Speech recognition Uses/output

[Dave]

First time I have ever posted so im hoping it all works.....THE
PROBLEM......For a University project I am designing a mechanical toy aimed
at specialist "speech and Language" provisions within schools....THE
IDEA....using the speech recognition software on windows to drive an external
mechanical toy.....basically if the computer recognises the spoken word it
will output an electrical current to drive the mechanical toy....which will
reward and encourage the pupil....PROBLEM......I have no idea if this is
possible...I understand the speech recognition software will recognise and
convert speech to text, but can it send an output through the usb or audio
jack as a controlled electrical current....hell, I hope this makes sense to
someone.....I can purchase a specific circuit to do the job, but the cost
involved would be beyond the range acceptable, so utilizing the computer
software makes it all more freasable.....Thanks for reading

 

[Alister]

What you are asking for is perfectly feasible, with the following caveats.

1/ No proprietary software that I am aware of will do what you want, so
you will need to have the skills to write software which can take
advantage of the Microsoft Speech APIs and incorporate a device driver
to control the USB / Serial output.

Such software is perfectly possible, however, in a variety of languages.

2/ Direct control of the mechanical toy is probably going to draw more
power that a USB or Serial interface can provide, so you will need a
hardware interface between the computer and the toy, to receive and
interpret the control signals and then boost the output to something
which can drive motors / solenoids etc.

Alister

Dave wrote:
> First time I have ever posted so im hoping it all works.....THE
> PROBLEM......For a University project I am designing a mechanical toy aimed
> at specialist "speech and Language" provisions within schools....THE
> IDEA....using the speech recognition software on windows to drive an external
> mechanical toy.....basically if the computer recognises the spoken word it
> will output an electrical current to drive the mechanical toy....which will
> reward and encourage the pupil....PROBLEM......I have no idea if this is
> possible...I understand the speech recognition software will recognise and
> convert speech to text, but can it send an output through the usb or audio
> jack as a controlled electrical current....hell, I hope this makes sense to
> someone.....I can purchase a specific circuit to do the job, but the cost
> involved would be beyond the range acceptable, so utilizing the computer
> software makes it all more freasable.....Thanks for reading

 

[Twayne]

In news:9C3AEE85-A5C8-4E30-AA0A-EB5C74B8CF6D@microsoft.com,
Dave <Dave@discussions.microsoft.com> typed:
> First time I have ever posted so im hoping it all
> works.....THE PROBLEM......For a University project I am
> designing a mechanical toy aimed at specialist "speech and
> Language" provisions within schools....THE IDEA....using
> the speech recognition software on windows to drive an
> external mechanical toy.....basically if the computer
> recognises the spoken word it will output an electrical
> current to drive the mechanical toy....which will reward
> and encourage the pupil....PROBLEM......I have no idea if
> this is possible...I understand the speech recognition
> software will recognise and convert speech to text, but can
> it send an output through the usb or audio jack as a
> controlled electrical current....hell, I hope this makes
> sense to someone.....I can purchase a specific circuit to
> do the job, but the cost involved would be beyond the range
> acceptable, so utilizing the computer software makes it all
> more freasable.....Thanks for reading

It's feasible and has been done with several toys and toy
computers for kids. Best way IMO would be to start with an R/C
car with L/R, Fwd/Back, simple and cheap. Eventually go
wireless, but to start, use wires from COM or LPT or even USB,
whichever you prefer. Use the computer to issue "start" and
"stop" commands or whatever, starting simple and building on
that.

The computer is an OK way for experimenting and playing, even
learning, but you'd be a lot farther ahead with a Rx/Tx
mounted right in the car and programmable by you with an EPROM
or whatever is offered. Lots of kits are available; look
around the online hobby shops and even Radio Shack for them,
depending on how far you want to go with the project.

Using Line Feeds here & there would make your posts a lot
easier to read, too.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[Paul]

Dave wrote:
> First time I have ever posted so im hoping it all works.....THE
> PROBLEM......For a University project I am designing a mechanical toy aimed
> at specialist "speech and Language" provisions within schools....THE
> IDEA....using the speech recognition software on windows to drive an external
> mechanical toy.....basically if the computer recognises the spoken word it
> will output an electrical current to drive the mechanical toy....which will
> reward and encourage the pupil....PROBLEM......I have no idea if this is
> possible...I understand the speech recognition software will recognise and
> convert speech to text, but can it send an output through the usb or audio
> jack as a controlled electrical current....hell, I hope this makes sense to
> someone.....I can purchase a specific circuit to do the job, but the cost
> involved would be beyond the range acceptable, so utilizing the computer
> software makes it all more freasable.....Thanks for reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms

(You'll notice here, the delay from speech input to mechanical motion is
measured in seconds. Not good for fine control, at all.)

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-8719734186176421288&q=robotics#

Another example here.

http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Programming/robotics/

Paul