Hand-held computers can now recognise speech, thanks to a new system called
Speech Powertoys. Voice-recognition software is notoriously memory-hungry and
hand-held computers have limited memory, but researchers at Microsoft have found
a way round the problem. They transferred all the number crunching to a desktop
computer, using the speech engine built into Office XP on the PC. This way you
can talk into your hand-held computer to schedule meetings and write e-mail,
while your desktop computer does all the hard work.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
There has been a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise
2
PCOS postpones perimenopause and allows pregnancies at older ages
3
Man destined for Alzheimer's may have been saved by accidental therapy
4
The mathematician who doesn’t exist
5
Woman in cancer remission without treatment in highly unusual case
6
A lost ancient script reveals how writing as we know it really began
7
Fire is spreading in the Chernobyl exclusion zone after drone crash
8
Is consciousness more fundamental to reality than quantum physics?
9
Red-light therapy does have health benefits but not the ones you think
10
Thought-provoking photographs capture what it feels like to have ADHD
