Its pretty basic once you get going...
The builder screen is divided into 5 segments...the upper left is the action description, which is nothing more than a list of commands and the category they are assigned to. The category is irrelevant other than it affords a convenient way to group your commands. The name of the command is also irrelevant and is simply a human friendly way of assigning a name to your command.
Immediately below that is the activation phrase. This is basically the meat and potatoes of the recognition aspects of the application. Depending on which OS you are using, this application leverages the resident windows voice recognition SAPI (Speech Application Program Interface). According to the bobble heads on Google, Windows 7 version (which is what I am running) is quite a bit better than previous versions found on XP for example.
At this point it should be noted, that after going through the lengthy Windows tutorials and training (applies to Windows 7) found in the resident SAPI (Control Panel~Speech Recognition), that the 'local' system recognition vastly improves. Under W7, the tutorial process not only teaches you how to talk like an air traffic controller, it is logging your voice dynamics, and is in essence creating a voice recognition profile for the way you speak. The computer is learning...(see Skynet)...
After I ran through the W7x64 speech recognition tutorial/setup twice...DWVAC performance and recognition vastly improved. Do not skip the step of teaching your computer to recognize you.
The upper right of the interface (Command List) is what your computer will do when a recognized voice command comes down the pipe. The qualifier key is just like other controllers...its a shift state...typically something like Ctrl or Alt or whatever...The two extenders keys are used as prepend modifiers in front of the end command (Character Key)...its really pretty straight forward...this is nothing more than the output macro...
Command Attributes below that is simply a method to cause, control and dictate duration of press, pause between presses and number of times the command repeats...disregard this for AH as it has no bearing and should be left in its default condition of "Toggle Key On" NOT CHECKED
Profile activation keys activate the on off nature of the application VOX...choose a key/map a key to your controller to turn on voice transmit just like Range and Channel...I am using middle mouse button and have also tested used Left Ctrl for the push to activate...the "Push to Deactivate" is only applicable if you have your Activate set to Toggle...which makes little sense unless you plan on dictating the Magna Carta while in flight...
Finally below that on the bottom right is the key sequence used to start and stop VAC while in game...not unlike the default F9 in TrackIR...think of this as your "VAC Pause" command...
As it stands now...and I am still fine tuning things and tweaking word choices for recognition, I have the application programmed to handle:
Jump Top, Jump Tail, Jump Right, Jump One, Jump Nose, Jump Left, Jump Belly, Start Engines, Stop Engines, Shut Down 1, Shut Down 2, Shut Down 3, Shut Down 4, Start 1, Start 2, Start 3, Start 4, Doors Open, Bomb Sight, Damage Control, Gear Down, Gear Up, Flaps Down, Flaps Up, Center Trim, Plane One, Plane Two, Plane 3, Calibrate, Map.(edit: whoops...left out "Flight Level" and "Auto Climb")
I am working now on Salvo and Delay settings...
Works well and the testing and setting up continue...
After playing with this over the next few weeks I will report back here from time to time on the progress, as well as my impression and opinion of this software as a viable means of in game control...
As stated earlier...the turn and burn guys who end up on the deck doing donuts in fighters should look the other way...though technical fighter pilots who would like to control "Flight Systems" for start up and approach procedures such as Gear, Flaps, Tail Hook, Air Break, Map/Nav...and hands off management of radio/com might be interested...
This software relative to AH has application for bombers, fixed gunners...and I would assume vehicle drivers....
Out
Oneway
edit: The following applies to B17's in terms of gun positions and engines...
edit: I still have not found a voice command that will produce a fresh cold beer from the ice box....and a glazed doughnut...tragic...
