Voice-dictation also works in Excel. Both the voice and handwriting-recognition functions are surprisingly accurate, especially given the fact that they are simply auxiliary features in a larger suite of applications. I did hit a couple of bugs, but they resolved themselves over time. Prices for varying Office XP versions are to be set any day now. Handwriting recognition is already used by products like the Palm Pilot and Pocket PC to enter information.
Users write letters or symbols on the screen, which the devices can translate into text.
But the expansion of voice recognition as a built-in method for managing powerful applications is significant. It is also expected to help people with disabilities make fuller use of computerized products. Microsoft concedes that the new voice-dictation system built into Office XP is still best used in tandem with a mouse and keyboard. And that includes a few initial steps that are all-important in ensuring good recognition. The Plantronics line of headsets is a good place to start.