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HCL offers Dragon's speech recognition software

HCL Infosystems Limited's distribution arm, the Frontline Division, has launched a new range of speech recognition tools created by Dragon Systems Inc of the US.

Dragon is a leading supplier of speech and language technology.

T O D A Y

• Just buy chance • Comdex India '98 • HCL offers Dragon • Telecom conference

The highlight of the range is 'Dragon Point & Speak', an entry-level, easy-to-use continuous speech recognition software targeted at the home user and the first to allow natural continuous speech at a price of Rs 5,995.

Users simply speak naturally without pausing between words into the special microphone provided with the product and their words appear immediately on the screen and into their documents.

They can work in the text window of almost any Windows application, including Microsoft Word, Corel, WordPerfect, email packages and chat room software.

The software allows users to dictate up to 160 words per minute and more as against an expert typist's speed of 40 words per minute.

The extensive vocabulary of 230,000 words can be tailored to the way the user speaks and writes through the 'vocabulary builder' application.

Frontline Division CEO A Mohan Rao said "Through Dragon speech recognition software we aim to simplify the use of computers at home and office, by eliminating complicated features and commands. This easy-to-use software will greatly enhance personal efficiency and productivity and will enable deeper and wider proliferation of IT in the country."

In addition, the division has introduced the 'Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred Edition' and the 'Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional Edition' that comes with special suites containing enhanced and customised vocabulary for doctors and lawyers.

The Preferred Edition, besides containing all the features of Point & Speak, has a 'dictation playback' facility that plays a recording of the dictated message.

This text-to-speech capability reads aloud text on the screen and the 'naturally mobile' software with which users can create documents by speaking into an approved portable recording device and automatically transcribe these documents into their PC at a later time.

In addition, the Dragon naturally Speaking Professional Edition, which is targeted at the professional user, has sophisticated customisation features for the user who creates significant amounts of text.

Founded in 1982, Dragon Systems Inc, is a leading worldwide supplier of speech and language technology, including award winning speech recognition software. Dragon's goal is to humanise the interface between people and machines by expanding the user of speech.

The company is currently porting its technology across multiple operating systems and hardware platforms. With an employee strength of nearly 300 people in the US and Europe, Dragon Systems markets its products across six continents.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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