Set Up Speech Recognition in Windows 7

If you want to correctly setup the Speech Recognition function in windows 7, here I wrote a tutorial:

1. Attach a desktop microphone or headset to your computer and choose Start >> Control Panel >> Ease of Access >> Start Speech Recognition.

2. The Welcome to Speech Recognition message appears; click Next to continue. (Note: If you’ve used Speech Recognition before, this message won’t appear.)

3. In the resulting Microphone Setup Wizard, select the type of microphone that you’re using and then click Next. The next screen tells you how to place and use the microphone for optimum results. Click Next.

4. In the following window, read the sample sentence aloud. When you’re done, click Next. A window appears telling you that your microphone is now set up. Click Next.

During the Speech Recognition setup procedure, you’re given the option of printing commonly used commands. It’s a good idea to do this, as speech commands aren’t always second nature!

5. In the resulting dialog box, choose whether to enable or disable document view. Document view allows Windows to review your documents and e-mail to help it recognize your speech patterns. Click Next.

To stop Speech Recognition, click the Close button on the Control Panel. To start the Speech Recognition feature again, choose Start >> Control Panel >> Ease of Access >> Speech Recognition and then click the Start Speech Recognition link. To read more about Speech Recognition commands, click the Take Speech Tutorials link in the Speech Recognition Options window accessed from the Ease of Access window of the Control Panel.

6. In the resulting dialog box, choose either manual activation mode where you can use a mouse, pen, or keyboard to turn the feature on; or voice activation, which is useful if you have difficulty manipulating devices because of arthritis or hand injury. Click Next.

7. In the resulting screen, if you wish to view and/or print a list of speech recognition commands, click the View Reference Sheet button and read about or print reference information, and then click the Close button to close that window. Click Next to proceed.

8. In the resulting dialog box, either click Run Speech Recognition at Startup to disable this feature or leave the default setting. Click Next. The final dialog box informs you that you can now control the computer by voice and offers you a Start Tutorial button to help you practice voice commands. Click that button, or click Skip Tutorial to skip the tutorial and leave the Speech Recognition setup.

9. The Speech Recognition Control Panel appears. Say “Start listening” to activate the feature if you used voice activation in Step 6, or click the Start Speech Recognition link if you chose manual activation in Step 6. You can now begin using spoken commands to work with your computer.