SAPI 4 Tools For ZAP! Voice Control

Once the SAPI4 SDK Suite has been downloaded and installed (NOTE: install and run as Administrator), it would behoove the user of ZAP! to take a close look at a couple of the tools that it provides that can ensure

• The proper operation of ZAP! Voice Control
• Better response from ZAP! Voice Control to spoken commands

Let's start first with ensuring that ZAP! Voice control will work properly.

It is always a good check to make sure that the computer is actually, indeed hearing the commands being spoken to it. One way to do this is to use the "Microphone Setup Wizard" tool provided by the SAPI4

The Microphone Setup Wizard is contained within another program that is installed by the SAPI4 Suite called "Microsoft Voice."

If the default conditions were accepted when installing the SAPI4 SDK Suite, then it would be located in a directory like this: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Voice\msvoice.exe

Links to it should also be installed in the Start >> Programs menu in Vista and XP, as well.

After running it, it will appear as an icon in the system tray. Right click the small green v-icon and choose "Voice Command Options" from the pop-up menu. This will bring up the Voice Commands Options dialog box, as shown below.

This tool is where all the tools to control speech recognition settings are made.

To check the microphone, click on the General tab and then the button "Check Microphone"

The second important tool to use is the "Optional Training" provided by the SDK and is located under the "Advanced" tab of the Voice Options Commands dialog box.

This tool is a very powerful tool that can greatly aid ZAP! Voice Control in helping to recognize complex commands that can be composed of several distinct words.

When the correct changes have been made, exit the Microsoft Voice program by again right-clicking on the icon in the system tray and choose "Exit Microsoft Voice."