IBM Advances Voice Recognition for Software Developers

SOMERS, N.Y., March 21, 1995...Making it easier to add a new dimension to
game, edutainment and application software, IBM today announced an
improved speech recognition tooklit for software developers.

Called VoiceType Application Factory for Windows, the developer's tool is
based on the award-winning IBM Continuous Speech Series (ICSS) products
for Windows and OS/2. The toolkit, which is the newest member of IBM's
growing family of high accuracy VoiceType speech recognition products,
comes with several utilities to help manage, experiment with and
incorporate a variety of spoken words and phrases into programs.

"VoiceType Application Factory demonstrates our continuing commitment to
elevating the use of speech technology in a broad range of Windows and
OS/2 base programs," said Howard Fields, director of marketing, IBM Speech
and Pen. "While we expect significant interest from developers in the
retail, medical, legal, travel and mobile arenas, we feel that the magic
of speech technology could have a tremendous impact on the games and
edutainment world."

By using VoiceType Application Factory to harness the power of the spoken
word, developers can take their programs to the next level of
interactivity. For example, a Flight Simulator player could launch weapons
or navigate their fighter jet through enemy territory using voice
commands.

The technology implemented in this toolkit, which requires only 3MB of
memory and 7.5MB of hard drive space, provides for the recognition of
entire phrases and sentences delivered in normal or even faster speech
patterns without pauses. The speaker-independent capability of the product
also allows nearly anybody to use the product without training the system
to accept their voice.

"IBM's speech recognition provides the most significant opportunity for
users to change the way that they interface with the personal computer,"
said Karen Jackson, vice president, Zeitech, Inc., a leading developer of
complex client/server application systems and rated as one of the top 50
fastest growing, privately held companies by Inc. Magazine.

In addition to Zeitech, IBM speech development tools are being used by
other leading developers of multimedia, on-line and business applications,
including:

 -- 4Home Productions, the consumer software division of Computer
    Associates International, Inc., is a publisher of lifestyle
    software products designed to enhance personal productivity;

 -- Voice Pilot Technologies, Inc., developers of interactive
    speech recognition software for both vertical and horizontal
    markets;

 -- Knowledge Adventure Worlds, a leading-edge networked multimedia
    company that creates and publishes 3-D multi-user on-line
    environments;

 -- DialecTech, a New York City "Silicon Alley" firm of speech
    interface designers, specializing in the integration of speech
    with games and educational software products;

 -- Intertainment, a multimedia startup company headed by Hollywood
    writers and executives, a new media consultants and speech
    recognition experts, for the production of its children's title,
    "Robby Rabbit Rhyme Reason-n-Remember."

The VoiceType Application Factory toolkit contains a set of fourteen C
Function calls to control speech recognition with a C/C++ compiler.
Compatible compilers include: Borland C++ version 4.0 or higher and
Microsoft Visual C++ version 1.0 or higher. In addition, VoiceType
Application Factory can be used with other products, such as Custom Voice
from A&G Graphics Interface, to create speech applications using Visual
Basic.

In addition to this improved Windows version, IBM plans to enhance the
currently available OS/2 version of VoiceType Application Factory later
this year.

VoiceType Application Factory recognizes words and phrases based on its
30,000-word dictionary, which is extendable to include new words and
phrases specific to an application. The toolkit lists for $399. Dealers
prices may vary.

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