Patent ID: 7369997

Claim:
A method for use in a computing device having a microphone and a button, comprising the steps of: activating said microphone; receiving a user input on said button, placing said device in an operating mode corresponding to a dictation mode when said user input is of a first type; modifying the operating mode to place said device in a command mode when said user input is of a second type; wherein said device identifies spoken words as text in said dictation mode, and as commands in said command mode; and providing an indication either visually or audibly to a user of said device as to whether said device is in said dictation mode or said command mode prior to identifying spoken words as text or commands, wherein the user can enter a temporary mode, which is one of either a dictation mode or a command mode, different from the mode the user is currently presiding by pressing and holding down said button, where the user stays in the temporary mode for the duration the button is held down and exits the temporary mode upon releasing of the button, which causes the user to enter back into the current mode.