ProNotes announces development of programming tools for IBM speech recognition product

Business Wire, July 13, 1995

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 1995--ProNotes Inc., a Philadelphia software company, today announced development of programming tools for the IBM VoiceType Dictation System(TM) speech recognition product.

The tools are aimed at software developers working with Windows 3.1(TM), Windows NT(TM), an Windows 95(TM).

Working with IBM, the company will develop a unique set of voice tools that will enable programmers to make full use of VoiceType's free dictation capabilities, as well as voice command and control capabilities, from within custom applications. The product will be available in the fourth quarter of this year.

"We chose to develop Voice Tools for IBM VoiceType(TM) Speech Recognition because it is the best product on the market today," said Alan Costilo, D.C., president of ProNotes. "We are providing Windows developers with the necessary tools to unlock the limitless possibilities of voice-enabled applications for all users of desktop and notebook computers, bringing this exciting technology into the mainstream of personal computing."

Voice Tools are sets of custom controls that developers working with Visual Basic(TM), C, and C can incorporate into their applications making them voice capable. Among the controls are a voice playback and record panel, a voice command button, a voice list box, a dictation window, and a voice navigator.

When included in an application, the tools allow the user to dictate notes and letters, perform voice data entry (such as form filling), navigate around the application by voice, and voice-activate any programmable computer events.

"Speech recognition from IBM is available now," said Walt Nawrocki, Speech Recognition, World Wide Development and Planning Manager, IBM Corp. "Developers should be able to deliver to the end user the ease of use that speech recognition provides within a multitude of applications. Pronotes Voice Tools for our VoiceType Dictation System for Windows(TM) will go a long way to making it a reality."

Ilya Karmazin, vice president of Technology at ProNotes, said, "ProNotes Voice Tools will be offered in the form of Visual Basic custom controls, known as VBXs, as well as 16-bit OLE custom controls, and 32-bit OLE custom controls. In the near future, most popular visual programming languages will enable developers to add OLE custom controls to their `tools window.' Voice Tools," Karmazin added, "will become an indispensable addition to programmers' toolsets, as free dictation and voice command and control gain popularity among users."

ProNotes is a manufacturer of dictation systems for medical professionals. The company has been developing software for IBM VoiceType Speech Recognition since 1993. For more information about ProNotes and their products, contact ProNotes at 1-800-70-NOTES or see their World Wide Web page on the Internet: http://www.pronotes.com. ProNotes' e-mail address is: proinfo@pronotes.com. -0- (TM) IBM VoiceType Dictation System for Windows(TM) is a trademark of International Business Machines Corp. Windows, Windows 3.1, Windows NT, Windows 95, and Visual Basic are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: ProNotes Inc., Philadelphia

Lisa McGuigan, 215/533-8569