire) writes:

        Most (if not all) of the higher-end IBM Thinkpads (the 700-series)
have it as well, although they could be slightly different versions.

Steve

        VoiceType comes as a kit, hardware (ISA, MCA, or PCMCIA) and
software.  I believe I have heard a rumor about them working on a version
for MWave, but again, that's a rumor.  I think someone told me once it was
hardware-independent, but at the moment the only working hardware was
the one it comes with.  :)

        As I said above, it comes as a kit.  It requires something like 8 MB
over your "normal" OS/2 configuration.

        I think 1.1, although I'm not sure the OS/2 and Windows versions are
synchronized.

        I am told 95-99%, once you get it trained.

Steve

In <30cf1288.495 @irs.riga.lv>, dima@irs (Dmitry Solodov) writes:

Let me ask an additional question.  I have an MWave DSP 2780 card,
manufactured by MiroConnect (the "34").  After much tweeking,
I've managed to activate most of its features.  Pretty sweet.

But does this mean I can run IBM Voice Type Dictation software?
Is it MWave compatible?  Is that the "required hardware" we've
been hearing about?

In message <4b3288$ @news1.panix.com> - lsma @panix.com@panix.com writes:

:>
:>In <30cf1288.495 @irs.riga.lv>, dima@irs (Dmitry Solodov) writes:
:>
:>Let me ask an additional question.  I have an MWave DSP 2780 card,
:>manufactured by MiroConnect (the "34").  After much tweeking,
:>I've managed to activate most of its features.  Pretty sweet.
:>
:>But does this mean I can run IBM Voice Type Dictation software?
:>Is it MWave compatible?  Is that the "required hardware" we've
:>been hearing about?
:>
:>>Hello,
:>>
:>>could anybody help with software and hardware requirements and
:>>description of the IBM Voice Type Dictation System for OS/2 ?
:>>What is the current version ? How reliable is recognition ?
:>>
:>>Thanks in advance. Dima.
:>>--
:>>Dmitry Solodov
:>>E-mail: d @irs.riga.lv | fax. +371-7287659
:>>
:>>Q. How many Microsoft engineers does it take to change a light bulb?
:>>A. None. Bill Gates announces darkness as an industy standard...!
:>

You still need the VDT adapter card. With the exception of the Aptiva M70,
VDT in either OS/2 version or Windows version requires the dedicated card.
The OS/2 version is at level 1.1 . The newest windows version is 1.32 (just
released).

Recognition is VERY good. I have some clients and my own demo
installation that are running at about 98 - 99 % at something close to 90
words per minute. Some text, like my favorite demo letter, runs at 100% and
about 110 words per minute. If you include 'boiler plate' macros, 150 wpm at
100% is not unreasonable.

Minimum system for both should be a 486/66 - 16 to 20 meg of ram and a good
sized 500 + fast hard drive. Sounds like the good typical OS/2 machine.

<< John Darbyshire - Darby Systems - West Hills, CA  >>
Cert. OS/2 Engineer, LAN Server Administrator, BESTeam member
US7VHVVH AT IBMMAIL  Internet: jda @infodial.net

In message <4b4rtc$ @news.ais.net> - i @starnetinc.com writes:
:>
:>>In <30cf1288.495 @irs.riga.lv>, dima@irs (Dmitry Solodov) writes:
:>>
:>>Let me ask an additional question.  I have an MWave DSP 2780 card,
:>>But does this mean I can run IBM Voice Type Dictation software?
:>>Is it MWave compatible?  Is that the "required hardware" we've
:>>been hearing about?
:>
:>   VoiceType comes as a kit, hardware (ISA, MCA, or PCMCIA) and
:>software.  I believe I have heard a rumor about them working on a version
:>for MWave, but again, that's a rumor.  I think someone told me once it was
:>hardware-independent, but at the moment the only working hardware was
:>the one it comes with.  :)
:>
:>>>could anybody help with software and hardware requirements and
:>>>description of the IBM Voice Type Dictation System for OS/2 ?
:>
:>   As I said above, it comes as a kit.  It requires something like 8 MB
:>over your "normal" OS/2 configuration.

While VDT is offered as a package with the adapter card, it is also offered
as software only. You could have an OS/2 version and a Windows version on two
different machines, or even in the same machine, in different directories
without having to buy two adapter cards. My demo laptop is currently set up
with an OS/2 version and Windows version and ditto with the office dektop.
It is also possible to move the "voice profile" between the machines and
versions so that re-enrollment (teching your profile) is not required.

I don't know about the Mwave being offered seperatly. Currently it is only
being offered in the Aptiva M70.

<< John Darbyshire - Darby Systems - West Hills, CA  >>
Cert. OS/2 Engineer, LAN Server Administrator, BESTeam member
US7VHVVH AT IBMMAIL  Internet: jda @infodial.net

In <4b48ue$ @donatello.leonardo.net>, jda @infodial.net (John Darbyshire) writes:

Wait -- I thought the only applicable hardware in the Aptiva M70 is a 2780
chip based MWave card.  So, if I'm using the Miro card, shouldn't I be able to
us VDT features if I use the Aptiva M70 software?  It it just a stupid IBM
corporate policy keeping me from getting my hands on it???

Larry S. Marso <lsma @panix.com>
Finger lsma @panix.com for public key

In <4ao15v$ @ixnews7.ix.netcom.com>, smcna @ix.netcom.com (Steve McNally ) writes:

There is definitely OS/2 and Win32s versions of the software. A version that
uses the MWave 2.0 chipset in newer ThinkPad's and IBM Multimedia Modem(right
product?) boards is in beta.

I haven't seen anything about this announced for VTD.

The accuracy is more like 95%+ after a little usage. ;-) I believe a 486DX-33
and 16MB of RAM are the minimum(VTD needs 8MB on top of OS/2's "base" of
8MB).

Kris

------------------------------­----------------------------
Kris Kwilas                                kwi @uiuc.edu
------------------------------­----------------------------
Author of the Highly Unofficial IBM OS/2 Beta FAQ(12/8/95)
Available from http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~ kwilas/----------------------- ---------...
Brought to you by the letters O and S, and the number 2.

InfoWorld a few weeks back had coverage on VoiceType and two other
offerings.  I know there is VT for Microchannel machines (IBM PS/2s)  
and another for ISA machines.

As of right now, the hardware for VoiceType is proprietary (you have to
by the card and software as a unit from IBM), and there is software for
Windows 3.1 and OS/2.  There may also be other software for AIX and
W95.  Also, they are working (?) on software that works with your
existing sound card (S. Blaster at first, then others, most likely).

I've seen it demoed at a couple of user group meetings and read N.
Petereley's column about it several months back (InfoWorld).  The
accuracy was >65% (maybe much).  I don't know the RAM and CPU reqs, but
a 486 and 8MB are probably sufficient.

You can always call IBM, too, as I know they have a dedicated # just
for VoiceType.

Steve McNally

In message <30cf1288.495 @irs.riga.lv> - dima@irs (Dmitry Solodov) writes:
:>
:>Hello,
:>
:>could anybody help with software and hardware requirements and
:>description of the IBM Voice Type Dictation System for OS/2 ?
:>What is the current version ? How reliable is recognition ?

Hardware, min 486, faster/more mem the better, I'm using it on a P5/100 w/32
megs... I do have to pause occasionally if *I* get going too fast....

No specific software requiements, it uses an internal text editor, you then
either save to disk or cut/paste into OS/2, DOS or Windows apps... very
flexible. When you order it remember to get the card and harware bundle.

It is a hardware based product, requires an ISA slot (no PCI adapter
available).

Current version is 1.1

Voice recognition in VTD is based on analysis of the users voice, it has to
be trained to your voice. I find that technical words, proper names etc
usually only have to be corrected the first time used, then they are fine. As
it is an IBM US product it uses US syntax and spelling, and presumably
expects a "US" accent. I had a few initial problems as my accent is different
(UK origin <G>). It is also context sensitive.

I don't think that I have yet achieved the level of accuracy claimed in the
publicity material, but it is saving me money... I can dictate faster than I
can type accurately....

Richard James                           Totally Warped
                                        with OS/2
From an Island in the Pacific
Victoria, BC, Canada