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{{One source|date=March 2009}}
{{One source|date=March 2009}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Speakable Items.png|right|thumb|The Speakable Items [[window (computing)|window]], executing the "Tell Me a Joke" [[command]].]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Speakable Items.png|right|thumb|The Speakable Items [[window (computing)|window]], executing the "Tell Me a Joke" [[command]].]] -->
'''Speakable items''' is part of the speech recognition feature in the [[Mac OS]] and [[Mac OS X]] [[operating system]]s. It allows the user to control their computer with natural speech, without having to train the computer beforehand. The commands must be present in the Speakable items folder though but can be created with something as simple as a shortcut, [[AppleScript]], keyboard command, or [[Automator (software)|Automator]] workflows.
'''Speakable items''' is part of the speech recognition feature in the [[classic Mac OS]] and [[macOS]] [[operating system]]s. It allows the user to control their computer with natural speech, without having to train the computer beforehand. The commands must be present in the Speakable items folder though but can be created with something as simple as a shortcut, [[AppleScript]], keyboard command, or [[Automator (software)|Automator]] workflows.


==History==
==History==
[[Image:Speakable Items List.png|thumb|left|The Speakable Items command list (please note that this list has [[Personalization|customized]] commands in it, so not all will appear in all lists).]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Speakable Items List.png|thumb|left|The Speakable Items command list (please note that this list has [[Personalization|customized]] commands in it, so not all will appear in all lists).]] -->
Speakable items was first introduced as part of Apple's speech recognition software [[PlainTalk]] in 1993. Originally available only on [[Macintosh Quadra|Quadra AV]] models, it was later integrated with the [[System 7 (Macintosh)|System 7.1.2]] release of the Macintosh system software.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://db.tidbits.com/index.php?tbart=06090 | title=Bossing Your Mac with PlainTalk | author=Matt Neuburg | date=August 28, 2000 | work=TidBITS | accessdate=August 21, 2006 }}</ref>
Speakable items was first introduced as part of Apple's speech recognition software [[PlainTalk]] in 1993. Originally available only on [[Macintosh Quadra|Quadra AV]] models, it was later integrated with the [[System 7 (Macintosh)|System 7.1.2]] release of the Macintosh system software.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://db.tidbits.com/index.php?tbart=06090 | title=Bossing Your Mac with PlainTalk | author=Matt Neuburg | date=August 28, 2000 | work=TidBITS | access-date=August 21, 2006 }}</ref>


With the release of [[Mac OS X v10.4]] it was featured as #12 on their list of features. In [[OS X Mountain Lion]], Speakable Items has been relocated to the Accessibility panel in [[System Preferences]].
With the release of [[Mac OS X v10.4]] it was featured as #12 on their list of features. In [[OS X Mountain Lion]], Speakable Items has been relocated to the Accessibility panel in [[System Preferences]].
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== Automation ==
== Automation ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Automator Window 1.png|thumb|right|Automation saved into Speakable Items command]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Automator Window 1.png|thumb|right|Automation saved into Speakable Items command]] -->
Mac OS X v10.4 added [[Automator]] workflows which can also be used as Speakable items.
Mac OS X v10.4 added [[Apple Automator|Automator]] workflows which can also be used as Speakable items.


If a workflow is saved as an application and put in the Speakable items folder it becomes available to the speech recognition software. The words the computer will recognize to execute the command will be the name of the saved Automator application. Some words might have to be misspelt for the computer to know the proper pronunciation. (For example, the computer best recognizes "[[Les Misérables]]" as ''Lay Mizzer Ob'').
If a workflow is saved as an application and put in the Speakable items folder it becomes available to the speech recognition software. The words the computer will recognize to execute the command will be the name of the saved Automator application. Some words might have to be misspelt for the computer to know the proper pronunciation. (For example, the computer best recognizes "[[Les Misérables]]" as ''Lay Mizzer Ob'').
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61493 Mac OS X: Speech - How to add items to Speakable Items]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120402174910/http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61493 Mac OS X: Speech - How to add items to Speakable Items]
*[http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11447 OS X Mountain Lion: Create spoken commands]
*[http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11447 OS X Mountain Lion: Create spoken commands]


{{Mac OS X}}
{{macOS}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Speakable Items}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Speakable Items}}
[[Category:OS X]]
[[Category:MacOS]]


[[mr:स्पीकेबल आयटेम्स]]
[[mr:स्पीकेबल आयटेम्स]]

Latest revision as of 16:06, 18 October 2021

Speakable items is part of the speech recognition feature in the classic Mac OS and macOS operating systems. It allows the user to control their computer with natural speech, without having to train the computer beforehand. The commands must be present in the Speakable items folder though but can be created with something as simple as a shortcut, AppleScript, keyboard command, or Automator workflows.

History

[edit]

Speakable items was first introduced as part of Apple's speech recognition software PlainTalk in 1993. Originally available only on Quadra AV models, it was later integrated with the System 7.1.2 release of the Macintosh system software.[1]

With the release of Mac OS X v10.4 it was featured as #12 on their list of features. In OS X Mountain Lion, Speakable Items has been relocated to the Accessibility panel in System Preferences.

Automation

[edit]

Mac OS X v10.4 added Automator workflows which can also be used as Speakable items.

If a workflow is saved as an application and put in the Speakable items folder it becomes available to the speech recognition software. The words the computer will recognize to execute the command will be the name of the saved Automator application. Some words might have to be misspelt for the computer to know the proper pronunciation. (For example, the computer best recognizes "Les Misérables" as Lay Mizzer Ob).

Because Automator is made to comply with AppleScript applications only, most third party or non AppleScript applications, such as Limewire or Final Cut Studio apps will not work with speakable items, unless you configure commands only with "define a keyboard command": in which you'll just select "this application only" after making a keyboard command.

Problems

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While Speakable Items is useful, as well as innovative, recognition gets hard and distorted some times.

  1. In Macs without dual beamforming microphones (pre-2012), background noise interferes with recognition, and limits the usefulness of the "listening continuously" option.
  2. Sometimes the pronunciation the computer understands varies from the proper pronunciation. This usually happens with custom commands.
  3. The Speakable items folder also has the abilities to open applications that are blocked by Parental Controls without an administrators permission. This is achieved by copying and application and placing within the folder and opening it from there. However this does not bypass applications from an unidentified developer, if the Applications Downloaded From: App Store or App Store and Identified Developers setting is checked.

See also

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Matt Neuburg (August 28, 2000). "Bossing Your Mac with PlainTalk". TidBITS. Retrieved August 21, 2006.
[edit]