VERBEX ANNOUNCES FIRST PORTABLE SPEECH RECOGNIZER FOR MOBILE COMPUTING
APPLICATIONS 

Portable Speech Commander Is Battery Operated; Handheld and Lightweight;
Interfaces to Most Major Computer Platforms; Based on Field-Proven
Continuous Speech Recognition 

COMDEX/Windows World, Atlanta, GA -- May 24, 1993 -- (Booth W6921) Notebook
and handheld computers, credit card-sized PCMCIA devices and wireless
communications capabilities have all contributed to the mobile computing
revolution. Now, for the first time, a daytimer-sized portable continuous
speech recognizer from Verbex Voice Systems, Inc. (Edison, N.J.), joins
this class of catalysts fueling mobile computer applications. 

As the most natural and accurate portable computer interface, Verbex's new
Speech Commander Portable products enhance the speed and ease-of-use of
mobile computing applications on the road, in the air or in the office.
Verbex products can be seen in Verbex's booth W6921, as well as in the
following show locations: Computer Associates, booth W7448; Adobe, booth
W7632; DEC Office booth W7824; DEC Alpha NT, booth W8256; Dolch, booth
W8538, Asymetrix, booth W6968; Oracle (in the Microsoft booth) W8214.

"I can't think of a more natural fit for speech recognition than mobile
computing," said Larry Dooling, president and CEO of Verbex. "Mobile
computing has clearly become the significant trend for computer and
peripherals developers. It seems that every issue relating to this subject
is being adequately handled --communications, display, battery, memory,
except for the interface. In this regard, there is no interface that frees
the mobile business professional from the restrictions of keyboard input
and therefore raises the performance of the application more than
speech."

Eleven ounces light and battery-powered, the Speech Commander Portable is
ideal for notebook and portable computer users, especially in situations
where typing is Portable is a natural, cumbersome, such as on airplanes or
in moving automobiles. Physical interfaces, such as keyboard and mouse are
subject to movement and space considerations. Alternatively, the Speech
Commander Portable is a natural, convenient, and accurate interface on
either the desktop or during travel.

The Speech Commander Portable Speech Developers Kit (SDK) comes bundled
with Listen for Windows, Verbex's speech recognition package for Microsoft
Windows desktop and applications, or DOS speech utilities. It is capable
of running all of the speech interfaces being developed such as Verbex's
Speech interface for Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, Adobe Photoshop,
Asymetrix Compel, AutoCAD for Windows, software developers Aldus
PageMaker, Microsoft Office, as well as dozens of other grammars currently
under development by many of the industries leading independent software
developers. A speech-ready application will respond to verbal commands
resident in memory immediately after the computer has been briefly trained
to recognize an individual's voice.

Verbex is also demonstrating Respond for Windows, a new SDK for developing
high fidelity digitized speech for verification and prompting. The Respond
SDK includes an 0522 speech commander DSP processing card, a professional
quality ear-set, Listen for Windows, and the Respond for Windows
development software.

"Imagine a field salesperson preparing for a meeting with a customer while
on the road," continued Dooling. "Any other computer interface would
require that the salesperson stop or risk taking his eyes off the road and
his hands off the wheel. Consider speech however. The salesperson might
say 'get credit history, last sale, average order quantity and preferences
for customer XYZ.' The computer responds on-screen and with digitized
speech response to the commands of the salesperson."

Once trained by a users voice, the Speech Commander Portable can serve as
an interface to many computers. As an external device with RS232
connection, the Speech Portable is literally plug-and-play. Thus, Verbex's
powerful speech interface can be easily transferred from computer to
computer, be it desktop or portable.

The Speech Commander portable uses the same circuitry as the recently
announced Digital Signal Processor (DSP)-based Speech Commander
coprocessor board for ISA-bus computers. But the portable can be used with
a variety of desktop, portable or notebook computers by a simple RS232C
serial port connection.

As with the DSP coprocessor board, the portable unit is bundled with the
Listen for Windows (Listen) software. Listen includes hundreds of resident
words which can be spoken individually or combined to create sentences
used for controlling desktop utilities and common commands found in most
Windows menus and applications. Additionally, a continuous speech
interface for Microsoft Word for Windows is included with the Listen
package.

Listen for Windows is based on Verbex's field-proven speech recognition
interfaces used in hundreds of mission critical applications, such as
receiving and inspection at Compaq Computer, financial trading at Lehman
Bros., quality inspection at Motorola, as well as hundreds of other
companies.

Verbex's speech recognition products learn a user's voice and therefore
respond with extreme speed and accuracy. Listen is  language independent
and recognizes speech regardless of dialect or accent. Moreover, the
speech interface ensures accurate recognition in high and low noise
environments regardless of how softly the words or sentences are spoken.

The Speech Commander Portable SDK, containing Verbex Listen for Windows
software, the Speech Commander Portable model 7522, which is 7" x 3.5" x
1", Respond digitized speech run-time license, a 5-1/2 hour rated battery
pack and charger, noise cancelling microphone and complete documentation,
including a customized guide to setting-up your own applications, is
$2565. It is available at a special introductory price $1665. The Respond
for Windows SDK is $1490. It is available at a special introductory price
of $995.

Verbex's popular Listen for Windows Power Users/Developer's Kit special
introductory price of $695 has been extended until September.

Verbex Voice Systems is the leader in conversational speech solutions.
Founded in 1986, Verbex has the largest installed base of commercially
active continuous speech recognition products. Verbex's products are used
by thousands of computer users internationally for mission critical
business applications such as financial trading, healthcare, package
sortation, quality control, receiving and air traffic control training.
Corporate developers and power users rely on Verbex's products to create
speech-ready applications for a variety of business and professional
computer users. Widely used PC applications are now becoming speech-ready
and available.

Verbex Voice Systems
1090 King Georges Post Rd, Building #107 
Edison, New Jersey 08837-3701
(908) 225-5225,   Fax: (908) 225-7764

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