Abstract:
A picture-information transmission apparatus including a file select means for selecting a predetermined file saved in a state of associating picture information with word information upon detection of execution of a predetermined operation, and a transmission-information creation means for creating transmission information for transmitting information of a predetermined file selected by the file select means to a predetermined partner, wherein the transmission information is created at the same time as the predetermined file is selected in a batch operation when the predetermined operation is executed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a picture-information transmission apparatus, a picture-information transmission method and a program storage medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to a picture-information transmission apparatus and a picture-information transmission method which are used for recognizing a voice, and relates to a program storage medium. 
   Information processing apparatuses including some personal computers are capable of taking a still picture and sticking the still picture and a comment such as a word or a phrase on an electronic mail (hereinafter, referred to as “e-mail”). 
   In order to associate a still picture and a comment such as a word or a phrase with data to be communicated such as an e-mail by typically sticking the former on the latter through the use of a screen for inputting the data, however, it is necessary to operate a keyboard, a pointing device or the like, and such an operation is cumbersome. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is thus an object of the present invention addressing the problem described above to provide a facility for easily associating a picture and a word or a phrase with a screen for inputting data to be communicated. 
   According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picture-information transmission apparatus including a file select means for selecting a predetermined file saved in a state of associating picture information with word information upon detection of execution of a predetermined operation, and a transmission-information creation means for creating transmission information for transmitting information of a predetermined file selected by the file select means to a predetermined partner, wherein the transmission information is created at the same time as the predetermined file is selected in a batch operation when the predetermined operation is executed. 
   According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a picture-information transmission method including a file select step of selecting a predetermined file saved in a state of associating picture information with word information upon detection of execution of a predetermined operation, and a transmission-information creating step of creating transmission information for transmitting information of a predetermined file selected at the file select step to a predetermined partner, whereby the transmission information is created at the same time as the predetermined file is selected in a batch operation when the predetermined operation is executed. 
   According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program storage medium for storing a program to be executed by an information transmission apparatus wherein the program includes a file select step of selecting a predetermined file saved in a state of associating picture information with word information upon detection of execution of a predetermined operation, and a transmission-information creating step of creating transmission information for transmitting information of a predetermined file selected at the file select step to a predetermined partner, whereby the transmission information is created at the same time as the predetermined file is selected in a batch operation when the predetermined operation is executed. 
   In the picture-information transmission apparatus, the picture-information transmission method, and the program storage medium, it is possible to easily associate a still picture and a word or a phrase with a screen for inputting data to be communicated with ease. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an external perspective view of a personal computer; 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the top view of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the left-side view of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the right-side view of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the front view of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram showing the bottom view of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram showing functional blocks of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram showing functional blocks of the personal computer; 
       FIG. 10  is an explanatory diagram showing a SAPI; 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram showing state transitions of a UI processing unit; 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram showing a voice-commander window; 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram showing state transitions of an engine-communication unit; 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram showing state transitions of an application-communication unit; 
       FIG. 15  is an explanatory diagram showing a screen appearing on the LCD panel with a voice-commander, a voice recognition engine and a still-picture photographing program activated; 
       FIG. 16  is a diagram showing a still-picture stored in an already produced file on the LCD panel by a still-picture viewing program; 
       FIG. 17  is a diagram showing a dictionary management dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 18  is a diagram showing a new catalog dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram showing a newly cataloged-word test dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 20  is a diagram showing a cataloged-word test dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 21  is a diagram showing a dictionary management dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 22  is an explanatory diagram showing a message window on the LCD panel by an e-mail program; 
       FIG. 23  is a diagram showing a shape like a ripple spreading from a voice-commander window over the entire screen on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 24  is a diagram showing a shape like a ripple converging from the entire screen toward an icon of an e-mail program on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 25  is a diagram showing an emphasized icon of the e-mail program on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 26  is a diagram showing a new message on the message window on the LCD panel by the e-mail program; 
       FIG. 27  is a diagram showing a typical dictionary management dialog on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 28  is a diagram showing an effect setting dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 29  is a diagram showing a voice-commander window and a window based on the still-picture photographing program on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 30  is a diagram showing a shape like a ripple spreading from the voice-commander window over the entire screen on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 31  is a diagram showing a shape like a ripple converging from the entire screen toward the window on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 32  is a diagram showing an emphasized window on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 33  is a diagram showing a picture with a mosaic effect applied in a picture display area displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 34  is a diagram showing the voice-commander window on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 35  is diagram showing a shape like a ripple spreading from the voice-commander window over the entire screen on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 36  is a diagram showing a shape like a ripple converging from the entire screen toward an icon of a word-processor program on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 37  is a diagram showing an emphasized icon of the word-processor program on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 38  is a diagram showing a window for displaying a text file, which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 39  is a diagram showing a window for displaying a text file corresponding to “letter”, which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 40  is a diagram showing a window for displaying a new text of table-calculation program, which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 41  is a diagram showing a window for displaying a text file corresponding to “home-accounting”, which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 42  is a diagram showing a launcher setting dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 43  is a diagram showing the launcher setting dialog shown in  FIG. 42 , in which another check box is checked; 
       FIG. 44  is a diagram showing a launcher-detail setting dialog on the LCD panel; 
       FIG. 45  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to image-sense a still picture; 
       FIG. 46  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to issue a command or activate a program in accordance with a voice; 
       FIG. 47  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to issue a command or activate an application program; 
       FIG. 48  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to activate an e-mail program  54 A; 
       FIG. 49  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to activate an application program or transfer data; 
       FIG. 50  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to display a screen accompanying activation of a program or issuance of a command; 
       FIG. 51  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing of a voice-recognition test; 
       FIG. 52  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to test voice recognition; 
       FIG. 53  shows a flowchart used for explaining processing to test cataloged popular names; 
       FIG. 54  shows a diagram showing state transitions of a series of processes, from activation of a still-picture photographing program till an operation to stick a comment on a still picture through image-sensing of the still picture; and 
       FIG. 55  shows a continued state transitions of the series of processes, from the activation of the still-picture photographing program till the operation to stick a comment on a still picture through the image-sensing of the still picture. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A preferred embodiment implementing an information processing apparatus provided by the present invention is described by referring to accompanying diagrams. 
     FIGS. 1 to 6  are diagrams showing a typical configuration of a portable personal computer  1  to which the present invention is applied. The personal computer  1  is a mini-note-type personal computer. Basically, the personal computer  1  comprises a main body  2  and a display unit  3  which can be put in a posture of closing or opening the main body  2  with a high degree of freedom. To be more specific,  FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an external perspective view of a state in which the display unit  3  is put in a posture of opening the main body  2 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a top view.  FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a left-side view of a state in which the display unit  3  is put in a posture of closing the main body  2 .  FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a right-side view of a state in which the display unit  3  is put in a posture of opening the main body  2  to form an angle of 180 degrees with the main body  2 .  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a front view of the state shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  is a diagram showing a bottom view of the state shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   On the top surface of the main body  2 , a keyboard  4  and a stick-type pointing device  5  are provided. The keyboard  4  is operated to enter a variety of characters and symbols. The stick-type pointing device  5  is operated to move a mouse cursor. In addition, a speaker  8  and a shutter button  10  are also provided on the top surface of the main body  2 . The speaker  8  outputs a sound. The shutter button  10  is operated when taking a picture by means of a CCD video camera  23  provided on the display unit  3 . 
   On the upper end of the display unit  3 , a nail  13  is provided. In a state with the display unit  3  put in a posture of closing the main body  2  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the nail  13  is engaged with a hole  6  which is provided on the main body  2  at a position corresponding to the nail  13 . On the front surface of the main body  2 , a slide bar  7  is provided. The slide bar  7  can be sled in a direction parallel to the front surface. The slide bar  7  holds the nail  13  engaged with the hole  6  in a locked state. However, the slide bar  7  allows the nail  13  to be released from the locked state. With the nail  13  released from the locked state, the display unit  3  can be rotated with respect to the main body  2 . A microphone  24  is attached at a location adjacent to the nail  13 . The microphone  24  is also capable of picking up a sound from the back surface as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   A programmable power key (PPK)  9  is also provided on the front surface of the main body  2 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , an exhaust hole  11  is provided on the right-side surface of the main body  2 . On the lower part of the front surface of the main body  2 , an intake hole  14  is provided as shown in  FIG. 5 . A slot  12  is further provided on the right side of the exhaust hole  11 . The slot  12  is used for inserting a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card which is a kind of PC card. 
   On the front surface of the display unit  3 , an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel  21  is provided. The LCD panel  21  is used for displaying a picture. On the upper end of the display unit  3 , an image sensor  22  is provided in such a way that the image sensor  22  can be rotated with a high degree of freedom with respect to the display unit  3 . That is to say, the image sensor  22  can be rotated to any direction within a range of 180 degrees between the exposure direction of the LCD panel  21  and a direction opposite to the exposure direction. The CCD video camera  23  is attached to the image sensor  22 . 
   A power-supply lamp PL, a battery lamp BL, a message lamp ML and other LEDs each serving as a lamp are provided on the bottom side of the display unit  3 , that is, on the main-body side of the display unit  3 . It should be noted that reference numeral  40  shown in  FIG. 3  denotes a power-supply switch provided on the left-side surface of the main body  2  and reference numeral  25  shown in  FIG. 5  denotes an adjustment ring for adjusting the focus of the CCD video camera  23 . In  FIG. 6 , reference numeral  26  denotes a cover for veiling an opening for installing an additional memory in the main body  2  and reference numeral  41  denotes a small hole for inserting a pin which is used for removing a lock nail of the cover  FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the personal computer  1 . As shown in the figure, a CPU (Central Processing Unit)  52 , a PC (personal computer) card  53  inserted if necessary, a RAM (Random Access Memory)  54  and a graphic chip  81  are connected to an internal bus  51 . The internal bus  51  is connected to an external bus  55  which is connected to components such as a hard disc drive (HDD)  56 , an I/O (Input/Output) controller  57 , a keyboard controller  58 , a stick-type pointing device controller  59 , a sound chip  60 , an LCD controller  83  and a modem  50 . 
   The CPU  52  serves as a controller covering a number of functions. A PC card  53  is mounted to add an optional function provided by the PC card  53 . 
   At the end of activation of the personal computer  1 , an operation to load application programs and an OS (operating system) 54C from the HDD  56  into a RAM  54  and store them in the RAM  54  is completed. The application programs are an electronic mail program (hereinafter, referred to as “e-mail program”)  54 A and an autopilot program  54 B. 
   The e-mail program  54 A is a program for exchanging electronic mails (e-mails) with other computers through a network comprising communication lines such as telephone lines. The e-mail program  54 A has a special function called an incoming-mail acquiring function. To be more specific, the incoming-mail acquiring function requests a mail server  93  to examine whether or not a mail addressed to the user of the personal computer  1  has arrived at a mail box  93 A in the mail server  93 . If such a mail exists in the mail box  93 A, processing is carried out to acquire the mail. 
   The autopilot program  54 B is a program for activating a plurality of pieces of processing or a plurality of programs prepared in advance in accordance with a predetermined order for execution. 
   The OS 54C is a basic program for controlling basic operations of a computer. A representative basic program is Windows 98 (a trademark). 
   On the other hand, in the hard disc drive (HDD)  56  connected to the external bus  55 , the e-mail program  56 A, the autopilot program  56 B and the OS 56C are stored. The e-mail program  56 A, the autopilot program  56 B and the OS 56C are sequentially loaded one after another into the RAM  54  to be stored therein during the activation (boot-up) process. 
   The I/O controller  57  has a microcontroller  61  which includes an I/O interface  62 . In addition to the I/O interface  62 , the microcontroller  61  comprises a CPU  63 , a RAM  64  and a ROM  69 . The I/O interface  62 , the CPU  63 , the RAM  64  and the ROM  69  are connected to each other. The RAM  64  includes a key input status register  65 , an LED (light emitting diode) control register  66 , a set-time register  67  and a register  68 . The set-time register  67  is used for storing a set time specified by the user. When the set time is reached, the operation of an activation sequence control unit  76  is started. The register  68  is used for storing information on relations. Each of the relations is a relation between a combination of operation keys set in advance and an application program to be activated. That is to say, when the user enters a combination of operation keys stored in the register  68 , the application program associated with the combination such as the e-mail program  54 A is activated. 
   An operation key flag is stored in the key input status register  65  when the programmable power key (PPK)  9  for a one-touch operation is pressed. The LED control register  66  is used for controlling an operation to turn on a message lamp ML for displaying the execution status of an application program such as the e-mail program  54 A indicated by a relation stored in the register  68 . As described above, any set time is stored in the set-time register  67 . 
   It should be noted that, since the microcontroller  61  is connected to a battery  74  used as a backup power supply, pieces of information stored in the registers  65 ,  66  and  67  are retained as they are even if the power supply of the main body  2  is turned off. 
   The ROM  69  employed in the microcontroller  61  is used for storing a wakeup program  70 , a key input monitor program  71  and an LED control program  72  in advance. The ROM  69  is typically implemented by an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read-Only Memory). This EEPROM is also called a flash memory. In addition, the microcontroller  61  also has an RTC (Real-Time Clock)  75  for updating the present time all the time. 
   The wakeup program  70  stored in the ROM  69  examines time data received from the RTC  75  to determine whether or not the present time reaches a time set in the set-time register  67 . If the present time reaches the time set in the set-time register  67 , the wakeup program  70  activates typically predetermined processing or a predetermined program. The key input monitor program  71  is a program for always monitoring the PPK  9  to determine whether or not the user presses the PPK  9 . The LED control program  72  is a program for controlling an operation to turn on the message lamp ML as described above. 
   A BIOS (Basic Input Output System)  73  is also stored in the ROM  69  in advance. The BIOS  73  invokes the OS 56C at the time the power supply is turned on. The BIOS  73  has functions including a function to exchange data between a variety of application programs and peripheral devices like the display unit  3 , the keyboard  4  and the HDD  56  after the invocation of the OS 56C. 
   A keyboard controller  58  connected to the external bus  55  controls inputs from the keyboard  4 . By the same token, a stick-type pointing device controller  59  controls the stick-type pointing device  5 . 
   The sound chip  60  receives an input from the microphone  24  or supplies an audio signal to the embedded speaker  8 . 
   The modem  50  allows the personal computer  1  to be connected to a communication means like a communication network  92  such as the Internet or a mail server  93  through a public telephone line  90  and an Internet service provider  91 . 
   The graphic chip  81  connected to the internal bus  51  receives picture data. The picture data supplied to the graphic chip  81  is sensed by the CCD video camera  23  and processed by a processing unit  82 . The graphic chip  81  stores the picture data input by the CCD video camera  23  and processed by the processing unit  82  into an embedded VRAM  81 . Then, the graphic chip  81  reads out the picture data from the VRAM  81  with proper timings and supplies the data to an LCD controller  83 . The LCD controller  83  supplies the picture data received from the graphic chip  81  to the LCD panel  21  to be displayed thereon. A backlight  84  radiates light to the LCD panel  21  from a position behind the LCD panel  21 . 
   The power-supply switch  40  is operated to turn on or off the power supply. A semi-push switch  85  is turned on when the shutter button  10  is put in a semi-pressed state. On the other hand, a complete-push switch  86  is turned on when the shutter button  10  is put in a completely-pressed state. An inversion switch  87  is turned on when the image sensor  22  is rotated by 180 degrees, that is, when the CCD video camera  23  is rotated to a direction for image-sensing the opposite side of the LCD panel  21 . 
   A drive  88  is connected to the external bus  55 . A recording medium mounted on the drive  88  includes a magnetic disc  95  such as a floppy disc, an optical disc  96  such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magneto-optical disc  97  such as an MD (Mini Disc) or a semiconductor memory  98 . The drive  88  reads out a program or data from the magnetic disc  95 , the optical disc  96 , the magneto-optical disc  97  or the semiconductor memory  98  and supplies the program or the data to the HDD  56  or the RAM  54  by way of the external bus  55  or the internal bus  51  respectively. 
   On the contrary, the drive  88  receives information such as a program or data from the modem  50  or the HDD  56  through the external bus  55  or from the RAM  54  through the internal bus  51  and stores the information into the magnetic disc  351 , the optical disc  352 , the magneto-optical disc  353  or the semiconductor memory  354  mounted on the drive  88 . 
     FIG. 8  is a diagram showing functional blocks of programs which are executed when the personal computer  1  invokes a program related to voice recognition. On the basis of pronunciations of Kanji characters stored in advance in a Japanese syllabary dictionary data base  111  or on the basis of recognized words or a grammar stored in advance in an engine recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  112 , a voice recognition engine  101  inputs data corresponding to a voice entered by the user via the microphone  24  and generates data of a predetermined format such as a text corresponding to a voice uttered by the user, supplying the generated data to a voice commander  102 . 
   On the contrary, the voice recognition engine  101  receives data such as a recognized word or a grammar from the voice commander  102  and stores the data into the Japanese syllabary dictionary data base  111  or the engine recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  112 . 
   Receiving data such as words or a text representing a predetermined speech made by the user from the voice recognition engine  101 , the voice commander  102  activates a still-picture photographing program  103 , a still-picture viewing program  104  or an electronic-pet program  105 , or issues a predetermined command corresponding to a speech made by the user to the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 . 
   Receiving data such as words or a text representing another predetermined speech made by the user from the voice recognition engine  101 , the voice commander  102  activates the e-mail program  54 A, a word-processor program  106  or a table-calculation program  107  on the basis of activation settings stored in a user launcher setting data base  113 , and supplies predetermined data such as a mail address to the e-mail program  54 A. 
   In addition, the voice commander  102  has a graphical user interface and allows a variety of settings to be made by the user through the interface. The voice commander  102  classifies settings made by the user. The voice commander  102  stores a setting related to activation of application programs, namely, the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  and the table-calculation program  107  in the launcher setting data base  113 . A pronunciation of a Kanji character and a setting such as a command for the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  are stored in a dictionary setting data base  114 . A setting related a voice-recognized word or a grammar is stored in a recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115 . 
   With a predetermined timing such as a timing to request the voice recognition engine  101  to recognize a voice, the voice commander  102  supplies data of a recognized words or a grammar stored in the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  to the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   The voice recognition engine  101  uses the Japanese syllabary dictionary data base  111  and the engine recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  112  of a particular user on the basis of data for identifying the user which is input when the OS 54C is activated. On the other hand, the voice commander  102  utilizes the launcher setting data base  113 , the dictionary setting data base  114  and the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  on the basis of data for identifying a particular user which is input when the OS 54C is activated. 
   The Japanese syllabary dictionary data base  111 , the engine recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  112 , the launcher setting data base  113 , the dictionary setting data base  114  and the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  are generated for each user of the personal computer  1  and stored in the HDD  56 . 
   The still-picture photographing program  103  stores a picture taken by the CCD video camera  23  in the HDD  56  as a file of still-picture data generated on the basis of a signal representing an operation carried out on typically the shutter button  10 . 
   The still-picture viewing program  104  selects a file of still-picture data recorded by the still-picture photographing program  103  or requests the user to select such a file and displays a still picture of the selected file on the LCD panel  21 . 
   The electronic-pet program  105  displays a virtual pet on the LCD panel  21  and issues a command to the virtual pet in accordance with an operation carried out by the user. 
   The word-processor program  106  is a program for editing a document comprising characters, figures and other data. The table-calculation program  107  carries out predetermined processing on numbers included in a table with a predetermined format, or executes a function such as processing to draw a graph representing numbers included in such a table. 
     FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram showing functions of the voice commander  102  in detail. A UI (User Interface) processing unit  123  inputs data from an application communication unit  121 , an engine communication unit  122 , a voice launcher control unit  124 , a user dictionary control unit  125  or a recognized-test processing unit  126 . The UI processing unit  123  also inputs a predetermined signal from the keyboard  4  or the stick-type pointing device  5  and displays information such as the volume of a voice input through the microphone  24  and a result of voice recognition on a predetermined window. When a predetermined program is invoked, the UI processing unit  123  displays a predetermined picture on the LCD panel  21  on the basis of data input from the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124 . 
   The UI processing unit  123  changes the status of its own on the basis of a signal representing an operation carried out on the keyboard  4  or the stick-type pointing device  5 , and supplies predetermined data to the application communication unit  121 , the engine communication unit  122 , the voice launcher control unit  124 , the user dictionary control unit  125  or the recognized-test processing unit  126 . 
   In addition, the UI processing unit  123  forms a judgment as to whether or not to issue a command to the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  or to activate a predetermined program. The formation of the judgment is based on the status of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  as well as data such as a predetermined text representing a predetermined speech made by the user. The UI processing unit  123  from the voice recognition engine  101  by way of the engine communication unit  122  receives the data. In accordance with the outcome of the judgment, the UI processing unit  123  may issue a command to the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  or activate the predetermined program. 
   The application communication unit  121  activates the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 , communicating with the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  after the activation. The application communication unit  121  then receives data representing the status of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  from the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  respectively. 
   The application communication unit  121  passes on the data representing the status of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  to the engine communication unit  122  or the UI processing unit  123 , and receives data such as a predetermined text representing a predetermined speech made by the user or data representing an operation carried out by the user on the keyboard  4  from the engine communication unit  122  or the UI processing unit  123 . 
   On the basis of the status of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  as well as data such as a predetermined text representing a predetermined speech made by the user, the application communication unit  121  activates the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 , and issues a predetermined command to the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 . It should be noted that the data is received by the application communication unit  121  from the voice recognition engine  101  by way of the engine communication unit  122 . 
   When the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  are not focused on, that is, when the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  are not activated, the voice commander  102  is not capable of executing a command for the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105 . 
   When the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on, that is, when the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  has been activated, on the other hand, the voice commander  102  is active and, thus, capable of executing a command for the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  respectively. 
   A command with the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  used as a specific target is referred to as a local command. 
   It should be noted that the method of identifying a program to which the voice commander  102  issues a local command is not limited to the focus but can also be another state or an operation to refer to data. 
   By adopting a predetermined technique, the engine communication unit  122  reads out data representing a recognized word or data representing a grammar from the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  and supplies the data to the voice recognition engine  101 . On the contrary, the engine communication unit  122  receives data such as a predetermined text representing a predetermined speech made by the user from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   By adopting typically a technique prescribed in a Microsoft Speech API (Trademark) which is abbreviated hereafter to a SAPI, the engine communication unit  122  supplies data representing a recognized word or data representing a grammar read out from the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  to the voice recognition engine  101 . A typical SAPI prescription is shown in  FIG. 10 . In the typical data shown in  FIG. 10 , the object of voice recognition comprises &lt;Global&gt; and &lt;SVCommand&gt;. &lt;Global&gt; further comprises (ChangeWin) and (VoiceCommand) whereas &lt;SVCommand&gt; includes a mail command represented by &lt;SendMail&gt; in addition to commands such as “Help” and “Move forward”. In the typical data shown in  FIG. 10 , the code number of the “Help” command is  102 , and a word having a pronunciation of “papa” is associated with a character string of “daddy@test.company.co.jp”. 
   The voice recognition engine  101  converts data received from the engine communication unit  122  into data conforming to a predetermined format and stores the data obtained as a result of the conversion into the Japanese syllabary dictionary data base  111  or the engine recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  112 . The voice recognition engine  101  also carries out processing based on data stored in the Japanese syllabary dictionary data base  111  or the engine recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  112 . 
   The voice recognition engine  101  supplies a code number such as  102  representing a predetermined speech made by the user, a recognized word or phrase such as “A mail for papa” and a string of characters associated with the recognized word such as “daddy@test.company.co.jp” to the engine communication unit  122 . 
   Assume that the user outputs a voice of “A mail for papa” to the microphone  24 . In this case, if the voice recognition engine  101  recognizes the voice correctly, the voice recognition engine  101  supplies a hexadecimal number of 7fffffff, a phrase of “A mail for papa” and a character string of “daddy@test.company.co.jp” to the engine communication unit  122 . 
   The engine communication unit  122  forms a judgment as to whether or not to send the data received from the voice recognition engine  101  to the application communication unit  121 , the UI processing unit  123 , the voice launcher control unit  124 , the user dictionary control unit  125  or the recognized-test processing unit  126 . The formation of the judgment is based on the data itself. The engine communication unit  122  then converts the data received from the voice recognition engine  101  into data conforming to a predetermined format in accordance with the outcome of the judgment, and supplies the data obtained as a result of the conversion to a selected unit, namely, the application communication unit  121 , the UI processing unit  123 , the voice launcher control unit  124 , the user dictionary control unit  125  or the recognized-test processing unit  126 . 
   The voice launcher control unit  124  stores a setting entered by the user to a displayed graphical user interface in the launcher setting data base  113 . The setting is related to the activation of an application program, namely, the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107 . The voice launcher control unit  124  then updates a setting related to a voice-recognized word or a grammar stored in the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  on the basis of the setting stored in the launcher setting data base  113 . 
   When the voice launcher control unit  124  receives data related to a launcher from the engine communication unit  122 , the voice launcher control unit  124  activates the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107  on the basis of a setting which is related to the activation of an application program and stored in the launcher setting data base  113 , and supplies information such as a mail address to the e-mail program  54 A. 
   The voice commander  102  is capable of executing a command to activate the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107  without regard to the state of the focus, that is, regardless of which program is active. 
   A command to activate, for example, the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107  that can be executed at any time without regard to the state of the focus as described above is referred to as a global command. 
   The user dictionary control unit  125  stores a setting entered by the user to a displayed graphical user interface in the dictionary setting data base  114 . The setting is related to a recognized voice. The user dictionary control unit  125  then updates a setting related to a voice-recognized word or a grammar stored in the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  on the basis of the setting stored in the dictionary setting data base  114 . 
   When the user dictionary control unit  125  is informed of a request made by the user for a test, the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a graphical user interface and forms a judgment as to whether or not 1 of predetermined words which is selected from those stored in the dictionary setting data base  114  matches a word received from the voice recognition engine  101  through the engine communication unit  122 . The word received from the voice recognition engine  101  is a result of recognition of a voice. The user dictionary control unit  125  then displays the outcome of the judgment. 
   In addition, when the user dictionary control unit  125  is informed of a request made by the user for a test, the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a graphical user interface and forms a judgment as to whether or not 1 or more of predetermined words which are selected from those stored in the dictionary setting data base  114  include a word received from the voice recognition engine  101  through the engine communication unit  122 . The word received from the voice recognition engine  101  is a result of recognition of a voice. The user dictionary control unit  125  then displays the outcome of the judgment. 
     FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram showing state transitions of the UI processing unit  123  according to predetermined inputs. In the figure, a phrase enclosed by parentheses ( ) is a condition for a state transition such as activation of a program or completion of engine activation. On the other hand, a phrase enclosed by brackets [ ] denotes processing carried out to accompany a state transition. Examples of such processing are an operation to display information indicating an on-going activation, a setting of a recognized word or a grammar, etc. 
   When the voice commander  102  is activated, the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture showing an on going activation on the LCD panel  21 , displays a window of the voice commander  102  shown in  FIG. 12  and transits to State 1 of waiting for the voice recognition engine  101  to be activated. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , the voice-commander window  151  has a level gage  161 , a recognition-result display area  162 , a display switching button  163 , a launcher setting button  164 , a dictionary management button  165 , a help button  166 , a minimization button  167 , a close button  168 , a recognition-status display area  169  and a voice-input-mode switching button  170 . 
   The level gage  161  displays the level of a voice entered by the user via the microphone  24 . The level indicates the amplitude of a signal output by the microphone  124 . The recognition-result display area  162  displays a word or a phrase representing a recognized voice supplied by the engine communication unit  122 . 
   The display switching button  163  is operated to change the voice-commander window  151  to a small window not shown. The launcher setting button  164  is operated to make a setting related to the activation of the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107 . 
   The dictionary management button  165  is operated to store a setting related to a recognized voice in the dictionary setting data base  114 . The help button  166  is operated to display online help information on the LCD panel  21 . The minimization button  167  is operated to erase the voice-commander window  151  from the LCD panel  21  and display its icon typically on a task tray. The close button  168  is operated to end the voice commander  102 . 
   The recognition-status display area  169  displays the status of the voice recognition engine  101  or information indicating whether or not a local command can be used, that is, whether or not a predetermined program is active. The voice-input-mode switching button  170  is operated to switch a normal recognition mode to an ordinary recognition mode or vice versa. 
   If the activation of the voice recognition engine  101  ends in a failure in State 1, the processing carried out by the UI processing unit  123  is ended. 
   When the activation of the voice recognition engine  101  is completed successfully in State 1, on the other hand, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 2. 
   When the close button  168  is clicked in State 2, the UI processing unit  123  ends the processing carried out by the voice commander  102 . When a key assigned by the user to voice recognition is pressed in State 2, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 3 in which a voice can be entered. An example of a key assigned to voice recognition is a control key of the keyboard  4 . Such a key is referred to hereafter as a recognition key. 
   In a transition from State 2 to State 3, the UI processing unit  123  receives data from the application communication unit  121 . The data indicates which of the still-picture viewing program  104 , the electronic-pet program  105  and the still-picture photographing program  103  is active. The UI processing unit  123  then displays the name of the active program on the recognition-status display area  169  of the voice-commander window  151 . If none of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is active, on the other hand, the UI processing unit  123  displays information such as “Global Command” on the recognition-status display area  169  of the voice-commander window  151  to indicate that none of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is active. 
   In State 3, a signal representing a voice entered by the user via the microphone  24  is supplied to the voice recognition engine  101 , and data representing the level of the signal supplied to the voice recognition engine  101  is supplied to the UI processing unit  123  by way of the engine communication unit  122 . In State 3, the UI processing unit  123  updates a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data representing the level of the signal representing the voice. 
   In addition, in State 3, when the voice recognition engine  101  recognizes a voice, the UI processing unit  123  receives data such as a recognized word or a recognized phrase from the voice recognition engine  101  and displays the recognized word or phrase on the recognition-result display area  162  of the voice-commander window  151 . 
   If the user keeps pressing the recognition key in State 3, the UI processing unit  123  carries out the processing in State 3 repeatedly. 
   When the user releases the recognition key in State 3, the UI processing unit  123  requests the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  to carry out a predetermined operation such as activation of the e-mail program  54 A corresponding to data supplied by the voice recognition engine  101  to the UI processing unit  123 . The data is a code number, a recognized word or phrase and a string of characters related to the recognized word. 
   At the request made by the UI processing unit  123 , the application communication unit  121  activates the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 , or issues a command to the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 . 
   At the request made by the UI processing unit  123 , the voice launcher control unit  124  activates the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107 , or supplies predetermined data such as a mail address to the e-mail program  54 A. 
   When the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  drives a predetermined program to finish a predetermined operation, the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  informs the UI processing unit  123  of the completion. The UI processing unit  123  then displays a picture to be described more later on the LDC panel  21  in accordance with a program serving as an object of the finished operation. The picture enables the user to recognize the program which serves as the object of the finished operation. 
   Since the picture for recognizing the program serving as an object of the finished operation is displayed on the LCD panel  21 , the user is capable of knowing the result of voice recognition and the operation carried out by the voice commander  102 . 
   In a transition from State 3 to State 2, the UI processing unit  123  erases the display on the recognition-status display area  169 . 
   When the voice-input-mode switching button  170  is clicked in State 2, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 4 of a normal recognition mode. 
   In a transition from State 2 to State 4, the UI processing unit  123  receives data from the application communication unit  121 . The data indicates which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is active. Then, the UI processing unit  123  displays the name of the active program in the recognition-status display area  169 . If none of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is active, on the other hand, the UI processing unit  123  displays information such as “Global Command” on the recognition-status display area  169  of the voice-commander window  151  to indicate that none of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is active. 
   In State 4, a signal representing a voice entered by the user via the microphone  24  is supplied to the voice recognition engine  101 , and data representing the level of the signal supplied to the voice recognition engine  101  is supplied to the UI processing unit  123  by way of the engine communication unit  122 . In State 4, the UI processing unit  123  updates a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data representing the level of the signal representing the voice. 
   In addition, in State 4, when the voice recognition engine  101  recognizes a voice, the UI processing unit  123  receives data such as a recognized word or a recognized phrase from the voice recognition engine  101  and displays the recognized word or phrase on the recognition-result display area  162  of the voice-commander window  151 . 
   When the UI processing unit  123  receives a recognized word or a recognized phrase from the voice recognition engine  101  in State 4, the UI processing unit  123  requests the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  to carry out a predetermined operation corresponding to data supplied by the voice recognition engine  101  to the UI processing unit  123 . The data is a code number, a recognized word or phrase and a string of characters related to the recognized word. 
   At the request made by the UI processing unit  123 , the application communication unit  121  activates the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 , or issues a command to the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 . 
   At the request made by the UI processing unit  123 , the voice launcher control unit  124  activates the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107 , or supplies predetermined data such as a mail address to the e-mail program  54 A. 
   When the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  drives a predetermined program to finish a predetermined operation, the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124  informs the UI processing unit  123  of the completion. The UI processing unit  123  then displays a picture to be described more later on the LDC panel  21  in accordance with a program serving as an object of the finished operation. The picture enables the user to recognize the program which serves as the object of the finished operation. 
   In State 4, when the voice recognition engine  101  recognizes a predetermined voice without regard to an operation carried out on the recognition key, the voice commander  102  activates the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 , or issues a predetermined command to the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 . As an alternative, the voice commander  102  activates the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107 , or supplies predetermined data to the e-mail program  54 A. 
   When the voice-input-mode switching button  170  is clicked in State 4, the UI processing unit  123  transits back to State 2. 
   In State 2, when an operation to take a still picture is added to the still-picture photographing program  103 , that is, for example, when the shutter button  10  is pressed, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 5 in which a comment to be stuck on the still picture is input. 
   In State 5, a signal representing a voice entered by the user via the microphone  24  is supplied to the voice recognition engine  101 , and data representing the signal representing the voice entered by the user via the microphone  24  is supplied to the UI processing unit  123  by way of the engine communication unit  122 . In State 5, the UI processing unit  123  updates a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data representing the level of the signal representing the voice. 
   In addition, in State 5, when the voice recognition engine  101  recognizes a voice, the UI processing unit  123  receives data such as a recognized word or a recognized phrase from the voice recognition engine  101  and displays the recognized word or phrase on a predetermined dialog for a picture including the attached comment displayed on the LCD panel  21 . 
   In State 5, the UI processing unit  123  supplies a recognized word or a recognized phrase received from the voice recognition engine  101  to the application communication unit  121 . The application communication unit  121  passes on the recognized word or phrase to the still-picture photographing program  103  to be kept therein as a comment for a picture. 
   In state 5, when data showing an operation to finish processing to input a comment from the still-picture photographing program  103  through the application communication unit  121  is supplied to the UI processing unit  123 , the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 2. An example of the operation to finish processing to input a comment from the still-picture photographing program  103  is an operation to release the shutter button  10 . 
   When the dictionary management button  165  on the voice-commander window  151  is clicked in State 2, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 6 of setting a dictionary. In this state, the user dictionary control unit  125  is requested to carry out processing to set a dictionary. 
   In State 6, the user dictionary control unit  125  displays a dialog for setting a dictionary on the LCD panel  21 , and updates settings stored in the dictionary setting data base  114  and the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115  on the basis of an operation carried out for the dialog for setting a dictionary. 
   When a test button placed on the dialog for setting a dictionary is clicked in State 6, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 8 of carrying out a voice recognition test. In State 8, the recognized-test processing unit  126  is requested to carry out processing of the voice recognition test. 
   The recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a dialog of the voice recognition test on the LCD panel  21 . The recognized-test processing unit  126  then carries out the voice recognition test to form a judgment as to whether or not a word received from the voice recognition engine  101  through the engine communication unit  122  matches a word cataloged in the dictionary setting data base  114 . The word received from the voice recognition engine  101  represents a recognized voice. Then, the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a result of the judgment. 
   As an alternative, the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a dialog of the voice recognition test on the LCD panel  21 . The recognized-test processing unit  126  then carries out the voice recognition test to form a judgment as to whether or not a word received from the voice recognition engine  101  through the engine communication unit  122  is a part of a word cataloged in the dictionary setting data base  114 . The word received from the voice recognition engine  101  represents a recognized voice. Then, the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a result of the judgment. 
   When a test button placed on the dialog for a voice recognition test is clicked in State 8, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 6. 
   When a close button placed on the dialog for setting a dictionary is clicked in State 6, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 2. 
   If the launcher setting button  164  of the voice-commander window  151  is clicked in State 2, the UI processing unit  123  transits to a State 7 of setting activation of the table-calculation program  107 , the word-processor program  106  or the e-mail program  54 A of the voice launcher control unit  124  and requests the voice launcher control unit  124  to carry out processing to set activation of one of the programs. 
   In State 7, the voice launcher control unit  124  displays a dialog for launcher setting on the LCD panel  21  and updates a setting stored in the launcher setting data base  113  on the basis of an operation carried out for the dialog for the launcher setting. 
   If a test button placed on the dialog for launcher setting is clicked in State 7, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 9 of carrying out a voice recognition test. In State 7, the recognized-test processing unit  126  is requested to carry out processing of the voice recognition test. 
   The recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a dialog of the voice recognition test on the LCD panel  21 . The recognized-test processing unit  126  then carries out the voice recognition test to form a judgment as to whether or not a word or a phrase received from the voice recognition engine  101  through the engine communication unit  122  includes a word cataloged in the launcher setting data base  113  and the word or the phrase matches a set grammar. The word or the phrase received from the voice recognition engine  101  represents a recognized voice. Then, the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a result of the judgment. 
   If a test button placed on the dialog for a voice recognition test is clicked in State 9, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 7. 
   If a close button placed on the dialog for launcher setting is clicked in State 7, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 2. 
     FIG. 13  is an explanatory diagram showing state transitions of the engine communication unit  122  which correspond to predetermined inputs. In the figure, a phrase enclosed by parentheses ( ) is a condition for a state transition such as activation of a program or notification of an engine activation completion. On the other hand, a phrase enclosed by brackets [ ] denotes processing carried out to accompany a state transition. Examples of such processing are an operation to provide a notification of a processing result and a transfer of a recognition result. 
   When the voice commander  102  is activated, the engine communication unit  122  transits to State 11 of waiting for the voice recognition engine  101  to be activated. If initialization ends in a failure in State 11, the engine communication unit  122  notifies the UI processing unit  123  of the failure. Informed of the failure, the UI processing unit  123  terminates the operation of the voice commander  102 . Thus, if the initialization ends in a failure, the processing carried out by the engine communication unit  122  is discontinued. 
   When the UI processing unit  123  is notified of the result of the activation of the voice recognition engine  101  in State 11, the engine communication unit  122  transits to State 12. 
   When the user presses a recognition key such as a control key, the UI processing unit  123  supplies data for the operation to press the key to the engine communication unit  122 . Thus, when the engine communication unit  122  receives the data for the operation to press the recognition key in State 11, the engine communication unit  122  receives information indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is active from the application communication unit  121 , and reads out data showing a word or a grammar corresponding to the information from the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115 . 
   The engine communication unit  122  properly converts the data showing the word or the grammar corresponding to the active program or data representing typically a command of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  into data with a proper format, and supplies the data with the proper format to the voice recognition engine  101 . Then, the engine communication unit  122  transits to State 13 of being ready to receive data representing a result of recognition from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   In State 13, the engine communication unit  122  receives data generated by the voice recognition engine  101  to represent the level of a signal from the voice recognition engine  101  and passes on the data to the UI processing unit  123 . Received by the voice recognition engine  101 , the signal represents a voice entered by the user via the microphone  24 . The UI processing unit  123  updates a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data representing the level of the signal representing the input voice. 
   When the user outputs a voice to the microphone  24 , the voice recognition engine  101  detects the voice and supplies data indicating the detection of the voice to the engine communication unit  122 . Receiving the data indicating the detection of the voice in State 13, the engine communication unit  122  passes on the data to the UI processing unit  123  and transits to State 14. 
   In State 14, the engine communication unit  122  receives data generated by the voice recognition engine  101  to represent the level of a signal from the voice recognition engine  101  and passes on the data to the UI processing unit  123 . Received by the voice recognition engine  101 , the signal represents a voice entered by the user via the microphone  24 . The UI processing unit  123  then updates a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data representing the level of the signal representing the input voice. 
   Receiving data representing typically a recognized word or phrase from the voice recognition engine  101  in State 14, the engine communication unit  122  passes on the data to the UI processing unit  123 . The UI processing unit  123  then updates a display such as a picture or characters appearing on the LCD panel  21  on the basis of the data representing typically as a recognized word or a recognized phrase. 
   If the data coming from the voice recognition engine  101  and representing typically a recognized word or phrase is judged to be information indicating activation of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  or if the data is judged to be a command issued to the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  in State 14, the engine communication unit  122  passes on the data to the application communication unit  121 . 
   If the data coming from the voice recognition engine  101  and representing typically a recognized word or phrase is judged to be information indicating activation of the e-mail program  54 A, the word-processor program  106  or the table-calculation program  107  or if the data is judged to be data supplied to the e-mail program  54 A in State 14, the engine communication unit  122  passes on the data representing typically a recognized word or phrase to the voice launcher control unit  124 . 
   After passing on the data representing typically a recognized word or phrase to the application communication unit  121  or the voice launcher control unit  124 , the engine communication unit  122  transits to State 12. 
     FIG. 14  is an explanatory diagram showing state transitions of the application communication unit  121  which correspond to predetermined inputs. 
   Accompanying activation of the voice commander  102 , the application communication unit  121  transits to State 21. In State 21, the operation of the application communication unit  121  is ended when the processing carried out by the voice commander  102  is terminated. 
   During the operation of the application communication unit  121 , the application communication unit  121  is always put in State 21. When the focus of a window is changed in this state or when a predetermined period of time lapses in this state, the application communication unit  121  updates predetermined data stored in the application communication unit  121  in dependence on the outcome of a judgment as to whether the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  has been invoked or is active. 
   In addition, at a request made by the UI processing unit  123  or the engine communication unit  122 , the application communication unit  121  provides the UI processing unit  123  or the engine communication unit  122  with data indicating whether the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  has been invoked or is active. The data includes information indicating that none of the programs are active. 
   When data representing typically a recognized word or phrase is received from the engine communication unit  122  in State 21, the application communication unit  121  activates the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  and puts the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105  in an active state in accordance with a flowchart shown in  FIG. 47 , or issues a predetermined command to the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  or the electronic-pet program  105 . 
   If data making a request for a comment is received from the still-picture photographing program  103  or data indicating that an operation be terminated is received in State 21, the application communication unit  121  passes on the data to the UI processing unit  123 . Data indicating that an operation be terminated is received for example when the shutter button  10  is pressed or released. 
   Next screens appearing on the LCD panel  21  of the personal computer  1  are explained.  FIG. 15  is a diagram showing a screen appearing on the LCD panel  21  with the voice commander  102 , the voice recognition engine  101  and the still-picture photographing program  103  activated. 
   At predetermined positions on the screen appearing on the LCD panel  21 , an icon  191  associated with the e-mail program  54 A, an icon  192  associated with the word-processor program  106 , an icon  193  associated with the table-calculation program  107 , the voice-commander window  151  and a window  194  displaying the still-picture photographing program  103  are displayed. 
   When the icon  191  is selected typically by operating the stick-type pointing device  5  and an activation command is executed, the e-mail program  54 A is activated. It should be noted that the e-mail program  54 A may also be activated by selecting the e-mail program  54 A from a menu not shown in the figure. By the same token, when the icon  192  is selected and an activation command is executed, the word-processor program  106  is activated. Likewise, when the icon  193  is selected and an activation command is executed, the table-calculation program  107  is activated. 
   The window  194  displaying the still-picture photographing program  103  includes, among other things, a picture display area  195  for displaying a picture taken by the CCD video camera  23  and an effect button  196 . 
   If the shutter button  10  of the personal computer  1  is pressed in the state shown in  FIG. 15 , the still-picture photographing program  103  generates data of a still picture having a predetermined format such as the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format on the basis of a picture taken by the CCD video camera  23 . The still-picture photographing program  103  then generates a file for storing the data and stores the file in the HDD  56 . At the same time, the still-picture photographing program  103  invokes the still-picture viewing program  104 . 
   If the user enters a voice of, for example, “With papa in Hachijojima” via the microphone  24  while keeping the shutter button  10  of the personal computer  1  pressed, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 5 to receive a recognized word or phrase from the voice recognition engine  101  through the engine communication unit  122 . The UI processing unit  123  then passes on the recognized word or phrase to the still-picture photographing program  103  by way of the application communication unit  121 . 
   Then, the still-picture photographing program  103  attaches the recognized word or phrase received from the UI processing unit  123  typically at a predetermined position in the header of the still-picture file. 
   When the shutter button  10  of the personal computer  1  is released, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 2 to finish the processing of voice recognition. 
   It should be noted that the operation to stick a comment on the file of a still picture can also be carried out by the still-picture viewing program  104 . 
   The still-picture viewing program  104  displays the still picture stored in the file generated by the still-picture photographing program  103  as a window  201  as shown in  FIG. 16 . The window  201  displayed by the still-picture viewing program  104  includes a picture display area  203  for displaying the still picture stored in the file generated by the still-picture photographing program  103 , a comment input dialog  202  for displaying a stuck word or phrase and a button  204  named “Mail”. 
   The following description explains a dialog for cataloging a word to be appended to a file of a still picture.  FIG. 17  is a diagram showing a dictionary management dialog which is displayed on the LCD panel  21  by the user dictionary control unit  125  when a dictionary management button  165  of the voice-commander window  151  is clicked. 
   As shown in the figure, the dictionary management dialog comprises a tab  221  named “Mail address”, a tab  222  with a person name appended thereon, a tab  223  with a place name appended thereon, a tab  224  with a metropolis or district name appended thereon and a tab  225  named “URL”. The tab  221  is clicked to display a mail address corresponding to a popular name, or a word or a phrase recognized by the voice recognition engine  101 . The tab  222  is clicked to display a person name for the popular name. The tab  223  is clicked to display a place name associated with the popular name. The tab  224  is clicked to display a metropolis or district name associated with the popular name. The tab  225  is clicked to display a URL associated with the popular name. 
   The typical dictionary management dialog shown in  FIG. 17  includes pairs which each consist of a popular name and a cataloged word in a popular-name display field  226 . The cataloged words are stored in the dictionary setting data base  114 , being included in a person-name category. A cataloged word is used as a comment when a voice is recognized successfully. The first pair consists of a popular name of “Papa” and a cataloged word of “Papa”. The second pair consists of popular names of “Kaorichan” and “Kaorin” and a cataloged word of “Kaorichan”. That is to say, when a voice is recognized to be “Kaorichan” or “Kaorin”, the cataloged word used as a comment is “Kaorichan”. The third pair consists of a popular name of “Tonari no oneesan” and a cataloged word of “Tonari no oneesan”. 
   The dictionary management dialog also includes a catalog button  228  and a test button  227  for making a transition to State 8. 
   When the catalog button  228  is clicked, the user dictionary control unit  125  displays a new catalog dialog shown in  FIG. 18  on the LCD panel  21 . As shown in  FIG. 18 , the new catalog dialog has a popular-name input field  241  for entering a popular name, and a cataloged-word input field  242  for entering a cataloged word. If a popular name is entered to the popular-name input field  241 , a cataloged word for the popular name is entered to the cataloged-word input field  242  and a button named OK is clicked, the popular name entered to the popular-name input field  241  and the cataloged word entered to the cataloged-word input field  242  are stored in the dictionary setting data base  114 . 
   If a button  243  named “New Catalog Dialog Test” is clicked, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 8. The recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a newly cataloged-word test dialog shown in  FIG. 19 . 
   As shown in the figure, the newly cataloged-word test dialog has a popular-name input field  241 , a message field  252  for displaying a predetermined message and test-result display field  253 . When the user enters a voice via the microphone  24  or, to be more specific, when the user mentions a popular name toward the microphone  24 , the recognized-test processing unit  126  forms a judgment as to whether or not the voice recognized by the voice recognition engine  101  matches a word entered to the popular-name input field  241  and displays the outcome of the judgment on the test-result display field  253 . 
   In the typical newly cataloged-word test dialog shown in  FIG. 19 , the user mentions the word “oneechan” to the microphone  24  with the word “oneechan” already entered to the popular-name input field  241 . The voice recognition engine  101  recognizes the word “oneechan” mentioned to the microphone  24 . The recognized-test processing unit  126  determines that the recognized word matches the word entered to the popular-name input field  241 , displaying the fact that the recognized word matches the word entered to the popular-name input field  241  on the test-result display field  253 . 
   If the voice recognized by the voice recognition engine  101  is determined not to match the word entered to the popular-name input field  241 , the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a text corresponding to the voice recognized by the voice recognition engine  101  along with a message indicating the mismatch in the test-result display field  253 . An example of such a message is “NG”. 
   When a button  251  named “Being Tested” is clicked, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 6 to request the user dictionary control unit  125  to display a dictionary management dialog. 
   When a test button  227  of the dictionary management catalog is clicked, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 8 in which the recognized-test processing unit  126  displays a cataloged-word test dialog shown in  FIG. 20 . 
   As shown in the figure, the cataloged-word test dialog has tabs  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224  and  225 , a popular-name display field  226 , a message field  272  for displaying a predetermined message and a test-result display field  273 . 
   When the user enters a voice to a microphone  24  with the cataloged-word test dialog displayed on the screen, that is, when the users says a popular name to the microphone  24  with the cataloged-word test dialog displayed, the recognized-test processing unit  126  forms a judgment as to whether or not any of words displayed in the popular-name display field  226  matches a word recognized by the voice recognition engine  101 . If any of the words displayed in the popular-name display field  226  matches a word recognized by the voice recognition engine 101, the word displayed in the popular-name display field  226  matching the word recognized by the voice recognition engine  101  is highlighted. 
   If none of the words displayed in the popular-name display field  226  matches a word recognized by the voice recognition engine  101 , on the other hand, the recognized-test processing unit  126  typically displays a text corresponding to the voice recognized by the voice recognition engine  101  along with a message indicating the mismatch in the text-result display field  273 . An example of such a message is “NG”. 
   When a button  271  of the cataloged-word test dialog is clicked, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 6 to request the user dictionary control unit  125  to display the dictionary management dialog. 
   When the tab  223  of the dictionary management dialog is clicked, the user dictionary control unit  125  displays popular names and cataloged words associated with the popular names in a popular-name display field  281  as shown in  FIG. 21 . Stored in the dictionary setting data base  114 , the popular names and cataloged words associated with the popular names pertain to a place-name category. A cataloged word is a word to be input as a comment for successful recognition of a voice. For example, a cataloged word associated with a popular name of “Hachijojima” or “Hachijo” is “Hachijojima” whereas a cataloged word associated with a popular name of “Tokyo Tower” is “Tokyo Tower”. When a voice is recognized as “Yakyujo” or “Kyujo”, a cataloged word input as a comment is “Yakyujo”. 
   When the button  204  named “Mail” of a window used by the still-picture viewing program  104  to display a predetermined still picture as shown in  FIG. 16  is clicked, the still-picture viewing program  104  activates the e-mail program  54 A in case the e-mail program  54 A has not been activated yet. 
   The still-picture viewing program  104  drives the e-mail program  54 A to generate a new mail. The still-picture viewing program  104  attaches a file of the still picture to the newly generated mail. That is to say, the file attached to the new mail is a file corresponding to the displayed still picture. 
   Furthermore, the still-picture viewing program  104  sticks a comment stored in the attached file of the still picture on the text of the new mail. 
     FIG. 22  is an explanatory diagram showing a message window  301  which is displayed by the e-mail program  54 A on the LCD panel  21  when the still-picture viewing program  104  requests the e-mail program  54 A to generate a message. 
   The name of the attached still-picture file is displayed on an attached-file display field  312 . On the other hand, the text of a new message stuck from a comment stored in the attached still-picture file is displayed on a text display field  313 . 
   A predetermined mail address is entered to a destination field  311 . When a button named “Send” on the message window  301  is clicked, the message displayed on the message window  301  is sent to a destination indicated by the mail address set in the destination field  311  by way of the Internet  92 . 
   The following description explains processing carried out by the voice commander  102  to activate the e-mail program  54 A and to drive the e-mail program  54 A to generate a mail with a mail address set thereon. If a voice such as “Mail for neesan” is entered to the microphone  24  with the recognition key being pressed in an activated state of the voice commander  102 , the voice recognition engine  101  supplies predetermined data corresponding to the phrase “Mail for neesan” to the voice commander  102 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 23 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture with a shape like a ripple spreading from the voice-commander window  151  over the entire screen as indicated by dotted-line arrows on the LCD panel  21 . It should be noted that the dotted-line arrows are shown in  FIG. 23  for explanation purposes only and not actually displayed on the screen. 
   Then, as shown in  FIG. 24 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture with a shape like a ripple converging from the entire screen toward an icon  191  representing the e-mail program  54 A as indicated by dotted-line arrows on the LCD panel  21 . It should be noted that the dotted-line arrows are shown in  FIG. 24  for explanation purposes only and not actually displayed on the screen. 
   Then, the UI processing unit  123  emphasizes the display of the icon  191  representing the e-mail program  54 A as shown in  FIG. 25 . If the e-mail program  54 A has not been activated, an application communication unit  12  of the voice commander  102  requests the still-picture viewing program  104  to activate the e-mail program  54 A. 
   Later on, as shown in  FIG. 26 , the voice launcher control unit  124  requests the e-mail program  54 A to generate a new message. The e-mail program  54 A displays the new message on the message window  301 . The voice launcher control unit  124  requests the e-mail program  54 A to set a mail address for the new mail. The mail address corresponds to the word “neesan” of the phrase “Mail for neesan” which has been supplied by the voice recognition engine  101  by way of the engine communication unit  122 . 
   In a destination field  311  of the message window  301  for displaying the new message, the mail address corresponding to the word “neesan” of the phrase “Mail for neesan” is displayed. An example of such a mail address is “ane@home.zzz”. 
     FIG. 27  is a diagram showing a typical dictionary management dialog which is displayed when a tab  221  of the dictionary management dialog is clicked. As shown in the figure, the tab  221  is named “Mail Address”. In a popular-name display field  351 , popular names and cataloged words associated with the popular names are displayed. Stored in the launcher setting data base  113 , the popular names and the cataloged words pertain to a mail-address category. Each of the cataloged words is a text which is set as a mail address when recognition of a voice is successful. For example, the cataloged word associated with a popular name of “Papa” is “daddy@nowhere.xxx”. When a voice is recognized to be “Niisan”, a cataloged word set as a mail address is “ani@home.yyy”. The cataloged word associated with a popular name of “Neesan” is “ane@home.zzz”. 
   The following description explains a screen which is displayed when the voice commander  102  supplies a predetermined command to the still-picture photographing program  103 . If an effect button  196  of a window  194  displayed by the still-picture photographing program  103  is clicked, an effect setting dialog  371  shown in  FIG. 28  is displayed on the LCD panel  21 . 
   When an effect is selected from an effect select field  372  of the effect setting dialog  371 , the selected effect is applied by the still-picture photographing program  103  to a picture taken by the CCD video camera  23 . 
   When “Mosaic” is selected by using the effect setting dialog  371 , for example, the still-picture photographing program  103  applies the so-called mosaic effect to a picture taken by the CCD video camera  23 , and displays the picture with the mosaic effect applied thereto in the picture display area  195 . If “Negative-positive inversion” is selected by using the effect setting dialog  371 , the still-picture photographing program  103  applies the so-called “negative-positive inversion” effect to a picture taken by the CCD video camera  23 , and displays the picture with the “negative-positive inversion” effect applied thereto in the picture display area  195 . 
   Assume that the still-picture photographing program  103  is active, and the voice-commander window  151  as well as a window  194  displayed by the still-picture photographing program  103  appear on the LCD panel  21  as shown in  FIG. 29 . Let a voice with a pronunciation of “mosaic” be entered to the microphone  24  with the recognition key pressed as it is. In this case, the voice recognition engine  101  supplies data representing a command corresponding to the voice “mosaic” to the voice commander  102 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 30 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture with a shape like a ripple spreading from the voice-commander window  151  over the entire screen as indicated by dotted-line arrows on the LCD panel  21 . It should be noted that the dotted-line arrows are shown in  FIG. 30  for explanation purposes only and not actually displayed on the screen. 
   Then, as shown in  FIG. 31 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture with a shape like a ripple converging from the entire screen toward the window  194  as indicated by dotted-line arrows on the LCD panel  21 . It should be noted that the dotted-line arrows are shown in  FIG. 31  for explanation purposes only and not actually displayed on the screen. 
   Then, the UI processing unit  123  emphasizes the window  194  displayed by the still-picture photographing program  103  as shown in  FIG. 32 . 
   The voice commander  102  supplies a command corresponding to “mosaic” to the still-picture photographing program  103  in accordance with the data for the command corresponding to “mosaic”. Receiving the command corresponding to “mosaic”, the still-picture photographing program  103  applies the so-called mosaic effect to a picture taken by the CCD video camera  23  and displays the picture with the mosaic effect applied thereto on the picture display area  195  as shown in  FIG. 33 . 
   The following description explains processing carried out by the voice commander  102  to activate the word-processor program  106 . Assume that the voice commander  102  has been activated, and a voice with a pronunciation of “word processor” is entered to the microphone  24  with the recognition key pressed as it is as shown in  FIG. 34 . In this case, the voice recognition engine  101  supplies data representing a command corresponding to the voice “word processor” to the voice commander  102 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 35 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture with a shape like a ripple spreading from the voice-commander window  151  over the entire screen as indicated by dotted-line arrows on the LCD panel  21 . It should be noted that the dotted-line arrows are shown in  FIG. 35  for explanation purposes only and not actually displayed on the screen. 
   Then, as shown in  FIG. 36 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture with a shape like a ripple converging from the entire screen toward an icon  192  representing the word-processor program  106  as indicated by dotted-line arrows on the LCD panel  21 . It should be noted that the dotted-line arrows are shown in  FIG. 36  for explanation purposes only and not actually displayed on the screen. 
   Then, the UI processing unit  123  emphasizes the icon  192  representing the word-processor program  106  as shown in  FIG. 37 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 38 , the voice launcher control unit  124  of the voice commander  102  activates the word-processor program  106  which displays a predetermined window  391  on the LCD panel  21 . The window  391  displayed by the word-processor program  106  includes a display area  392  for displaying a text file. 
   When the voice launcher control unit  124  of the voice commander  102  activates the word-processor program  106  in response to a voice with a pronunciation of “word processor” entered to the microphone  24 , the voice launcher control unit  124  activates the word-processor program  106  only. At that time, the word-processor program  106  generates a new text and displays the new text in the display area  392 . 
   When the voice launcher control unit  124  of the voice commander  102  activates the word-processor program  106  in response to a voice with a pronunciation of “write a letter using the word processor” entered to the microphone  24 , the voice launcher control unit  124  requests the word-processor program  106  to open a text file corresponding to “letter”. At that time, the word-processor program  106  displays characters or a picture for the text file corresponding to “letter” in the display area  392  as shown in  FIG. 39 . 
   By the same token, when the voice launcher control unit  124  of the voice commander  102  activates the word-processor program  106  in response to a voice with a pronunciation of “table calculation” entered to the microphone  24 , the voice launcher control unit  124  activates the table-calculation program  107  only. Also when the voice launcher control unit  124  activates the table-calculation program  107 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a predetermined picture having the shape like a ripple and emphasizes the display of an icon  193 . As shown in  FIG. 40 , the table-calculation program  107  generates a new text and displays the new text in a display area  412  of a window  411  displayed by the table-calculation program  107 . 
   When the voice launcher control unit  124  of the voice commander  102  activates the table-calculation program  107  in response to a voice with a pronunciation of “home accounting using the table calculation” entered to the microphone  24 , the voice launcher control unit  124  requests the table-calculation program  107  to open a text file corresponding to “home accounting”. At that time, the table-calculation program  107  displays characters or a picture for the text file corresponding to “home accounting” in a display area  412  as shown in  FIG. 41 . 
   The following description explains a dialog for cataloging a word for a program to be activated.  FIG. 42  is a diagram showing a launcher setting dialog which is displayed by a voice launcher control unit  124  on the LCD panel  21  when a launcher setting button  164  appearing on the voice-commander window  151  is clicked. 
   If a check box named “Executable File” is checked, the launcher setting dialog displays popular names and the names of executable files associated with the popular names in a popular-name display field  451 . The names of the files may include directories. The popular names and the names of the executable files are stored in the launcher setting data base  113 . The executable files represented by the names displayed in the popular-name display field  451  pertain to an executable-file category. 
   For example, the name of an executable file associated with a popular name of “Word processor” is “C:¥ProgramFiles¥ProWord” and the name of an executable file associated with a popular name of “Table calculation” is “C:¥ProgramFiles¥Daisuke”. The name of an executable file associated with a popular name of “Picture drawing” is “C:¥ProgramFiles1¥Hanako”. 
   As shown in  FIG. 42 , the launcher setting dialog has a button named “Test” and a button  452  named “Details”. 
   If a check box named “Text File” is checked, the launcher setting dialog displays popular names and the names of text files associated with the popular names in a popular-name display field  451  as shown in  FIG. 43 . The names of the files may include directories. The popular names and the names of the text files are stored in the launcher setting data base  113 . For example, the name of a text file associated with a popular name of “Home Accounting” is “C:¥TextFiles¥HomeAccounting” and the name of a text file associated with a popular name of “Estimate” is “C:¥TextFiles¥Estimate”. The name of a text file associated with a popular name of “Letter” is “C:¥TextFiles1¥Letter”. 
   The executable files represented by the names displayed in the popular-name display field  451  pertain to a text-file category. 
   If a popular name such as “Word processor” and the name of an executable file associated with this popular name which are displayed in the popular-name display field  451  are selected and a button  452  named “Details” is clicked, the voice launcher control unit  124  displays a launcher-detail setting dialog shown in  FIG. 44  on the LCD panel  21 . 
   As shown in the figure, the launcher-detail setting dialog displays a voice form of [Executable file=Word processor] corresponding to a popular name selected from the popular-name display field  451  on a popular-name display field  471 . In this example, the selected popular name is “Word processor”. By operating a button named “Refer to dictionary” on the launcher-detail setting dialog, the user is capable of defining a voice format combining an executable file and a text file as, for example, “[Executable file=Word processor] and [Text file]”. 
   The voice launcher control unit  124  assigns a grammar number to the set voice format and stores the voice format in the launcher setting data base  113 . 
   The combination of an executable file and a text file set by the user as a voice format is displayed in the popular-name display field  471 . In the combination of a file pertaining to the executable-file category and a file pertaining to the text-file category set as “[Executable file=Word processor] and [Text file]” as shown in  FIG. 44 , [Text file] is used as an argument Assume that the voice launcher control unit  124  is provided with data indicating that a voice corresponding to “[Executable file=Word processor] and [Text file]” has been recognized. An example of the data is “Write a letter using the word processor” and a grammar number. In this case, the voice launcher control unit  124  opens an executable file such as C:¥ProgramFiles¥ProWord pertaining to the executable-file category corresponding to a popular name of “Word processor” in accordance with the grammar number. That is to say, the voice launcher control unit  124  activates the word-processor program  106  and then requests the word-processor program  106  to open the set text file such as C:¥TextFiles1¥Letter corresponding to “Letter” which pertains to the text-file category. 
   By the same token, assume that the data supplied to the voice launcher control unit  124  to indicate that a voice corresponding to “[Executable file Word processor] and [Text file]” has been recognized is “Home calculation using the word processor” and a grammar number. In this case, the voice launcher control unit  124  opens an executable file such as C:¥ProgramFiles¥ProWord pertaining to the executable-file category corresponding to a popular name of “Word processor” in accordance with the grammar number. The voice launcher control unit  124  requests the word-processor program  106  to open the set text file such as C:¥TextFiles¥HomeAccounting which is a text file pertaining to the text-file category. 
   It should be noted that the voice launcher control unit  124  may request a predetermined script execution program shown in none of the figures to execute a predetermined script file, that is, a file describing a processing procedure comprising commands and the like. In addition, data such as a mail address or a picture may also be specified as an argument of the script file. At that time, information including data for identifying the script file or identifying an argument of the script file or a grammar number is stored in the launcher setting data base  113 . 
   The following description explains processing to image-sense a still picture which is carried out by the voice recognition engine  101 , the voice commander  102  and the CPU  52  for executing the still-picture photographing program  103  with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 45 . As shown in the figure, the flowchart begins with a step S 11  at which the still-picture photographing program  103  forms a judgment as to whether or not the shutter button  10  has been pressed. The formation of the judgment is based on a signal supplied by the complete-push switch  86  pressed earlier by way of the microcontroller  61 , the external bus  55  and the internal bus  51 . If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the shutter button  10  has not been pressed, the flow of the processing returns to the step S 11 . The processing to form a judgment is repeated till the shutter button  10  is pressed. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 11  indicates that the shutter button  10  has been pressed, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 12  at which the still-picture photographing program  103  activates the still-picture viewing program  104 . At the next step S 13 , the still-picture photographing program  103  generates a file of still-picture data conforming to a predetermined system on the basis of a signal supplied by the CCD video camera  23  by way of the processing unit  82  and the graphic chip  81 . The generated file of still-picture data is then stored in the HDD  56 . 
   At the next step S 14 , the still-picture photographing program  103  forms a judgment as to whether or not the shutter button  10  has been pressed. If the outcome of the indicates that the shutter button  10  has been pressed, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 15  at which the voice commander  102  requests the voice recognition engine  101  to carry out processing of voice recognition based on a signal received from the microphone  24 . At the next step S 16 , the voice commander  102  receives results of the voice-recognition processing from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   At the next step S 17 , the voice commander  102  passes on the results of the voice-recognition processing to the still-picture photographing program  103 . At the next step S 18 , the voice commander  102  attaches the results of the voice-recognition processing to the still-picture photographing program  103  as a comment of a picture file. 
   At the next step S 19 , the voice commander  102  requests the still-picture viewing program  104  to display the comment and then terminates the processing. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 14  indicates that the shutter button  10  has been released, on the other hand, the processing is ended by skipping the steps  15  to  19 . 
   In this way, the user is capable of sticking a comment on a still picture taken by the still-picture photographing program  103  with ease without operating the keyboard  4  and the like. 
   The following description explains processing to issue a command or activate a program in accordance with a voice recognized by the voice recognition engine  101  or voice information obtained as a result of execution of the voice commander  102  by the CPU  52  with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 46 . As shown in the figure, the flowchart begins with a step S 31  at which the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a normal input mode has been selected. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the normal input mode has not been selected, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 32  to form a judgment as to whether or not the recognition key has been pressed. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 32  indicates that the recognition key has not been pressed, the flow of the processing goes back to the step S 32 . The processing to form a judgment carried out at the step S 32  is repeated by the voice commander  102  till the recognition key  10  is pressed. 
   As the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 32  indicates that the recognition key has been pressed, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 33  at which the voice commander  102  requests the voice recognition engine  101  to carry out voice-recognition processing. At the next step S 34 , the voice commander  102  receives results of the voice-recognition processing from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   At the next step S 35 , the voice commander  102  displays the results of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   At the next step S 36 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not the recognition key has been released. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the recognition key has been released, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 37  at which a command is issued or a program is activated and then the processing is ended. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 36  indicates that the recognition key has not been released, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 38  at which the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a release key such as a shift key has been pressed. If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 38  indicates that the release key has been pressed, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 39  at which the voice commander  102  clears the results of the voice recognition. Then, the flow of the processing goes back to the step S 33  to repeat the voice recognition. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 38  indicates that the release key has not been pressed, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes back to the step S 33 , skipping the step S 39 . 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 31  indicates that the normal input mode has been selected, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 40  at which the voice commander  102  requests the voice recognition engine  101  to carry out voice-recognition processing. At the next step S 41 , the voice commander  102  receives results of the voice-recognition processing from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   At the next step S 42 , the voice commander  102  displays the results of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101 . At the next step S 43 , the commander  102  carries out processing to issue a command or activate a program and then the flow of the processing goes back to the step S 31  to repeat the processing to issue a command or activate a program. 
   In this way, by operating the recognition key, the user is capable of verifying results of voice recognition and issuing a command or activating a predetermined program. Thus, it is possible to prevent processing from being carried out due to incorrect recognition of a voice. 
   The following description explains processing carried out by the CPU  52  to activate a program or to issue a command in execution of the voice commander  102  with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 47 . The processing corresponds to the step S 37  or the step S 43 . As shown in the figure, the step begins with a step S 51  at which the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not the result of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101  is data for activating a predetermined application program. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the result of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101  is data for activating a predetermined application program, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 52 . 
   At the next step S 52 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not the predetermined application program corresponding to the result of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101  has been activated. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the predetermined application program corresponding to the result of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101  has been activated, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 53  at which control is transferred to an application program for indicating the focus of a window and the processing is then ended. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 52  indicates that the predetermined application program corresponding to the result of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101  has not been activated, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 54  at which the voice commander  102  activates the predetermined application program corresponding to the result of the voice-recognition processing. Then, the processing is ended. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 51  indicates that the result of the voice-recognition processing received from the voice recognition engine  101  is data for activating a predetermined application program, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 55  at which the voice commander  102  issues a corresponding command to an application program and, then, the processing is ended. 
   As described above, the voice commander  102  is capable of carrying out processing to issue a command or activate a program in accordance with program status and data representing an input voice. 
   The following description explains processing carried out  104  by the CPU  52  to activate the e-mail program  54 A in execution of the still-picture viewing program  104  with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 48 . As shown in the figure, the flowchart begins with a step S 71  at which the still-picture viewing program  104  activates the e-mail program  54 A. At the next step S 72 , the still-picture viewing program  104  requests the e-mail program  54 A to open a new mail. 
   At the next step S 73 , the still-picture viewing program  104  attaches picture data to the new mail. At the next step S 74 , the still-picture viewing program  104  sticks a comment of the picture data on the text of the new mail. Then, the processing is ended. 
   In this way, the user is capable of attaching a picture and generating a mail including an attached comment with ease without operating the keyboard  4 . 
   The following description explains processing carried out by the CPU  52  to activate an application program or to transfer data in execution of the voice commander  102  with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 49 . The processing corresponds to the step S 37  or the step S 43  of the flowchart shown in  FIG. 48 . As shown in the figure, the step begins with a step S 91  at which the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not the result of the voice recognition includes an argument. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the result of the voice recognition does not include an argument, the flow of the processing goes on to a step  92  at which a corresponding application program is activated and the processing is ended. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 91  indicates that the result of the voice recognition includes an argument, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 93  at which the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not the category of the argument included in the result of the voice recognition is the mail-address category. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the category of the argument included in the result of the voice recognition is the mail-address category, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 94  at which the e-mail program  54 A is activated. At the next step S 95 , the voice commander  102  opens a new mail address with a mail address set to correspond to the argument. Then, the processing is ended. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 93  indicates that the category of the argument included in the result of the voice recognition is not the mail-address category, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 96  at which the voice commander  102  opens a text file specified by the argument by using a corresponding application program. The processing is then ended. 
   As described above, the voice commander  102  is capable of activating a predetermined program corresponding to an input voice and letting the program open a predetermined text file pertaining to the text-file category. 
   The following description explains processing to display a picture in activation of a program or issuance of a command by the CPU  52  executing the voice commander  102  with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 50 . As shown in the figure, the flowchart begins with a step S 101  at which the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a command has been issued to an application program. If a command has been issued, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 102  to display a picture of a ripple spreading from the voice-commander window  151  over the entire screen. 
   At the next step S 103 , the voice commander  102  displays a picture of a ripple converging from the entire screen to the window of the application program. 
   At the next step S 104 , the voice commander  102  emphasizes the display of the window of the application program receiving the command and then the processing is finished. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 101  indicates that a command has not been issued to an application program, on the other hand, the application program is to be activated. In this case, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 105  at which the voice commander  102  displays a picture of a ripple spreading from the voice commander window  151  over the entire screen. 
   At the next step S 106 , the voice commander  102  displays a picture of a ripple converging from the entire screen to the icon of the application program. 
   At the next step S 107 , the voice commander  102  emphasizes the display of the icon of the activated application program and then the processing is finished. 
   As described above, since the voice commander  102  displays a picture converging to the window of a program receiving a command from the voice-commander window  151 , the user is capable of knowing that the voice commander  102  is functioning and knowing the operation object of the voice commander  102  with a high degree of reliability. 
   In addition, since the voice commander  102  displays a picture converging to the icon of a program to be activated from the voice-commander window  151 , the user is capable of knowing that the voice commander  102  is functioning and knowing the operation object of the voice commander  102  with a high degree of reliability. 
   The following description explains processing of a voice-recognition test carried out by the CPU  52  in execution of the voice commander  102  by referring to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 51 . As shown in the figure, the flowchart begins with a step S 131  at which the voice commander  102  carries out a test to recognize a word. In the test which is based on a predetermined word recognition result supplied by the voice recognition engine  101 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a predetermined word has been recognized by comparison of the word with a cataloged popular name. 
   At the next step S 132 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a predetermined word has been recognized. The formation of the judgment is based on a result produced at the step S 131 . If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the predetermined word has been recognized, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 133  to carry out a test of recognizing a word pertaining to a predetermined category. 
   At the next step S 134 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a word pertaining to the predetermined category has been recognized. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the word pertaining to the predetermined category has been recognized, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 135  to carry out a test to recognize a grammar for a case including a plurality of words. 
   At the next step S 136 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a grammar for a case including a plurality of words has been recognized. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the grammar for a case including a plurality of words has been recognized, the processing is finished. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 136  indicates that the grammar for a case including a plurality of words has not been recognized, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 138  at which the voice commander  102  corrects the grammar. The flow of the processing then goes back to the step S 135  to repeat the test to recognize a grammar for a case including a plurality of words. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 134  indicates that the word pertaining to the predetermined category has not been recognized or if the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 132  indicates that the predetermined word has not been recognized, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 137  at which the voice commander  102  corrects the word. Then, the flow of the processing goes back to the step S 131  to repeat the test to recognize the word. 
   As described above, since the voice commander  102  displays a result of a test to recognize a predetermined voice and corrects a word or a grammar, the predetermined voice can be recognized with a high degree of reliability. 
   The following description explains processing to test voice recognition by comparison with a cataloged popular name by referring to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 52 . Carried out by the CPU  52  executing the voice commander  102 , the processing corresponds to the test performed at the step S 131  to recognize a word. As shown in the figure, the flowchart begins with a step S 151  at which the voice commander  102  receives a result of voice recognition from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   At the next step S 152 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not the result of the voice recognition matches a popular name. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that the result of the voice recognition matches a popular name, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 153  at which a message is displayed on a test-result display field  253 , indicating that a voice has been recognized correctly. Then, the processing is finished. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 152  indicates that the result of the voice recognition does not match a popular name, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a next step S 154  at which a message is displayed by the voice commander  102  on the test-result display field  253 , indicating that a voice has not been recognized correctly. Then, the processing is finished. 
   The following description explains processing to test cataloged popular names by referring to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 53 . Carried out by the CPU  52  executing the voice commander  102 , the processing corresponds to the test performed at the step S 133  to recognize a category. As shown in the figure, the flowchart begins with a step S 171  at which the voice commander  102  receives a result of voice recognition from the voice recognition engine  101 . 
   At the next step S 172 , the voice commander  102  forms a judgment as to whether or not a popular name matching the result of the voice recognition has been cataloged. If the outcome of the judgment indicates that a popular name matching the result of the voice recognition has been cataloged, the flow of the processing goes on to a next step S 173 . At the step S 173 , the popular name which matches the result of the voice recognition and is displayed on a popular-name display field  226  is emphasized. Then, the processing is finished. 
   If the outcome of the judgment formed at the step S 172  indicates that no popular name matching the result of the voice recognition has been cataloged, on the other hand, the flow of the processing goes on to a next step S 174  at which a message is displayed by the voice commander  102  on the test-result display field  273 , indicating that no popular name matching the result of the voice recognition has been cataloged. Then, the processing is finished. 
   The following description explains a series of processes carried out by the CPU  52  executing the voice commander  102 , from activation of the still-picture photographing program  103  to sticking a comment on a still picture through image-sensing of the still picture, by referring to state transition diagrams shown in  FIGS. 54 and 55 . At a step S 211  shown in  FIG. 54 , the engine communication unit  122  activates the voice recognition engine  101  and transits to State 11. At a step S 251 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a message indicating that the voice recognition engine  101  is being activated and transits to State 1. At a step S 301 , the application communication unit  121  transits to State 21. 
   At a step S 212 , the engine communication unit  122  receives data for successful activation of the voice recognition engine  101  from the voice recognition engine  101  and supplies data indicating the successful activation of the voice recognition engine  101  to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 252 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the data indicating the successful activation of the voice recognition engine  101  and transits to State 2. 
   At a step S 253 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a picture or a message indicating completion of the activation of the voice recognition engine  101  on the LCD panel  21 . 
   At a step S 254 , the UI processing unit  123  forms a judgment as to whether or not the control key serving as a recognition key has been pressed. If the control key serving as a recognition key has been pressed, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 255  at which the UI processing unit  123  requests the application communication unit  121  to transfer data indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on, that is, data indicating which of the programs is active, or data indicating that none of the programs are active to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 302 , the application communication unit  121  receives the request to transfer data indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on from the UI processing unit  123 . 
   At a step S 303 , the application communication unit  121  transfers data indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 256 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the data indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on. At a step S 257 , the UI processing unit  123  displays a string of characters such as “Global Command” on the recognition-status display area  169  of the voice-commander window  151  to indicate that only a global command is accepted in case the received data indicates that none of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  are focused on. 
   At a step S 258 , the UI processing unit  123  requests the engine communication unit  122  to receive a voice, that is, to enter a state of being capable of receiving a voice input and then transits to State 3. At a step S 213 , the engine communication unit  122  receives the request to receive an input voice. At a step S 214 , the engine communication unit  122  requests the application communication unit  121  to transfer data indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on, that is, data indicating which of the programs is active or data indicating that none of the programs are active to the engine communication unit  122 . 
   At a step S 305 , the application communication unit  121  transfers data indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on to the engine communication unit  122 . 
   At a step S 215 , the engine communication unit  122  receives the data indicating which of the still-picture photographing program  103 , the still-picture viewing program  104  and the electronic-pet program  105  is focused on. At a step S 216 , the engine communication unit  122  reads out data representing a presently acceptable word or grammar from the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115 , supplying the data to the voice recognition engine  101 , and transits to State 13. 
   When the user starts entering a voice to the microphone  24 , the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 217  at which the engine communication unit  122  receives data indicating detection of a voice from the voice recognition engine  101  and transits to State 14. 
   At a step S 218 , the engine communication unit  122  receives data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice, that is, data representing the volume of the voice, from the voice recognition engine  101 . At a step S 219 , the engine communication unit  122  passes on the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 259 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice. At a step S 260 , the UI processing unit  123  updates a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice. 
   At a step S 220 , the engine communication unit  122  receives data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice, that is, data representing the volume of the voice, from the voice recognition engine  101 . At a step S 221 , the engine communication unit  122  passes on the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 261 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice. At a step S 262 , the UI processing unit  123  updates a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice. 
   In a state of being capable of receiving a voice, the processing to receive data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice from the voice recognition engine  101  and to update a display on the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  in accordance with the data is readily repeated. 
   At a step S 222 , the engine communication unit  122  receives a code number such as  106 , a recognized word or phrase such as “photographing” and a string of characters related to the recognized word from the voice recognition engine  101 . The code number and the recognized word or phrase corresponds to a word uttered by the user. At a step S 223 , the engine communication unit  122  passes on the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 263 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word. At a step S 264 , the UI processing unit  123  displays the recognized word or phrase on the recognition-result display area  162  of the voice-commander window  151 . 
   At a step S 224 , the engine communication unit  122  determines that the data received from the voice recognition engine  101  should be transferred also to the application communication unit  121  on the basis of the code number, supplying the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word to the application communication unit  121 . The engine communication unit  122  then transits to State 13. At a step S 306 , the application communication unit  121  receives the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word. 
   At a step S 265 , the UI processing unit  123  forms a judgment as to whether or not a control key serving as the recognition key has been released. If the control key serving as the recognition key has been released, the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 266  at which the UI processing unit  123  requests the engine communication unit  122  to end the reception of a voice. The UI processing unit  123  also requests the application communication unit  121  to carry out predetermined processing based on the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word which have been received by the application communication unit  121  at the step S 306 . The predetermined processing is carried out typically by activating the still-picture photographing program  103 . Then, the UI processing unit  123  transits to State 2. 
   At a step S 225 , the engine communication unit  122  receives the request to end the reception of a voice from the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 226 , the engine communication unit  122  requests the voice recognition engine  101  to end the reception of a voice and then transits to State 12. 
   At a step S 307 , the application communication unit  121  receives the request to carry out the predetermined processing from the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 308 , the application communication unit  121  activates the still-picture photographing program  103 . 
   At a step S 309 , the application communication unit  121  receives a request for a comment input corresponding to an operation to press the shutter button  10  from the still-picture photographing program  103 . At a step S 310 , the application communication unit  121  passes on the request for a comment input to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 267 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the request for a comment input. At a step S 268 , the UI processing unit  123  passes on the request for a comment input to the engine communication unit  122  and then transits to State 5. At a step S 227 , the engine communication unit  122  receives the request for a comment input. 
   At a step S 228 , the engine communication unit  122  reads out data of a presently acceptable word and grammar from the recognized-word &amp; grammar data base  115 , supplies the data to the voice recognition engine  101  and then transits to State 13. 
   When the user starts entering a voice to the microphone  24 , the flow of the processing goes on to a step S 229  at which the engine communication unit  122  receives data indicating that a voice has been detected from the voice recognition engine  101 , and then transits to State 14. 
   At a step S 230 , the engine communication unit  122  receives data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice from the voice recognition engine  101 . The level of the signal represents the volume of the voice. At a step S 231 , the engine communication unit  122  passes on the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 269 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice. At a step S 270 , the UI processing unit  123  updates a display of the level gage  161  of the voice-commander window  151  on the basis of the received data corresponding to the level of a signal representing a voice. 
   At a step S 232 , the engine communication unit  122  receives a code number such as  107 , a recognized word or phrase such as “With Papa in Hachijojima” and a string of characters related to the recognized word from the voice recognition engine  101 . The code number and the recognized word or phrase correspond to a speech made by the user. At a step S 233 , the engine communication unit  122  passes on the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 271 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word. At a step S 272 , the UI processing unit  123  displays the recognized word or phrase on the recognition-result display area  162  of the voice-commander window  151 . 
   At a step S 234 , the engine communication unit  122  determines that the data received from the voice recognition engine  101  should be transferred also to the application communication unit  121  on the basis of the code number, supplying the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word to the application communication unit  121 . The engine communication unit  122  then transits to State 13. At a step S 311 , the application communication unit  121  receives the code number, the recognized word or phrase and the string of characters related to the recognized word. 
   At a step S 312 , the application communication unit  121  sends the recognized word or phrase to the still-picture photographing program  103  as a comment and requests the still-picture photographing program  103  to stick the recognized word or phrase as a comment. 
   The pieces of processing carried out at the steps S 232  to S 312  are repeated as long as the shutter button  10  is not released and the voice recognition engine  101  recognizes a voice of the user. 
   At a step S 313 , the application communication unit  121  receives a request to terminate a comment input from the still-picture photographing program  103  in accordance with an operation such as an operation to release the shutter button  10 . At a step S 314 , the application communication unit  121  passes on the request to terminate a comment input to the UI processing unit  123 . At a step S 273 , the UI processing unit  123  receives the request to terminate a comment input. At a step S 274 , the UI processing unit  123  passes on the request to terminate a comment input to the engine communication unit  122 . At a step S 235 , the engine communication unit  122  receives the request to terminate a comment input. At a step S 236 , the engine communication unit  122  requests the voice recognition engine  101  to terminate an operation to receive a voice and then transits to State 12. Finally, the processing is ended. 
   As described above, the voice commander  102  is capable of activating the still-picture photographing program  103  and entering a comment to a still picture taken by the still-picture photographing program  103  without a need for complex operations of the keyboard  4  and the stick-type pointing device  5 . 
   It should be noted that the voice recognition engine  101  can also be provided with a function to recognize any word or any phrase in addition to cataloged words or cataloged phrases. Such a function is referred to as the so-called dictation function. 
   The sequence of processes described above can be carried out by hardware or software. If software is used for carrying out the sequence of processes, programs constituting the software are installed from a program storage medium into a computer built in dedicated hardware or typically into a general-purpose personal computer. By installing a variety of programs into a general-purpose personal computer, the personal computer is made capable of executing a variety of functions. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , typical program storage media for storing programs put in a state of being readily installable and executable by a computer include a magnetic disc  95  including a floppy disc, an optical disc  96  including a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magneto-optical disc  97  including an MD (Mini Disc), package media such as a semiconductor device  98 , a ROM  69  for storing programs temporarily or permanently and a hard disc  56 . If necessary, a program can be stored into any of the program storage media by using wire or radio communication media by way of an interface such as a router or a modem  50 . The communication media include a local area network, the Internet  92  and a digital satellite broadcasting system not shown in the figure. 
   In this specification, steps composing a program stored in a program storage medium are executed sequentially along the time axis one after another in accordance with an order the steps are described in the program. It should be noted that a program may of course comprise pieces of processing executed individually in parallel instead of steps to be executed sequentially along the time axis. 
   In this specification, a hardware &amp; software system represents an entire apparatus comprising a plurality of units.