Using speech and handwriting to insert text

Speech and handwriting recognition programs make it possible to insert text and issue commands without using your keyboard.

Use speech recognition to dictate an e-mail message, read numbers into a spreadsheet, or compose a document. In some programs, such as Microsoft Word 2002, you can use speech to issue commands. For example, you can select text and then say "bold" or "underline."

Use handwriting recognition to scribble a quick e-mail message or write notes to yourself using a pen stylus or other handwriting input device. Your handwriting is converted to typed characters automatically. In some programs, you can display the text just as you wrote it.

To use speech recognition, you need a good-quality headset microphone attached to a sound card or a USB port on your computer. You also need a fairly fast computer and a lot of memory.

To use handwriting recognition, a pen stylus and tablet is recommended, though you can use your mouse by moving it on your mouse pad to form words.

Speech recognition requires that the speech recognition engine, a language-specific software program, be installed on your computer. Three Microsoft speech recognition processors are currently available for use with Windows: Simplified Chinese, U.S. English, and Japanese. Other languages will become available.

The handwriting recognition engine is also language-specific and must be installed on your computer. Microsoft handwriting recognition engines are currently available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean language versions. Other languages will become available.

For more information about installing and using speech and handwriting recognition, click Related Topics.