Free Voice Recognition Software: ViaVoice for Linux

Free voice recognition software that actually works is a rarity. The Linux platform is one system that has a number of exclusive voice recognition programs for developers and users. However, many of these programs are open-source, not fully developed and can only provide limited benefits to average users.

IBM: Changing Voice Recognition

This all changed with ViaVoice, making IBM the first and only company to develop voice recognition technology for the Linux environment. The ViaVoice SDK (Software Developers Kit) and Run Time Kits are the first in a series of free voice recognition software solutions IBM plans to launch for the system, making it easier for developers to implement the technology into next-generation applications.

IBM is confident that voice recognition technology will one day serve as the user interface for computers running any operating system. By providing free voice recognition software to the Linux community, developers will be armed with the tools needed to produce speech-based user interfaces. Using open standards, IBM and Linux are hoping these solutions will greatly enhance human interaction with e-business applications and networked computing devices.

Because the technology drastically improves a program's ease of use, reliable free voice recognition software will likely result in Linux being more accepted by the general public as a desktop platform. The support of IBM shows its commitment to supporting the Linux platform with a wide range of software, hardware and service solutions.

Features of ViaVoice Free Voice Recognition Software

With the ViaVoice free voice recognition software, developers can create Linux programs that support voice command and control text to speech translation as well. Some of the features allow developers to do the following:

• Implement voice commands into web-based and offline applications.
• Create applications that enable voice out functions.This simply means that the application would interact with the user by voice such as asking questions or reading back email messages.
• The ability to incorporate continuous speech recognition into Linux applications. This would give end-users the power to dictate directly into their programs and create emails, browse the web and so forth.

The Linux Alliance

As of now, Lineo is leading the charge in the development of tools designed to work with free voice recognition software for the Linux system. This company offers developers a full set of tools to create Linux applications for a number of associated components, such as set top boxes, phones and games. Lineo is currently working on integrating ViaVoice technology into their Embeddix TM SDK solution, giving developers the power to build embedded voice-enabled applications.

Pricing and Availability

IBM currently offers free voice recognition software programs for several versions of the Linux operating system, including Red Hat, Caldera and SUSE. The program is completely free and available for download online.

One of the first to make significant improvements with the technology, IBM has made another worthy contribution with free voice recognition software for the Linux platform. This company continues to prove its focus and commitment to supporting open standards, further enhancing the development of computing devices and applications that integrate with voice recognition technology.