Voice Navigator
Encyclopedia
The Voice Navigator was the first voice recognition device for command and control of a graphical user interface
(Patent no. 5377303). The system was originally designed for the Apple Macintosh Plus
and released in 1989. Subsequent versions were created for Microsoft Windows
.
The original system included both hardware and software. A software only version was introduced in 1992 for computers with built-in microphone and adequate microprocessor (Mac IIsi
, Mac Quadra
AV).
The hardware consisted of a TMS320 digital signal processor, a Rockwell fax modem and a SCSI
interface as well as a headset microphone.
The software consisted of Dragon Systems (acquired by Nuance
) speaker dependent, discrete utterance, voice recognition driver and Articulate Systems patented voice control technology.
The software enabled voice control of any Macintosh application using context dependent synchronised grammars derived from the current processes and operating system data structures (menus, windows, controls) and events (mouse, key and AppleEvents
). The system recognised spoken utterances and posted corresponding system events.
The system was designed to be extensible using a plug-in architecture (voice extensions) for custom functionality and included a software developer kit (SDK) for third-party applications.
Voice Navigator II - A low cost version with desktop microphone.
Voice Navigator SW - A software-only version for Macs with built-in microphones.
Voice Navigator SDK - The software developer kit for third-party applications.
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
(Patent no. 5377303). The system was originally designed for the Apple Macintosh Plus
Macintosh Plus
The Macintosh Plus computer was the third model in the Macintosh line, introduced on January 16, 1986, two years after the original Macintosh and a little more than a year after the Macintosh 512K, with a price tag of US$2599...
and released in 1989. Subsequent versions were created for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.
The original system included both hardware and software. A software only version was introduced in 1992 for computers with built-in microphone and adequate microprocessor (Mac IIsi
Macintosh IIsi
The Macintosh IIsi was a compact three-box desktop unit, effectively a cut-down Macintosh IIci in a smaller case , made cheaper by the redesign of the motherboard and the deletion of all but one of the expansion card slots...
, Mac Quadra
Macintosh Quadra
The Macintosh Quadra series was Apple Computer's product family of professional high-end Apple Macintosh personal computers built using the Motorola 68040 CPU. The first two models in the Quadra line were introduced in 1991, and the name was used until the Power Mac was introduced in 1994...
AV).
The hardware consisted of a TMS320 digital signal processor, a Rockwell fax modem and a SCSI
SCSI
Small Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it...
interface as well as a headset microphone.
The software consisted of Dragon Systems (acquired by Nuance
Nuance Communications
Nuance Communications is a multinational computer software technology corporation, headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, USA, that provides speech and imaging applications...
) speaker dependent, discrete utterance, voice recognition driver and Articulate Systems patented voice control technology.
The software enabled voice control of any Macintosh application using context dependent synchronised grammars derived from the current processes and operating system data structures (menus, windows, controls) and events (mouse, key and AppleEvents
Apple events
Apple events are the canonical message-based interprocess communication mechanism in Mac OS, first appearing in System 7 and supported by every version since then, including Mac OS X. Apple events describe "high-level" events such as "open document" or "print file", whereas earlier OS's had...
). The system recognised spoken utterances and posted corresponding system events.
The system was designed to be extensible using a plug-in architecture (voice extensions) for custom functionality and included a software developer kit (SDK) for third-party applications.
Products
Voice Navigator - The original version with fax modem capability.Voice Navigator II - A low cost version with desktop microphone.
Voice Navigator SW - A software-only version for Macs with built-in microphones.
Voice Navigator SDK - The software developer kit for third-party applications.