Can your applications  speak it?

Products

Zlang for Outlook

Introduction

Zlang for Outlook is the first major implementation of Zlang natural language technology.   It provides a natural language shell around Microsoft's popular Outlook email client and personal information manager.  Want to add a new contact to the Outlook database?  Just tell Outlook in plain English.  Want to schedule a meeting on the fourth wednesday of every month and invite Joe and Susan?  Stop clicking the mouse and put away the manual.  You can do that (once again) in plain English.   This easy interface provides language control of not only contact management and calendaring, but also extends to your email and notes.  You can also query Outlook using language with requests such as:  "What is Paul's home fax number", or "What is his wife's name?" or "What's scheduled for tomorrow afternoon?".

Requirements

To use Zlang for Outlook, you must:

• Have at least a 166 MHz Pentium-class microprocessor.

• Be running one of the following Microsoft operating systems: Windows 98, Windows 95, or Windows NT.

• Have a properly installed version of Microsoft Outlook 98

• If you desire to use the speech recognition and synthesis features, you must install a SAPI-compliant speech recognition and synthesis engine (most popular ones these days are). You can use your own previously installed engine, or install the included Microsoft engine.

• Have a recent Java Virtual Machine (JVM) from Microsoft installed.  If you have Internet Explorer 5.0  installed, you already have the correct JVM.   When you run Zlang for Outlook, it will tell you if your JVM needs to be updated.   The latest JVM is available to download from the Microsoft Web site:  http://www.microsoft.com/java

Features and Limitations

Zlang for Outlook will allow you to interact with Outlook using a very simple user interface.  Below is a summary of the main features.

• Type in your requests, or try your hand at speech recognition.

• Outlook information displayed in a variety of sizes for easy viewing, or have that information read to you by a voice synthesizer.

• Realistic voice synthesis of Outlook information. Choose the voice and the speed. Configure the voice engine from within Zlang for Outlook.

• Query Outlook using plain English.

• Small application window size.
  
  

Limitations

It is possible to "stump" Zlang for Outlook.  You can come up with many different ways to say the same thing.  Zlang is pretty good at handling your requests in many forms, but you will achieve the highest success if you use correct, straightforward grammar.  It also helps to use correct spelling.