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{{short description|Speech recognition software}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox software
| name = ViaVoice
| logo=
| screenshot =
| caption =
| developer = [[IBM]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1997|08}}<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kjwEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22ViaVoice%22&pg=PA36 |title=Client: IBM dictation software package gives computers a voice |first=Ed |last=Scannell |publisher=InfoWorld |date=16 June 1997 |page=36 |quote=At the same announcement last week, IBM also unveiled ViaVoice, a general-purpose continuous-speech dictation product [...] ViaVoice is expected to carry a suggested retail price of $199, and it will ship by the end of August }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mBsEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22ViaVoice%22&pg=PA21 |title=Intranet Applications: Briefs |publisher=Network World |date=25 August 1997 |page=21 |quote=IBM's release last week of its ViaVoice speech recognition product [...] }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oUcDBHN3VcIC&q=IBM++%22ViaVoice%22&pg=PT19 |title=Can we talk? |author=Alan S. Horowitz |publisher=Computerworld |date=27 October 1997 |page=80 |quote=[...] and ViaVoice from IBM, which hit the market in September }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dzsEAAAAMBAJ&q=IBM+ViaVoice+1997&pg=PA116 |title=Product Reviews: Continuous speech-recognition software: NaturallySpeaking edges out ViaVoice with hands-free editing |author=Victor R. Garza |publisher=InfoWorld |date=8 September 1997 |page=116 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rm500_oURScC&q=IBM+ViaVoice+1997&pg=PA20 |type=Advertisement |title=tap, tap, tap talk, talk, talk Free your hands. And your mind will follow. |publisher=PC Magazine |date=23 September 1997 |page=20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQG02olzkSoC&q=IBM+ViaVoice+1997&pg=PA64 |title=First Looks: Voice Recognition Software: Talking to Your PC |first=David |last=Haskin |publisher=PC Magazine |date=21 October 1997 |page=64 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oxWNM9oUQfIC&q=IBM+ViaVoice+1997&pg=PA290 |title=Assistive Technology on the Threshold of the New Millennium |editor1-first=Christian |editor1-last=Bühler |editor2-first=Harry |editor2-last=Knops |page=290 |quote=IBM : Speech Application Programming Interface Reference, IBM ViaVoice * Developer Tools |version=4.3 |date=December 1997 |isbn=9781586030018 }}</ref>
| latest release version = 10.5
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2005}}
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]]
| genre = [[Speech recognition|Voice recognition]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = {{URL|http://www-142.ibm.com/software/products/gb/en/viavoice/|IBM ViaVoice website}}
}}
'''IBM ViaVoice''' was a range of language-specific continuous [[speech recognition]] [[software]] products offered by [[IBM]]. The current version is designed primarily for use in embedded devices. The latest stable version of IBM Via Voice was 9.0 and was able to transfer text directly into [[Microsoft Word]].

The most important process for the correct use of this software is the so-called 'quick training', and 'enrollment': it consists of reading many specific words and sentences in order to make the software adapt itself to the specific users' sound and intonation features. It lasts for one hour or more and can be divided in many parts. Users are able to improve decoding accuracy, by reading prepared texts of a few hundred sentences. The recorded data was used to tune the [[acoustic model]] to that specific user. In addition, user specific text files could be parsed to tune the language model. Correction of mis-recognised words was also used to improve subsequent decode accuracy.

==Editions==
Individual language editions may have different features, specifications, technical support, and microphone support. Some of the products or editions available are:
* Advanced Edition,
* Standard Edition,
* Personal Edition,
* ViaVoice for Mac OS X Edition,
* Pro USB Edition,
* Simple Dictation for Mac.

The IBM Via Voice 98™ has been available in the Home, Office and Executive Edition in the following languages:

Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, UK English, US English. The Executive Edition allows you to dictate into most Windows applications and control them using your voice.

Designed for [[Windows 95]], [[Windows 98|98]] and [[Windows NT 4.0|NT 4.0]], it has been working very well with [[Windows 7]].

In the Executive package are included:
* original software and user guide on [[CD-ROM]];
* quality headset with microphone by Andrea Electronics Corporation™ with a converter plug for [[Sound Blaster]]™ [[sound cards]] and [[ThinkPad]]™;
* printed voice command reference card;
*telephone support for one month.

==History==
Prior to the development of ViaVoice, IBM launched a product in 1993 named the '''IBM Personal Dictation System''' (later renamed to '''VoiceType''')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/speechreco/breakthroughs/|access-date=2020-09-06|website=ibm.com|title=Pioneering Speech Recognition}}</ref> which ran on Windows, [[AIX]], and [[OS/2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ardent-tool.com/sound/ENUS294-700.pdf|website=ardent-tool.com|title=IBM VoiceType Dictation for OS/2 Version 1.1|date=1994-11-08|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref> In 1997, ViaVoice was first introduced to the general public. Two years later, in 1999, IBM released a free of charge version of ViaVoice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Micahel |first1=Alex |title=Text to speech |url=http://www.stimmen.ai |access-date=18 May 2023}}</ref>

In 2003, IBM awarded ScanSoft, which owned the competitive product [[Dragon NaturallySpeaking]], exclusive global distribution rights to ViaVoice Desktop products for Windows and [[Mac OS X]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=31541|title=ScanSoft and IBM to Expand Server, Embedded and Desktop Speech Offerings|date=April 1, 2003}}</ref> Two years later, [[Nuance Communications|Nuance]] merged with ScanSoft.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www-01.ibm.com/software/pervasive/viavoice.html |title= IBM Destop ViaVoice |date= 2003 |publisher= [[IBM]] |accessdate= 29 November 2017 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of speech recognition software]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www-01.ibm.com/software/pervasive/viavoice.html}} at [[IBM]] 
*{{cite web |url= http://www.research.ibm.com/hlt/html/body_history.html |title= History |publisher= [[IBM]] |accessdate= 1 January 2015 |quote= VoiceType/ViaVoice from the 1950s to 1997 |archive-date= 13 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141013221649/http://www.research.ibm.com/hlt/html/body_history.html |url-status= dead }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ibm Viavoice}}
[[Category:IBM software|ViaVoice]]
[[Category:Speech recognition software]]
[[Category:1997 software]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2005]]
[[Category:Discontinued software]]

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IBM ViaVoice - Revision history

imported>Akira625: Added links.