Best Speech Recognition Software For PC?

CortGaming

Estimable
Nov 28, 2014
1
0
4,510
What is the best FREE software for computer speech recognition? Something that would function similar to siri or so.

Preferred Details:
-Does not have to have a text-to-speech function. I can type just fine.
-Would be best if it was possible to put in my own commands for the software to recognize. That way it's a bit more personally helpful.
-Any kind of spoken AI (Like SIRI) would be fantastic.

Thanks!
 
Solution
What version of Windows are you running?

I am not familiar with the functionality of Windows 8, but in Vista and 7, there is a built-in speech recognition system with decent accuracy. Now, out of the box, it is NOT really something with SIRI-like functionality. It's more of an alternative to Dragon NaturallySpeaking, primarily used for dictating text and/or interacting with GUIs.

However, there is a surprisingly-little-known download available from Microsoft called Windows Speech Recognition Macros (available here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13045) that sounds like it might be up your alley. It's not the most user-friendly and requires you to write simple scripts, since it was released basically as a tech...

Cptdan

Honorable
Dec 22, 2012
1
0
10,510
Not that it is fully able to do all that you want it to do, but check out google's "ok google" extension for chrome. It would be a start and using custom extensions with google, maybe you could empower it to do more. It will allow you to dictate messages and execute commands within google Chrome.

For a more complete solution (none of the free ones are that great), check out http://savedelete.com/2014/04/24/voice-recognition-software-freeware/6331

I personally have only ever used Dragon, and it's even got quirks that you have to work around sometimes. Good luck in your search and let me know if you find anything else.
 

jrp3

Estimable
Jan 26, 2015
2
0
4,520
What version of Windows are you running?

I am not familiar with the functionality of Windows 8, but in Vista and 7, there is a built-in speech recognition system with decent accuracy. Now, out of the box, it is NOT really something with SIRI-like functionality. It's more of an alternative to Dragon NaturallySpeaking, primarily used for dictating text and/or interacting with GUIs.

However, there is a surprisingly-little-known download available from Microsoft called Windows Speech Recognition Macros (available here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13045) that sounds like it might be up your alley. It's not the most user-friendly and requires you to write simple scripts, since it was released basically as a tech preview. Personally, I have a feeling that a good chunk of this is going to be under the hood of the new Windows 10 Cortana.

Anyways, the key benefit is that it will let you do all of the custom command creation that you want to be able to do. And since it's just an add-on for WSR, the whole thing would be free. Depending on how much time you're willing to spend setting things up, you could even get your computer to speak back to you in response to prompts. You would just need to use a text-to-speech program (FYI, those have nothing to do with whether or not you can type) that can run from the commandline, and then you could script custom responses for your commands.
 
Solution

jrp3

Estimable
Jan 26, 2015
2
0
4,520


Just to note, the freeware list at that link is a tad misleading. The article is titled "7 Best Voice Recognition Software That Are Freeware," but only a couple of them seem to actually be voice recognition applications. The rest are text-to-speech, which the OP doesn't seem to be interested in.