Options (tab)
Use this tab to set various e-Speaking options.
Program Options
- Always On Top The program will always be the "top" window (appearing on top of all others).
- Start Automatically If checked, this program will be added to your start-up folder so that it will start automatically each time you start Windows.
- Phonetic Alphabet Adds commands for you to speak using the phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie, etc. Click here for more information.
- Fade to __% if not active If checked, this program will fade (disappear slowly) when not active. It will still respond to voice commands. But the interface (status and menus) will become invisible. The program will become visible again if you move the mouse over it or give the command "Show e-Speaking". The default percentage is 65%. If you change the percentage to 100%, then the program will become completely invisible.
- Show Progress Bars The program can monitor your usage of the mouse and keyboard and show you the progress you are making at using your voice instead of the mouse and keyboard. Progress is measured on several dimensions including: mouse clicks, mouse movement, keyboard letters, and navigation/function keys.
- Show Tips on Startup If you want to turn the "Startup Tips" on or off, simply check or uncheck this box.
- Startup Say This is what will say when it starts. This is an audible prompt to let you know that you can begin speaking. Feel free to change this text to something more suitable for your needs. If you don't want the computer to say anything when it starts, simply uncheck this box.
- Standby Say If in Standby mode and you speak a voice command, the program will let you know that it is standing by. The program will not execute commands until you return it to active listening mode by saying: "Resume", "Computer", or "Hello". Uncheck this box if you do not want to receive these verbal announcements.
- Scope Error this program can let you know using an audible prompt that you have issued a voice command that was not defined to be executed in the current active application context. For example, if you have defined a voice command in Word called: "Create Table" and you accidently issue this command in Notepad, then e-Speaking will let you know that you have used the command in the wrong context. If you are not sure about what commands you can say within a particular application context, then bring that application to the foreground and say: "Show Commands". Two parameters can be used in this message to make it more relevant and meaningful. The "[C]" parameter is the command that was heard. The "[A]" parameter is the application context (scope) that is currently active.
Attention Modes
- Key to Toggle On/Off Allows the use of a pre-defined key to toggle the microphone on and off. Check the box to have e-Speaking prompt you for which key you wish to use. This would be the most frequently used attention mode for general users.
- Key Push to Talk Allows the use of a pre-defined key that must be pressed in order to activate the microphone. Once the key is released, the microphone turns off. Check the box to have e-Speaking prompt you for which key you wish to use. This mode would be useful in situations where there could be a high level of random background noise and you don't want the computer to respond to any commands unless you are at the keyboard pressing the "Push to Talk" key.
- Listen for Command Allows the use of a pre-defined voice keyword that must be spoken in order to get the computer's attention. Once the keyword was spoken, the computer will listen for voice commands for a pre-defined attention span of 10 to 60 seconds. I find this Attention Mode to be similar to giving a name to your computer. For example, you could set the Attention keyword to the name: "Vicky". Then, whenever you gave that command, Vicky would respond by saying "Yes" and would have your attention for a set period of time. This Attention mode would be useful in situations where there is no keyboard (a home theatre PC) or where you seldom use voice commands.
- Additional Help There is more information on Attention Modes. Click here for additional help.
Mouse Commands
- Mouse Movement Allows the use of a commands to tell the mouse to move (Mouse Up, Mouse Down, Mouse Left, Mouse Right, Stop). Check the box to have e-Speaking add or remove these commands.
- Mouse Buttons Allows the use of a commands to tell the mouse to single or double click, drag, or release the item. Check the box to have e-Speaking add or remove these commands.
- Mouse Jump To Allows the use of a commands to tell the mouse to jump (move) to specific locations. The command starts with "Mouse" and is followed by either a number (one through seven) or a phonetic alphabet (alpha through golf). The letters and numbers are similar to a spreadsheet where the letter tells you which position to move to on the X axis and the number tells you which position to move to on the Y axis.
- Mouse Clock Allows the use of a commands to tell the mouse to move in the direction of the hours on a clock face. For example, Mouse Clock Four will move the mouse in the direction of 4 O'clock and Mouse Clock Eight will move the mouse in the direction of 8 O'Clock.
- Mouse Slide Allows the use of a commands to tell the mouse to slight up/down/left/right in a specified number of pixels. The default distance for the slide is 15 pixels. You can change the amount of movement in the slide by updating the numeric value shown as the Action code for that command.
- Additional help