Both Encarta 99 and Windows 2000 use Microsoft SAPI 4.0 and Microsoft speech synthesizer. The voice-activated Auto PC responds to simple verbal commands to perform functions such as changing the radio station, placing a phone call, or requesting directions. The prototype device enables users to accomplish many common tasks using speech recognition, natural language processing, and wireless-data technologies. When a user taps the screen or uses the built-in roller to navigate, the action narrows the number of possible instructions that the computer will expect to hear. If a user selects an entry in the address book, for example, the computer can predict that the user is about to enter a voice command to establish a new address or modify an existing entry.
Users can access e-mail, news, and other information from any telephone by speaking.
On personal computers, users can employ voice to follow links, use toolbar buttons, open menus, and choose commands. Users can enter text in computer applications simply by speaking. Applications can read text back to the user. Entropic's engineering team will help Microsoft enhance SAPI 5.0 to help developers more easily create speech-enabled applications. The Microsoft Speech Technology Group is a division of Microsoft Research.