[Tfug] voice recognition software

[Bexley Hall]

Hi Earl,

> I have a friend who recently had a
> stroke.  She is now limited to one
> handed computer operation.  She is also not very
> mobile right now.  And
> her computer died on her at about this time.

Is her last name "Murphy", by any chance?  :<
(my sympathies to her)
 
> I would like to set up a Linux Box for her.  She has
> enough problems
> without having to contend with virus problems on top of
> everything else.

Virii aren't a problem *if* you are careful with what you
do online and how/where you do it.  Of course, if she's
like most of The Unwashed Masses, she'll just go "wherever"
and wonder, later, why she has a problem.  :<
 
> From what I can find, most voice recognition software,
> at least stuff that works is limited to Windows.
> Does any one know of something in Linux that
> would work to assist in computer operation and be usable
> for on-line e-mail and chat?

The only real open source VR that I am aware of is the Sphinx
project.  But, I don't think it is ready for prime time.  :<

Have you, instead, considered taking a different approach
entirely?  I.e., she can *read* stuff on the screen, right?
And, presumably, can do some limited *coarse* navigation
(click on icons, etc.).

Why not let her send *voice* messages?  No need to type.  And,
no need to get frustrated with the errors that the VR software
injects (especially if her stroke affected speech centers in
any significant way).

<shrug>  Dunno without knowing her particular situation...

HTH,
--don