Utter Command from Redstart Systems

Utter Command overview

Utter Command is a speech command system for controlling computers. It includes a set of powerful applets. Utter Command works with the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional speech recognition engine. The speech engine lets you talk to your computer. Utter Command lets you keep it short and sweet.

Utter Command follows the way your brain works, making commands easy to remember, use and combine.

UC commands work across all programs. No matter what programs you use, you’ll be able to do everything by speech that you can using the keyboard and mouse, usually faster.

You can use a single speech command to

• open a program and go directly to any file or folder
• set a reminder to “call John” in 45 minutes
• open and address an email message, including Cc
• go directly to any Web site
• move and click the mouse arrow
• select and copy to any program
• click a menu item buried three levels deep
• change media player tracks while working in another program
• move and/or size a window or dialog box
• go directly to a section or subsection of any document
• fill out two fields of a form at once

and more

You can mix and match speech, mouse and keyboard commands as you wish. Utter Command also allows you to control your computer hands-free. UC supports multiple monitors.

Utter Command was shaped by real-world user experience and cutting-edge research in cognition, linguistics, networking and human behavior.

At Redstart Systems we use Utter Command for our day-to-day work. The Redstart Systems Web site and Utter Command manual were produced using Utter Command.

The elements of Utter Command

Utter Command consists of a system of concise, consistent commands that allow you to control every aspect of your computer using speech, and a set of powerful applets:

The UC List lets you use a single command to get to any file, folder or Web site, set up an email message, find any keyword in any document, set a reminder, fill out multiple form fields, execute any command line command, and click the mouse once or twice in a row.

For example, in Windows Explorer with a folder selected (Budget, for example), "Add Folder" adds the folder to your Folder list.

After adding the folder, you can say
"Budget Folder" to open the folder in the current program,
"Word Budget Folder" to start Word and open the folder, or
"Windows Budget Folder" to start Windows Explorer and open the folder.

The UC Rulers let you place the mouse and move windows.

The UC Clipboard lets you copy or cut multiple selections, and selections don't disappear when you turn off your computer.

The On-screen Guides put useful information at your fingertips.

Utter Command also provides audio feedback in five situations where it's important to know what's happening.

The Utter Command manual

The Utter Command manual features lessons, self-guided tours, command lists, cheat sheets and task tours. The electronic version included with the software is easy to navigate by speech. The manual is also accessible from the Utter Command menu.

Utter Command efficiency in action

Utter Command Task Tours take you through common tasks like surfing the Web, emailing, cutting and pasting among programs, controlling your music player, navigating documents, making an Excel chart and making a PowerPoint presentation.

Across the 36 Task Tours, Utter Command averages 1 command to every 2.3 keyboard/mouse commands -- 835 UC steps to 1,896 keyboard/mouse steps.

System requirements

•	Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional version 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 (make sure your NatSpeak setup includes a high-quality soundcard and microphone -- we recommend USB pod and Sennheiser headset)
•	Windows 2000, XP or Vista
•	If you're using NatSpeak 8 or above, we recommend at least a 2.00 GHz multi-core processor
•	At least 2 GB of RAM
•	High-speed disk drive -- we recommend 7200 rpm or higher (Note: the disk drive number refers to disk speed, not capacity.)

"Utter Command is nothing short of brilliant. If you have long been frustrated by Dragon's shortcomings, and thought to yourself "there has got to be a way to make this easier," you will fall to your knees in gratitude that somebody has finally done so!"

- Jill, a journalist

"If you're looking for a truly hands-free solution that has the added benefit of speeding up your workflow and improving your productivity, this is by far the best thing on the market. Even if you don't necessarily need a hands-free solution all the time, it offers the flexibility to integrate into your work style seamlessly.

"I can barely remember what things were like before this software was available.

"Utter Command provides a solid framework that allows you to really navigate the computer by voice and make effective use of different applications completely by voice."

- John Dean, a speech pathologist

"I never dreamed that one day someone would develop software enabling me to access my favorite Web sites just by saying their names; to launch my email program, address an email, and write a greeting line-all by saying two words; and to move the mouse and click anywhere on the screen by simply naming the coordinates (as in the old game Battleship). Yet this is exactly what Utter Command lets me do. And if that was all it offered, UC would be well worth the price."

- Daniel, a writer