Voice Processing: New Dragon Systems BestMatch III Speech Technology Optimized For Intel Pentium III Processor Significantly Reduces Training Time - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Feb 22, 1999

BestMatch III technology, a significant advance in making speech recognition easier to use, was announced Wednesday by Dragon Systems, Inc. of Newton, MA. The new BestMatch III technology, which is optimized for the Intel Pentium III processor, will enhance the capabilities of Dragon Point & Speak and Dragon NaturallySpeaking, to quickly adapt to a user's voice in significantly less training time than what was previously required.

Dragon Systems showed this capability by inviting attendees at the Pentium III Processor Preview Day to quickly access the Internet and to chat by voice. The company linked Dragon's speech software with Microsoft Chat and Microsoft Internet Explorer. This demonstrated the potential for integrated applications in kiosks and offices where new and multiple users access the Internet and Intranets. BestMatch III optimized for Intel Pentium III now reduces a barrier to widespread use by consumers by significantly reducing speaker enrollment training time and the amount of time it takes before they can use the product for the first time. The new BestMatch III also takes advantage of the new instruction set and increased power found in systems based on the Pentium III processor platform. Dragon Systems developed new code and updated the speech files used to model voices. Software based on BestMatch III will be available this month to computer manufacturers and shortly thereafter to end users directly from Dragon Systems. "Intel is delighted to see companies like Dragon Systems Inc. announcing products with their BestMatch III technology that allow users to take advantage of the capabilities in the Pentium III processor," said Rob Sullivan, director of New Technologies and Businesses at Intel Corporation. "The BestMatch III technology will enable users to quickly begin using Dragon Systems' speech recognition products and experience this exciting, new, intuitive way to interact with their computer." "The enhanced capabilities of the Pentium III processor made it practical for us to build BestMatch III. It is our belief that this new development will expand the number of mainstream users who will use speech recognition on a regular basis," said John Shagoury, President of Dragon Systems. Dragon Systems, Inc., is a worldwide leader in PC speech recognition. Dragon Systems develops and markets high-performance, cost-effective speech and language technology that, in multiple world languages (including American English, British English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish), enable users to create text, issue commands, enter and access data simply by speaking. The company also licenses technology worldwide through developers, distributors, resellers, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and ISVs (Integrated Software Vendors). Dragon Systems ports its technology across multiple operating systems and hardware platforms -- from hand-held devices and PCs to workstations, and is pursuing leading-edge research and development projects for computer and telecommunications applications. Since introducing Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the first large vocabulary continuous speech recognition system able to create general purpose text, in 1997, the Company has received over 70 major industry awards worldwide. Founded in 1982, Dragon Systems is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts; its Dragon Systems UK Ltd. subsidiary, which is focused on speech recognition for telephony and high-noise environments, is based in Cheltenham, England; Dragon Systems GmbH is located in Munich, Germany, Dragon Systems also has offices in France. Dragon Systems can be found on the world wide web at: www.dragonsys.com or www.naturalspeech.com.