计算机语音(Computer speech)识别已经存在很长时间了，很多人都听说过像Dragon Naturally Speech(Dragon Naturally Speaking)这样的程序。很多人可能不知道的是，Windows 7 自带的，非常强大的语音识别程序(recognition program)。我们计划在几篇文章中详细介绍它。但首先，让我们看看如何设置它以使其正常工作。
在你开始之前
尽管您可以从“开始”菜单(Start Menu)启动程序并直接进入，但您首先需要了解一些基本事项。Microsoft建议您使用耳机而不是其他类型的麦克风，他们这样做是有充分理由的。如果您打算将语音识别(Speech Recognition)用于实验之外，我强烈建议您购买耳机。您可以从信誉良好的制造商那里得到一个不会花费您一条胳膊和一条腿的好产品，对于这个程序，它绝对值得您花时间和精力(time and effort)。这是一个不错的型号建议(model suggestion)：Logitech ClearChat Comfort/USB Headset H390 (Black)。
我尝试使用我们已经拥有的旧USB 耳机。(USB headset)它可以很好地用于其他目的，但语音识别(Speech Recognition)拒绝了它。
然后我尝试使用内置在我的（便宜的）网络摄像头中的麦克风，虽然它起作用了，但我发现自己不得不大声说话而不是舒服并且重复(repeat everything)很多事情。我在使用便宜的桌面麦克风(desktop microphone)时也遇到了同样的问题。
买一个好的耳机就是答案，耳机和我已经尝试过的耳机之间的区别就像白天和黑夜(night and day)。然而，开始使用语音识别(Speech Recognition)并不像插入耳机并开始使用那么简单。为了确保成功，您需要做几件事。
如何设置耳机
我们在此之前已经讨论过重定向声卡的输出：如何更改默认播放和录制音频设备(Default Playback & Recording Audio Device)。由于我有一些在那篇文章中没有提到的问题，我想分享我为解决这些问题所做的工作。
Windows 7 立即识别出我的耳机，但将其视为扬声器(Speakers)，并且（毫不奇怪）假设我连接了一组新扬声器。这意味着所有计算机声音都立即重定向到耳机，而我真正的扬声器被切断了。耳机当时坐在我的桌子上，而不是我的头上，这是一件好事。耳机发出的“我刚刚识别出一个新设备”的("I just recognized a new device")哔哔声非常响亮，可能会对我已经敏感的耳朵造成严重问题，即使对于听力正常的人来说也肯定会非常困难。因此，在进行设置时，请勿将耳机戴在头上！
要正确设置所有内容，请转到Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Sound -> Manage Audio Devices。在这里，您可以看到我的 Plantronics 耳机已被识别为扬声器(Speakers)并设置为默认设备(default device)。难怪插入它会杀死我的扬声器并几乎杀死我的耳朵！
首先(First)，单击代表您的扬声器的图标，然后单击Set Default。从那里，您想将扬声器更改为默认设备(default device)。完成此操作后，将出现一个绿色复选标记。
请注意(Notice)，耳机（仍标识为扬声器）自动成为默认通信设备。
现在让我们修复耳机的名称和图标(name and icon)，以便更准确地表示设备是什么。选择耳机，然后单击属性(Properties)。
现在您可以将名称更改为Headset（或任何您想要的名称）并将图标更改为更具代表性的名称。在这里，我选择了看起来像耳机的图标。
现在音频设备(Audio Devices)面板代表了那里的内容。
单击“录制”(Recording)选项卡以确保您的耳机已设置为默认设备(default device)（应该是），并且您已完成设置。
如何设置麦克风
现在，请确保您的麦克风已正确设置以进行语音识别(speech recognition)。要查看麦克风的设置方式，请在“开始”菜单搜索(Start Menu search)框中键入麦克风。(microphone)单击(Click)“设置麦克风”("Set up a microphone")，它将调出麦克风设置向导(Microphone Setup Wizard)。
只需按照屏幕上的说明进行操作。如果您的麦克风第一次无法正常工作，您可以单击屏幕左上角的“返回”按钮重试。(Back)语音识别(Speech Recognition)将要求您完成麦克风设置向导(Microphone Setup Wizard)，如果您尚未完成此操作，则必须先完成此操作，然后才能开始本教程，因此最好现在就完成。
首先，您识别您的麦克风并确保Windows 7识别它是什么类型的麦克风。
您将获得一些针对您使用的麦克风类型量身定制的简短说明。
您将被要求说出一个简短的短语(brief phrase)，以查看语音识别(Speech Recognition)是否识别出某人正在说话，以及该人所说的内容是否可识别。如果第一次不起作用，您可以再试一次。
如果它确实有效，您将看到此消息并且您可以继续。
语音识别(Speech Recognition Tutorial)教程
您肯定会想要运行本教程。您将必须学习一些新的语法并学习如何清晰地说话，并且语音识别(Speech Recognition)也将进行自我训练以理解您独特的声音。
没有它，事情将无法正常工作，因此请确保您不要跳过本教程。
现在你准备好了
从阅读本文看来，在您真正使用语音识别(Speech Recognition)之前需要经过很多步骤，但相信我，这些步骤是值得的。完成设置后，如果您花时间学习本教程，您成功的机会将会更大。我无法改进微软(Microsoft)创造的东西，所以花点时间来完成它，直到你感到轻松，我将在我的下一篇文章中更多地讨论你可以用语音识别做什么。(Speech Recognition)
Working with Speech Recognition: Setup and Configuration
Computer speech recognition has been around for a long tіme, and many people have hеаrd of programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking. What many people may not know is that Windows 7 includes its own, very capable, speech recognition program. We plan to cover it in detail in a couple of articles. But first, let's see how to set it up, in order for it to work.
Before you Begin
Although you can just start the program from the Start Menu and dive right in, there are some essential things that you need to know first. Microsoft recommends that you use a headset rather than other kinds of microphones, and they do that for a good reason. If you plan to use Speech Recognition for more than just experimentation, I would strongly recommend that you invest in a headset. You can get a good one from a reputable manufacturer that won't cost you an arm and a leg, and for this program it is definitely worth the time and effort. Here is a decent model suggestion: Logitech ClearChat Comfort/USB Headset H390 (Black).
I tried using an old USB headset that we already had. It worked fine for other purposes, but Speech Recognition rejected it.
I then tried using the microphone built into my (inexpensive) webcam, and while that worked, I found myself having to speak much more loudly than was comfortable and repeat everything a lot. I had the same problem with an inexpensive desktop microphone.
Buying a good headset was the answer, and the difference between the headset and what I'd already tried was like night and day. However, getting started with Speech Recognition wasn't as simple as just plugging in the headset and getting on with it. There are several things you will need to do to insure success.
How to Set Up the Headset
We have talked about redirecting the output of your sound card before here: How to Change the Default Playback & Recording Audio Device. Since I had some problems not mentioned in that article, I would like to share what I've done to solve them.
Windows 7 recognized my headset right away, but saw it as Speakers, and (not surprisingly) assumed that I'd hooked up a new set of speakers. This meant that all the computer sounds were immediately redirected to the headphones and my real speakers were cut off. It's a good thing the headset was sitting on my desk at that point, rather than on my head. The "I just recognized a new device" beep that came through the headphones was so loud that it could have caused serious problems with my already sensitive ears, and would certainly be very hard even on people with normal hearing. So don't leave the headset on your head while you get set up!
To get everything set up correctly, go to Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Sound -> Manage Audio Devices. Here, you can see that my Plantronics headset has been recognized as Speakers and set as the default device. No wonder plugging it in killed my speakers and nearly killed my ears!
First of all, click on the icon that represents your speakers, and click on Set Default. From there, you want to change your speakers to the default device. A green checkmark will appear when you've done this.
Notice that the headset (still identified as speakers) automatically becomes the default communications device.
Now let's fix the name and icon of the headset so it more accurately represents what the device is. Select the headset, and click on Properties.
Now you can change the name to Headset (or whatever you wish) and change the icon to something more representative. Here I have selected the icon that looks like a headset.
And now the Audio Devices panel represents what's there.
Click on the Recording tab to be sure your headset is set as the default device (it should be) and you're done with the setup.
How to Set Up the Microphone
Now, make sure your microphone is set up correctly for speech recognition. To check to see how your microphone is set up, type microphone into the Start Menu search box. Click on "Set up a microphone" and it will bring up the Microphone Setup Wizard.
Just follow the instructions on your screen. If your microphone doesn't work properly the first time around, you can click the Back button in the upper left corner of the screen to try again. Speech Recognition will expect you to go through the Microphone Setup Wizard, and if you have not done this already, you will have to do it before you will be allowed to start the tutorial, so it would be a good idea to do it now.
First, you identify your microphone and make sure Windows 7 recognizes what kind of microphone it is.
You'll get some brief instructions tailored to the kind of microphone you are using.
You will be asked to speak one brief phrase, to see whether Speech Recognition recognizes that someone is speaking, and whether what that person is saying is recognizable. If it doesn't work the first time, you can try again.
If it does work, you'll see this message and you can carry on.
On to the Speech Recognition Tutorial
You will definitely want to run the tutorial. You will have to learn some new syntax and learn how to speak clearly, and Speech Recognition will also be training itself to understand your unique voice.
Without it things won't work well so make sure you don't skip this tutorial.
Now You're Ready
It may seem from reading this article that there are a lot of steps to go through before you can actually use Speech Recognition, but believe me, those steps are worth it. After you do the setup, your chances of success will be even greater if you take time for the tutorial. I can't improve on what Microsoft has created, so take time to go through it, till you feel at ease, and I'll talk more about what you can do with Speech Recognition in my next article.
