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IBM ViaVoice
open-in-new
<h2 id="editions">Editions</h2> <p>Individual language editions may have different features, specifications, technical support, and microphone support. Some of the products or editions available are: </p> <ul><li>Advanced Edition,</li> <li>Standard Edition,</li> <li>Personal Edition,</li> <li>ViaVoice for Mac OS X Edition,</li> <li>Pro USB Edition,</li> <li>Simple Dictation for Mac.</li></ul> <p>The IBM Via Voice 98™ has been available in the Home, Office and Executive Edition in the following languages: </p><p>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. </p><p>Designed for <a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a>, <a href="/facts/Windows_98/6qtq4oJm">98</a> and <a href="/facts/Windows_NT_4.0/EcKYxrkx">NT 4.0</a>, it has been working very well with <a href="/facts/Windows_7/tldLdbnX">Windows 7</a>. </p><p>In the Executive package are included: </p> <ul><li>original software and user guide on <a href="/facts/CD-ROM/JwuaYLJv">CD-ROM</a>;</li> <li>quality headset with microphone by Andrea Electronics Corporation™ with a converter plug for <a href="/facts/Sound_Blaster/tKl0zY5n">Sound Blaster</a>™ <a href="/facts/Sound_cards/bxlF4YBa">sound cards</a> and <a href="/facts/ThinkPad/z3xvLdUr">ThinkPad</a>™;</li> <li>printed voice command reference card;</li> <li>telephone support for one month.</li></ul> <h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Prior to the development of ViaVoice, IBM launched a product in 1993 named the IBM Personal Dictation System (later renamed to VoiceType)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> which ran on Windows, <a href="/facts/AIX/cRWERua2">AIX</a>, and <a href="/facts/OS/2/uVBl6ItP">OS/2</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> In 1997, ViaVoice was first introduced to the general public. Two years later, in 1999, IBM released a free of charge version of ViaVoice.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>In 2003, IBM awarded ScanSoft, which owned the competitive product <a href="/facts/Dragon_NaturallySpeaking/UeH7wqgV">Dragon NaturallySpeaking</a>, exclusive global distribution rights to ViaVoice Desktop products for Windows and <a href="/facts/Mac_OS_X/Y93vVpTm">Mac OS X</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Two years later, <a href="/facts/Nuance_Communications/eDzbo1wK">Nuance</a> merged with ScanSoft.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_speech_recognition_software/0BnS5lKp">List of speech recognition software</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www-01.ibm.com/software/pervasive/viavoice.html">Official website</a> at <a href="/facts/IBM/QszA7nwd">IBM</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20141013221649/http://www.research.ibm.com/hlt/html/body_history.html">"History"</a>. <a href="/facts/IBM/QszA7nwd">IBM</a>. Archived from <a href="http://www.research.ibm.com/hlt/html/body_history.html">the original</a> on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015. VoiceType/ViaVoice from the 1950s to 1997</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Pioneering Speech Recognition". ibm.com. Retrieved 2020-09-06. <a href="https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/speechreco/breakthroughs/" target="_blank">https://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/speechreco/breakthroughs/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"IBM VoiceType Dictation for OS/2 Version 1.1" (PDF). ardent-tool.com. 1994-11-08. Retrieved 2020-09-06. <a href="https://www.ardent-tool.com/sound/ENUS294-700.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ardent-tool.com/sound/ENUS294-700.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Micahel, Alex. "Text to speech". Retrieved 18 May 2023. <a href="http://www.stimmen.ai" target="_blank">http://www.stimmen.ai</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"ScanSoft and IBM to Expand Server, Embedded and Desktop Speech Offerings". April 1, 2003. <a href="https://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=31541" target="_blank">https://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=31541</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"IBM Destop ViaVoice". IBM. 2003. Retrieved 29 November 2017. <a href="http://www-01.ibm.com/software/pervasive/viavoice.html" target="_blank">http://www-01.ibm.com/software/pervasive/viavoice.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>