How to install and configure speech and handwriting recognition in Word 2003

This article discusses the speech and handwriting recognition features of Microsoft Office Word 2003.

Word 2003 includes the speech recognition and handwriting recognition methods of input.

With the speech recognition feature, you can literally speak to your computer by means of a microphone. With the appropriate system requirements, you can dictate text into Microsoft Word, or, with a mouse click or spoken term, you can switch the input mode to Voice Command, so that you can control Word without clicking commands.

With the handwriting recognition feature, you can input your handwriting, either by controlling a mouse or by using a third-party drawing tablet, such as those created by Wacom or Calcomp. This input can be automatically converted to typed text, or it can be left as an "ink object" in your own handwriting. The handwriting recognition feature also supports a drawing function, so that you can include hand-drawn sketches in your Word document.

These features use the SAPI 5 engine to turn on and turn off Voice Command mode and Dictation mode. These modes are controlled with the Language bar.

Language Bar

The Language bar is a system upgrade that is installed with Microsoft Office 2003. The Language bar adds alternative user input devices and features that are accessed and controlled in a central location. The Language bar appears in the upper-right corner of the window in Microsoft Office programs. The features of the Language bar are determined by the options that are installed. The basic controls that you access with the Language bar are Keyboard Language, Correction, Microphone, Handwriting, and Input Method Editors (IMEs). You can move the Language bar out of the way by temporarily hiding it. You can also close the Language bar, so that it no longer appears. If you close the Language bar, you cannot use the features that are on the Language bar.

Note You cannot close the Language bar if you have installed an Input Method Editor.

How to Close the Language Bar

The Language bar is not part of speech recognition or handwriting recognition; it is a System Control Panel upgrade. Because of this, after the Language bar is installed, you cannot remove it by using Setup, although you can close it or minimize it. To close the Language bar, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Language bar, and then click Close the Language Bar.
2. Click OK if you receive the following message:
   
   
   You have chosen to close the Language bar. To display the Language bar later, select Show the Language bar on the desktop in the Language Bar Settings dialog box. The Language Bar Settings dialog box is in the Text Input Settings Control Panel.

Note The correct name of the icon in Control Panel is Text Services.

How to Display the Language Bar Again

To display the Language bar, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Text Services.
3. Click Language Bar, and then click to select the Show the Language bar on the desktop check box.

System Requirements for Speech Recognition

Recognition response time depends on your computer's CPU speed and available system memory. You can expect good response on a 400 megahertz (MHz) Pentium II computer with 128 megabytes (MB) or more of random access memory (RAM). A slower computer or less memory result in slower response times. The minimum requirements for dictation are:

• A 400 MHz Pentium or faster computer.
• 128 MB or more of RAM.
• Microsoft Windows 2000 or later.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later.
• A high-quality close-talk (headset) microphone with gain adjustment support.

Note The Setup program checks for both the minimum RAM installed and the minimum processor speed.

How to Install Speech Recognition

To install speech recognition, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click Change or Remove Programs.
4. In the list of installed programs, click Microsoft Office 2003, and then click Change.
5. Click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.
6. In the Features to install list, expand Office Shared Features.
7. Expand Alternative User Input.
8. Click the Speech icon, and then click Run all from my computer.
9. Click Update to install speech components.

How to Turn On Speech Recognition

After you install speech recognition, the Microphone Wizard runs. This wizard starts either when you restart your computer after you install speech recognition or when you click Speech the first time (on the Tools menu.)

Note You can also start the Microphone Wizard from the Speech icon in Control Panel.

After you complete the steps to set up your microphone, speech recognition is technically installed. Next, you must complete the voice training (a minimum of two sessions is recommended). You then should be ready to start using speech recognition to change the way that you interact with your computer.

To turn on speech recognition, click Microphone on the Language bar, and then click either Dictation or Voice Command.

How to Remove Speech Recognition

To remove speech recognition, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click Change or Remove Programs.
4. In the list of installed programs, click Microsoft Office 2003, and then click Change.
5. Click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.
6. In the Features to install list, expand Office Shared Features.
7. Expand Alternative User Input.
8. Click the Speech icon, and then click Not Available.
9. Click Update to remove speech components.

IMPORTANT If you remove speech recognition, you cannot close the Language bar. For more information about the Language bar, see the "Language Bar" section of this article.

For more information about installing and configuring speech recognition, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type installing speech in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Handwriting Recognition

The handwriting recognition feature is available in the Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean language versions of Microsoft Office.

You use handwriting recognition to enter text into any Office program by writing instead of typing.

You can write by using a handwriting input device (such as a graphics tablet used with 3-D drawing programs or Computer Aided Drafting [CAD] software, or a Tablet PC) or you can write by using your mouse.

Your natural handwriting is converted to typed characters and is inserted inline with any existing text, at the same size as the existing text. In Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook, you can also select the option to leave text in handwritten form.

To convert handwritten notes that were taken in a handheld device into Microsoft Word, follow the instructions that are included with your handheld device.

How to Install Handwriting Recognition

To install handwriting recognition, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. (If you are using Windows XP, click Start and then click Control Panel.)
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click Change or Remove Programs.
4. In the list of installed programs, click Microsoft Office 2003, and then click Change.
5. Click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.
6. In the Features to install list, expand Office Shared Features.
7. Expand Alternative User Input.
8. Click the Handwriting icon, and then click Run all from my computer.
9. Click Update to install handwriting components.

How to Turn On Handwriting Recognition

On the Language bar, click Handwriting and then select the input method that you prefer.

For example, you can select from the following handwriting recognition input methods:

• If you click Writing Pad, a lined input box appears. You can draw in the lined box.
• If you click Write Anywhere, you can write anywhere on your screen. Your writing is recognized and is put at the insertion point.
• If you click Drawing Pad, a sketch input editor appears. You can use the sketch input editor to insert hand-drawn images into your document.

How to Remove Handwriting Recognition

To remove handwriting recognition, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. (If you are using Windows XP, click Start and then click Control Panel.)
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click Change or Remove Programs.
4. In the list of installed programs, click Microsoft Office 2003, and then click Change.
5. Click Add or Remove Features, and then click Next.
6. In the Features to install list, expand Office Shared Features.
7. Expand Alternative User Input.
8. Click the Handwriting icon, and then click Not Available.
9. Click Update to remove handwriting components.

IMPORTANT If you remove handwriting recognition, you cannot remove the Language bar.

For additional information about handwriting recognition, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

For more information about installing and using handwriting recognition, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type handwriting in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.