SoothSayer Word Prediction™
Version 4.0(Vista Compatible)

SoothSayer Word Prediction™ is a software program that can help you type faster and more accurately.  It works in conjunction with other programs such as off-the-shelf email applications, word processors, web browsers, databases, spread sheets, etc.  To learn more about how it works, see the section below entitled "Description of the Program".

NEW FEATURES

• Extended Platforms:

Version 4.0 of SoothSayer Word Prediction™ runs in Windows®VISTA, Windows®XP, Windows®2000. With its many new features (see list below) and low cost, it is one of the best values today in the world of assistive software for people using PC computers with Windows.

• AutoType™ Feature:

Based on AHF Smart Keys™ Technology (Patent Pending), AutoType™ types letter(s) for you based on 1) letter(s) you already typed and 2) words in the dictionaries currently open. For example, type "hipp" and SoothSayer types the rest of "hippopotamus" and a space because the word hippopotamus is the only word in the main dictionary that starts with the letters "hipp".

• Word^Tips Feature:

If you don't like searching word lists, SoothSayer can present the candidate words one at a time next to where you are typing. Words can be spoken as they are scanned. If you see or hear the word you want, just press the Tab key and SoothSayer will type the word for you.

• Build Dictionary Feature:

Make a new custom dictionary from an existing text file by using this new easy-to-use option.

• AutoAdd™ Feature:

Automatically adds any unrecognized word that you type to one of your user dictionaries.

• AutoEdit™ Feature:

Turn on this option and have SoothSayer correct common misspellings for you.

• "Quick Add Word" Button:

Quickly add a new word to a user dictionary by just pressing the "Add Word" button.

• Dwell Option for Speaking Word Boxes "When Pointed At":

To preview a word/sentence by hearing it read aloud, just point your mouse at one of the word boxes.  You can adjust the "dwell time" before the word is spoken.

• New Speech Voice Options:

Now you can adjust the pitch and speed of a selected speaking voice.  Also, you can correct any words that are not pronounced correctly.

• Add Sounds to Abbreviations:

Create your own sound recordings and attach them to an abbreviation.

IMPROVED FEATURES

• Sentence Completion:

Now predicts sentences (up to 500 characters) that you have entered in one of your dictionaries based on the words you are typing.

• Dictionary Management Interface:

Easy and intuitive ways to open/close/create dictionaries (see picture of Dictionary Manager below).

• Automatically Speak Letters and Punctuation:

Now in addition to hearing words and sentences spoken as you type and highlighted test in another application spoken on demand, you also can hear letters and punctuation as you type.

• "Quick Speech" Button:

At any time, press the Quick Speech button to speak any highlighted text in your application.

• More "Hot Key" Options:

Now there are a variety of SoothSayer "hot key" short cuts for performing a variety of SoothSayer functions.

Description of the Program

SoothSayer comes with a built-in Main Dictionary of over 11,000 words, and if a word that you use frequently isn't included, you can quickly add it to a custom User Dictionary or have SoothSayer automatically add it for you.  In addition to word prediction, it offers abbreviation expansion, and sentence completion (text up to 500 characters long)!

Picture of SoothSayer Word Prediction™ in Vertical Orientation
with "Select Numbers" Option Turned On

If you have a sound card that can play "wav" files and are running Windows®XP or Windows®VISTA then you can install Microsoft's Text to Speech which comes with SoothSayer.  There are several speech options available including automatically speak letters, automatically speak last typed word, automatically speak last typed sentence, speak word prediction word/sentence when it is pointed at with the mouse, speak word prediction word/sentence  when it is selected, and speak quickly using the Quick Speech button. 

There also is a quick "Add Word" button that lets you quickly add a word to one of your user dictionaries.

For speech augmentation, the built-in SoothSayer Speech Dictionary offers a foundation of over 350 frequent sentences (based on abbreviation expansion) and you can add your own favorites.  The picture below shows how the speech dictionary works.  In this case, the letters "x" (because there are no "x" words in the main dictionary), "f" for food, and "f" for fruit have been entered. 

If the sentence to be spoken does not appear in the list, you can enter the first letter in the fruit (e.g., "b" for banana).   When you find the sentence you want to speak, just click on it or (because the "Numbers" option is on), select the corresponding number on the hardware keyboard.

Picture of SoothSayer Word Prediction™ with Speech Dictionary™* Active
The first three letters entered were "x" (calls the Speech Dictionary™*),
"f" (calls expressions about foods), and another "f"(calls expressions
about fruit). Clicking on one of the "Word Boxes" prints out the
message or speaks it (if the appropriate speech options are active).

The SoothSayer Options dialog box (shown below) displays many of the SoothSayer options.  The SoothSayer window can be set to follow the text "caret" in your word processor (so that you can have your word processor window maximized and the SoothSayer window doesn't block your view of where you are typing).   Caret tracking works in most applications and when the SoothSayer window is in either horizontal or vertical orientation.  You also can adjust the size of the word prediction windows by changing the size of the Font (see right side of the Words Options dialog box.

Picture of SoothSayer Options Dialog Box
Most of the options for SoothSayer can be found here -just pick a tab and select an option.

With SoothSayer, you can use the "Build" button to quickly create custom user dictionaries from existing text files.  These custom dictionaries can contain special professional or academic terms that you use in writing or speaking.  You also can share those dictionaries with friends or colleagues who are using SoothSayer Word Prediction™ or REACH Interface Author™ (because they use the standard AHF dictionary format). 

The Dictionary Manager (see picture below) can be used to add new dictionaries or edit existing dictionaries.  You can quickly open/close any number of dictionaries you want.  Click on one of the user dictionaries and then press the "Edit" button and you can add/change/delete words sentences or abbreviations.

Picture of Dictionary Manager Dialog Box
The graphic user interface makes it simple to open/close/add/delete/edit your user dictionaries.

In the following section, a more comprehensive list of SoothSayer features is provided.

SoothSayer Word Prediction™ Features

•  Runs in Windows®95, ®98, ®NT, ®2000, and ®XP.

•  A built-in Main Dictionary of more than 11,000 of the most frequent English words.

•  Words presented according to frequency of use.

•  Authorable custom dictionaries containing special words or phrases.

•  Main dictionary and custom dictionaries can be used simultaneously or one at a time.

•  Automatically speak letters, words, sentences, and punctuation as you type options.

•  Automatic caret tracking options so that you can see where you are typing.

•  A "Quick Speech" button for speaking word, sentence, or highlighted text.

•  An "Add Word" button for quickly adding an unusual word to a user dictionary.

•  An "AutoType™" option that finishes typing a word determined to be the only one possible from the letters you have typed and the words in the current dictionaries.

•  A "Word^Tips" option that presents words in the word list one at a time either in a balloon located close to where you are typing or in the SoothSayer window (scanning). Words can be read aloud and are typed by pressing the Tab key.

•  Options for adding sounds to a number of SoothSayer events.

•  An "AutoEdit" option that corrects commonly misspelled words.

•  Sound files (e.g., recordings of speech) can be attached to abbreviations.

•  You can listen to words/sentences before selecting them by pointing at them with your mouse cursor; the dwell period before speech occurs can be adjusted

•  Several "Hot Key" shortcuts for Quick Menu options, scrolling word list, etc.

•  Learns your word usage - presents words based on 1) your past word selections, 2) the words you have typed, or 3) both typed and selected words.

•  Abbreviation expansion provides quick access to authored words or sentences.

•  Sentence completion for sentences or paragraphs up to 500 characters that is based on words that you have typed and sentences you have added to any of your dictionaries.

•  Vertical or horizontal window orientation.

•  Adjustable number of words presented.

•  A SoothSayer Speech Dictionary™ option, providing a foundation for an elaborate augmentative speech platform that you can customize for your needs.

•  Speech generation when a word or sentence is selected.

•  Scrolling word lists.

•  Word/sentence selection by point-and-click or keyboard entry (numbers).

•  Customizable text font, size, and color, as well as background color.

•  Word selection accompanied by choice of sounds (if speech is turned off).

•  Punctuation option provides automatic spacing and capitalization.

•  Optional spelling monitor alerts you when an unrecognized word is typed.

•  An "Always on Top" window option.

•  Moveable and sizable word window.

•  Different voice options - pitch, speed, and pronunciation can be adjusted.