Understanding Word's Speech Features

Word contains extensive support for speech recognition?and if you are running a fast computer in a quiet environment, you may be pleasantly surprised by its performance. Word's speech-recognition features take two forms:

• Voice Command, which allows you to choose Word commands, specify formatting, and perform other tasks by speaking directions to the computer aloud

• Dictation, which allows you to speak and have Word transfer your spoken language into text onscreen

How much Word's speech-recognition features improve your productivity depends heavily on how you use your computer and on how good a typist you are. Speech recognition is, of course, especially valuable for those with repetitive stress injuries or other physical challenges that prevent them from using mice and keyboards comfortably or for long periods. Many users want to use speech recognition to supplement the way they normally work with Word, rather than to replace it.