Voice Operated Commands

[Flybynite]

I seek a speech recognition package that functions with FSX, operating within a Windows7 (64bit) environment which, enables voice commands such as,"set heading 147", "set altitude to 6000", or "set nav frequency 115 decimal 20", to function. Some archived contributors suggest using Speech Buddy 2 in conjunction with FSUIPC. Having downloaded these packages, attempts to make them function have failed and, all support from Billy Verreynne has long since evaporated.

Has any reader successfully managed to integrate these two products and, if so, are there working scripts available to enable a relative novice to progress along the lurning curve?

In the meantime experiments with VOC, a product that emulates key presses defined by Microsoft in response to specific verbal phrases, have been undertaken and, although this works well for most actions, it has limitations that prevent settings of absolute parameters, like heading, other than, to increment or decrement existing values. Is it practicable to integrate VOC with FSUIPC, such that, a set of keyboard strings could enable the absolute setting of specific perameters, to be achieved ?

There are several sophisticated products on the market which provide comprehensive features including checklists. However, these tend to Aircraft type specific and, unless they can be easily adapted by a user to suit other aircraft types, it can ultimately lead along an expensive route.

Any recommendations or helpful suggestions to meet my objective, would be appreciated

Terry

[Ian P]

I don't know whether It's Your Plane might help?

http://www.itsyourplane.com/

Ian P.

[Pete Dowson]

I seek a speech recognition package that functions with FSX, operating within a Windows7 (64bit) environment which, enables voice commands such as,"set heading 147", "set altitude to 6000", or "set nav frequency 115 decimal 20", to function. Some archived contributors suggest using Speech Buddy 2 in conjunction with FSUIPC.

I used to use Speech Buddy long ago and had no problems. I seem to recall you can only program it to send keystrokes. Whether you need FSUIPC as well depends on how much of your aircraft you want to control this way and whether there are keystrokes for those controls. All FSUIPC can do for it is catch the keystrokes and allow you to program them accordingly.

Don't forget that FS must have the keyboard focus for it (and FSUIPC) to see and respond to keystrokes.

I now use "Its Your Plane", which supports a good range of aircraft. There's also "Multi-Crew Experience" which some folks prefer.

Regards

Pete

[DanW]

Hi Terry,

I use multi crew experience and can highly recommend it. It can be adapted by the user to work with other aircraft, via keyboard mappings to phrases. But the aircraft it directly interfaces is quite a good list.

On aircraft it doesn't fully support, I use the voice checklist feature, plus almost always set heading set course etc works, altitude sometimes doesn't work on others.

Most of the best aircraft work though, PMDG 737, 747, MD-11, Simcheck A300, feelThere ERJs to name a few, there is more on their website. They are always developing bit by bit adding more, I think next up is the captain sim 777 then probably they will interface another airbus.

You do need to do alot of windows voice speech training to get it to work, but once it does work it works amazingly.

Get it on the 7 day trial when you have some spare time to give it a good run, it takes alot of setting up, building your favourite checklist etc.

The trial is here:

http://www.multicrewxp.com/Downloads.html

[Flybynite]

Thanks guys for your prompt responses, it is good to participate in a lively and reactive forum.

Let me say that I do seek a Rolls-Royce solution whereby you ask the Co-pilot to fly the plane or ask the cabin crew to bring coffee. I don’t see much entertainment value in that. Nor do I seek comprehensive pre-flight scripts which follow strict SOPs. I desire something which simplifies the user interface with FSX particularly in manipulating various key combinations, without having to pausing the program. In reading various reviews and by seeing many video’s of products, all of which are impressive, it is apparent that are also over elaborate ($$$) for my simple needs.

By way of an example of my aims. VAC is a product that I am currently accessing which, emulates keyboard actions in response to verbal commands. It provides a nice clean user interface which is simple to set up and, although aimed more generally toward adventure games, preforms well in an FSX environment. However, some of the FSX key action menus, are cyclic, e.g. successive operation of the “A” key cycles through various cockpit displays. Similarly, changes to heading demands are achieved either by increases or decreases in heading. This constraint appears to impede the capability of VAC, in the trials format at least, particularly in setting absolute values of parameter like, heading or altitude in the autopilot.

This morning I noticed reference to FSUIPC , within the VAC user forum, that implied some form of VAC-FSUIPC interoperability in each of the licenced versions. However, this reference was unspecific and I am pursuing this issue within that forum.

If it is feasible that FSUIPC could provide an interface capability with VAC, in set absolute values of instrumented parameters, such as setting Nav frequencies, selection of specific display formats, or setting absolute heading demands, this might well satisfy most my current goals.

[Pete Dowson]

Let me say that I do seek a Rolls-Royce solution whereby you ask the Co-pilot to fly the plane or ask the cabin crew to bring coffee. I don’t see much entertainment value in that.

Ah,do i detect a missing "not" in there somewhere! ;-)

I desire something which simplifies the user interface with FSX particularly in manipulating various key combinations, without having to pausing the program. In reading various reviews and by seeing many video’s of products, all of which are impressive, it is apparent that are also over elaborate ($$$) for my simple needs.

If you mean that these products do what you ask, but more also, then, yes, that is true. If that makes them too expensive for you I can understand your lack of interest in them. but I, for one, use IYP quite happily with little to no copilot activity, nothing mostly but the use of voice commands at busy times to do things in a cockpit where there'd normally be two pilots (like dial in a new altitude or QNH value or Transponder code or radio fequency) -- but also quite often for checklists -- the latter is a useful addition i feel, as you are trying to fly the plane and reading proper checklists yourself is really often out of the question. Having these read out, with you only confirming each item is an excellent compromise. Only in that sense do I have a "copilot".

However, some of the FSX key action menus, are cyclic, e.g. successive operation of the “A” key cycles through various cockpit displays. Similarly, changes to heading demands are achieved either by increases or decreases in heading. This constraint appears to impede the capability of VAC, in the trials format at least, particularly in setting absolute values of parameter like, heading or altitude in the autopilot.

You need to assign keystrokes to more specific actions. The subset presented to you for assigning in FS is limited -- FSUIPC simply allows access to all of the possible FS commands, including those wth parameters, and also to assign keystrokes to macros or plug-in programmable actions.

However, I'd be surprised if this VAC program can translate a command like "set heading n" into a keystroke AND a number which could be used as a parameter. You'd be able to program, say, "set heading to 300" into a control action to set the heading with the parameter fixed at 300, but not to make it general by converting the '300' part into a number to be used in the parameter position.

This is where the power for FS use comes in when using IYP or MCE.

If it is feasible that FSUIPC could provide an interface capability with VAC, in set absolute values of instrumented parameters, such as setting Nav frequencies, selection of specific display formats, or setting absolute heading demands, this might well satisfy most my current goals.

Yes, but only the specific values you program. How would you do that? If you only ever flew the same small set of headings, used the same small set of frequencies, flew only certain pre-programmed altitudes, and so on, you could work it that way.

The only other way with a generic voice-to-ketystroke program would be to only ever use INC and DEC commands, and simply keep repeating them whilst watching the dials. Ugh!

Regards

Pete