Talk and Listen to Opera!

Browser software companies have made it a point today to enhance their browsers to make them much more competent than the others. Getting the browser 'voice enabled' is the latest enhancement offered by Opera Software. The voice technology has been assimilated in association with IBM, related to the development of XHTML+Voice (X+V) browser technology. With this new integration within the browser, you can now sit back and speak out voice commands to control the browser interface and also get speech generated for text in the web pages. The requirements to put this feature to use are: Windows 2000/XP, Soundcard, Microphone and Speakers/ Headset. We have bundled up the software on this month's PCQ Essential CD. Once you have installed the software on your computer and have it up & running, these are the steps to follow to start talking to your browser and vice-versa.

Click on Tools > Preferences > Voice and click on 'Enable voice controlled browsing'. Click on Yes on the window that pops up confirming download and install of voice libraries Hit the 'Scroll Lock' key or click on the Voice button on the browser and say “Opera Voice Commands” to get a comprehensive listing of all the voice commands Press on Voice, give a voice command; or press scroll lock for and say “Refresh” to refresh the Web page For speech generation, select the text you want spoken, click on Voice/Scroll Lock, and say “Opera Speak”

Binesh Kutty