IBM LAUNCHES VIAVOICE PRO ENTERPRISE EDITION

New Edition of IBM's Award-winning ViaVoice, Geared Toward Corporate Use Networked Environment

18 July 2001 --IBM today announced ViaVoice Pro Enterprise Edition speech recognition software for UK-accented English. With features that are geared toward corporate use of voice recognition software, this edition is tailored to meet the needs of corporate and enterprise customers who want to deploy speech recognition on PCs or in a networked environment.

Built on IBM's award-winning series of continuous speech recognition products, users can dictate naturally into most text applications, easily launch into and surf the Web using simple commands such as 'surf' or 'back', and navigate their PC - all using their voice. ViaVoice also allows users to set up single word short-cuts that allow users to insert whole paragraphs of text, as well as tell the difference between synonyms, such as to, too and two. In addition, specialist IBM Business Partners can provide expert advice to implement a speech solution tailored to individual companies.

Recent, IBM-commissioned research found that companies could be losing up to 10 per cent of employee working time each day due to poor keyboard skills**. ViaVoice Pro Enterprise Edition can allow users to create text up to 53* per cent faster than manual typing, providing an alternative for the UK PC users who have not been trained to touch type. The issue was identified in a special IBM survey into typing speeds, conducted by ICM Research.

ViaVoice Pro Enterprise Edition also features:

  • The enrolment procedure can take as little 10-minutes, in which the user 'trains' the software to recognise his or her accent, making getting started with ViaVoice easy
  • Dictation directly into most Windows applications, including Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator and instant messaging software
  • Intuitive voice command system allows users to make natural language commands like "Open a file" or "Send an email to Claire", speech-enabling lengthy keyboard instructions
  • Voice Mouse allows users to control their mouse operation by voice, so directions such as, "Move left", or "Move left two inches" reposition the cursor.
  • Base vocabulary optimised at 150,000 words for the best possible accuracy - ViaVoice can even learn up to 64,000 additional words as specified by the user, to offer a vocabulary tailored to the individual or enterprise

Steve Hawes, Speech Consultant for St. Paul International Insurance Systems - supplied by SRC (the Speech recognition Company), said: "ViaVoice has significantly streamlined our document workflow. Our users are delighted and are now able to produce documents much faster and with much greater accuracy - spelling mistakes are now a thing of the past and we’ve generally seen a 50% increase in their working productivity."

Added Duncan Ross, head of voice systems, Europe at IBM, "We believe that voice will transform the way humans interact with technology. The first place to effect this transformation is by making the personal computer more user-friendly and productive. Via Voice Pro Enterprise Edition is specifically designed for the corporate user, with features for easy deployment in a networked environment. To aid corporate users further, IBM's business partners who specialise in voice can also tailor solutions to specific customer needs, as well as provide training and software personalisation."

IBM's research** showed that nearly two thirds (58 per cent) of PC-based professionals surveyed work at a keyboard for over two hours every day, while a fifth (21 per cent) of PC users tested spend over five hours every day using their keyboards. A total of nine per cent also admitting to passing over seven hours at a keyboard each day. Taking these figures, a typical PC-based professional spending three hours a day using the keyboard could be losing nearly an hour a day in lost productivity, compared with a ViaVoice user, who can create text up to 53 per cent faster than typing. Based on a typical eight-hour working day, this could represent a loss of up to 10 per cent of working time per day for a typical UK employee.

IBM's research also revealed that just 26 per cent of all respondents were trained to touch type. The other three-quarters of the sample tested fitted into four main groups of 'keyboard culprits' (see details below). A third (33 per cent) of respondents confessed they could only key out their documents at under 15 words per minute. The second group where average typists, with 37 per cent of respondents tapping along at between 15-25 words per minute. A fifth of respondents claimed to be able to word process at a fast speed, with 22 per cent of recipients managing the rate of between 25-50 words per minute. Only 7 per cent stressed they were excellent typists belonging to an elite group of keyboard maestros who could top 50 words per minute.

Typist typologies in the UK

The one figured wonder
Mostly male, a third of respondents (33 per cent) belong to this category, typing at a leisurely rate of around 15 words per minute. The one figured wonder is immediately recognisable from the way he stabs the keyboard with a single digit, normally with a heavy, authoritative thud. Would be more at home using a biro, but could be better off using ViaVoice to get his message across.

Chopsticks
A real touch type pretender, most typists (37 per cent) amble along at between 15-20 words per minute. The chopsticks typist shoots out the nearest finger to the desired key, but uses the delete key intensely to correct the scramble of letters that have just appeared on the screen. This group couldb benefit from ViaVoice’s 260,000 word back-up dictionary, which should help him get the correct spellings on the page.

The able typist
One in five employees attain the rank of top typist, managing a credible 25-50 words per minute. They could still free up some for thinking through their latest business plan or presentation, without drafting in extra secretarial time, by using ViaVoice to help compile that pesky spreadsheet in double-quick time.

The keyboard maestro
A rare breed, the keyboard maestro accounts for just 7 per cent of respondents. The maestro is the ultimate touch typist knocking out text at over 50 words per minute. He would still be able to fine tune his typing by using ViaVoice and could benefit from using single-word commands to replace standard keyboard commands.

 

Availability and Pricing
ViaVoice Pro Enterprise Edition retails at the recommended price of £299.00 (ex VAT) per unit (software only price).

About IBM Voice Systems:
With over 40 years of delivering voice solutions and over 150 voice technology patents, IBM is the global leader in providing access to data through end-to-end voice integrated solutions that enable organisational effectiveness for e-business development. For more information about IBM Voice Systems, visit "http://www.ibm.com/viavoice."

Notes to the editor:
*The figures quoted are based on a complete NSTL report held by IBM, September 1999. NSTL makes no recommendation or endorsement of any product. This report was prepared under contract for IBM. NSTL does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the services provided in connection with its client 's product. NSTL makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the results to be obtained by any person or entity from use of the services or results thereof, or any information or data included therein.

**The figures quoted are based on a survey of 1,000 respondents carried out between 8-10 June 2001 by ICM Research. The survey was commissioned under contract for IBM.

For Further Information:
Juliet Weatherley
IBM
Tel: 01753 780819
Email: juliet.weatherley@tivoli.com

OR

Matt Ward/Lena Ahmed
For IBM
Tel: 01753 790700
Email: mward/lahmed@uk.brodeur.com

For IBM
Tel: 01753 44 8875/8861
Email:mward@uk.brodeur.com / Email: lahmed@uk.brodeur.com
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