Not only are some major video game makers coming back to the revitalized Macintosh platform, but productivity software also is appearing on the once-dusty store shelves in the Mac section.
IBM’s ViaVoice for Mac software, a continuous speech recognition program, allows members of the Apple corps to freely dictate their thoughts and have the computer do the typing.
Such programs, which allow the user to speak in natural rhythms and not pause uncomfortably after every word, have been making the lives (and hands) of PC users less stressed for years. But a similar product for the Mac was not available until the ViaVoice program was released a few months ago. A version also is available for PC users.
ViaVoice for Mac includes a 260,000-word dictionary and will analyze the user’s speech to find the best match. Dictated material can be easily transferred into popular Mac word-processing programs such as AppleWorks and Microsoft Word.
A headset microphone that color coordinates nicely with the distinctively fruity iMac shades is included with the software. ViaVoice for Mac runs on Macintosh Power PCs with Mac operating system 8.5.1 or higher, at least a 233-megahertz processor and 48 megabytes of RAM. The program needs 200 megabytes of free space on the computer’s hard drive and has a street price of about $90.
Parents, take note: In addition to taking dictation, the program also can use the Mac’s text-to-speech function to recite text displayed on the screen–so it may not just be the kids talking back anymore.
