Speakable Items

Every time I start my computer the speech program starts up. I know how to turn it off, but is there a way to set it to not start on start-up?

Open system preferences..Go down to System..then choose speech..In Speech recognition section Click Speakable items off. And on Text to untick all the boxes, next time you start up it should be silent

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Mountain Lion and Speakable Items

Now that I got Speakable Items up and running albeit with a number of bugs (the listening key deactivates that key's normal function- if you use Escape for instance, escape will no longer function in apps, if you use F5 however, you cannot Calibrate as it goes on beeping when you try- has some wrinkles in other words), I'd like to try it with fave applications.
The first one I'm interested in is Safari, but sadly the only command available is 'Make this page speakable'. You can then input things from there, but you're limited to one page. I want the whole application to be speakable- that is, so I can say any of the commands in the menu bar. I know you can make them in Applescript (or Automator I suppose), but I don't know how to do that. If someone knows where I can get batches of them, I'd appreciate it.
Safari is the only application that even has a folder dedicated it under the Applications group. There Global and Menu Bar workarounds- for instance I can say "Window Menu" and the window menu will pop down. Then if I say "Show Next Tab" it works. But if I don't say "Window Menu" first, nothing happens. Obviously, Ctl-Tab/Ctl-Shift-Tab is a lot easier.
You can work around the key bug by assigning a vocal cue- "computer" for example (they use that in Star Trek too so the computer doesn't get confused), but I can't seem to get it to work on my cheapo mic.
I'm experimenting on ML, on my Mac Mini with a USB mic. Haven't tried it on my MBP Mavericks yet.

I've also noticed that Speakable Items works for an indeterminate period of time, and then just dies out. The time usually isn't too long, and perhaps the kapoot occurs after sleep. Anyway, I tried turning it off and on, changing the input key, but nothing works save restarting (logging out should work too). I'd like to know a faster way to quick start it if anyone knows one. Force quitting System Preferences doesn't help either.
Needless to say, Speakable Items is GREAT idea but why so many bugs? I think it worked much better in Tiger or way back when. In fact, if I'm not mistaken the technology (at least in Mac OS as it's not new) began in OS 8. I would love to tell my computer what to do like in the sci fi flicks and give my fingers a break. I notice in Star Trek they don't type anything at all- just push icons (very quickly!). In the Matrix they slide around holographic artifacts in Tai Qi style.
Well I digress. i think it would be great if voice recognition were beefed up all around. I would like talking to my devices- friendlier!

Speakable Items won't work with my headset

Here's the deal:
When I am using the internal microphone with Speakable Items, everything works fine. (I have to lean in a bit, obviously.) But no matter what I do, my computer won't understand commands spoken through my bluetooth headset. My OS is up-to-date (10.4.10).
The headset (Plantronics Voyager 510) pairs fine with my computer, an iMac G5, and appears to work perfectly well as an input device: the readout in the Sound preference pane shows that the computer can hear my voice through it. In fact, when I go to the "Speakable Items" tab in the Speech preference pane, choose the headset (which appears as "PLT 510"), and attempt to calibrate it, the blue, green, and red readout in the Microphone Calibration window also registers my voice.
But no matter where I set the slider, no matter where I am in relation to the headset microphone, and no matter at what volume or speed I speak, the computer will not recognize commands. It can hear my voice — which I keep in the green zone — but won't understand it.
It's not just in the calibration window: it also won't work when trying to use Speakable Items in, say, the Finder. I've tried changing the input volume for the headset in the Sound preferences, having my room totally silent (including shutting off the air conditioner), calibrating with Speakable Items set to "on" and "off," and weeping and begging. I even rebooted. Nada.
Again, Speakable Items works fine when I am using the internal microphone. The one other difference I found in their behaviors is that, with the calibration slider set to low and the room silent, the internal microphone is steady at the second green bar; but the headset under the same conditions is steady at the sixth bar. In fact, in the case of the headset, moving the slider has no effect at all: it always rests on the sixth bar.
(In other news, the headset won't pair with my iBook G3 [Dual-USB] using the D-Link DBT-120 [Rev. B3]. But I guess that's a different issue altogether.)
Googling, I see plenty of happy Mac users who own my model of headset, but I can't find this problem addressed anywhere. I've looked through the forums here as well.
Thanks for reading! Can anyone help?

Sorry for the slow reply, Philip!
First of all, Macs do not yet interact in stereo with Bluetooth headsets, though according to rumour this will be available in Leopard (along with everything else).
Have you tried using the Skype Test Call feature? This is one of the easiest ways of listening back to what you record. Come to that, does it record into one of the more standard sound apps (e.g. Garage Band, Audacity, SndSampler)?
My wife has a Plantronics 590 Bluetooth headset, but when it is interacting directly via the Mac's Bluetooth she can only get the microphone to work with Skype and the Finder. And iTunes outputs only the left-hand channel, evenly split between the two channels, and the quality is horrible. If she wants to use it for any other purpose she has to connect it via the Bluetooth 3.5 mm jack adapter plugged into the headphone socket, which cuts out the headset mike as well as the internal speakers.
Though VoiceOver does work through her headset, without using the adapter, the quality is awful and VoiceOver keeps crashing. She can, however, use it for Speakable Items, though she often has to repeat herself. The calibration had to be set very high — 100% mostly.
Have you gone through the full calibration sequence, including getting all the test commands to flash?
Keep us posted!
Archie

How do I use AppleScript keystroke command as a speakable item?

I am attempting to do what I thought was a rather simple task, but have not had success.
I would like to use the following script as a voice command to speak selected text in a file, opened for example by Preview, when the key is pressed.
tell application "System Events" to keystroke "." using control down
I have placed the script application in the System Preferences, Speech, Speakable Items Folder. The item is being recognized; however, it appears that it is not functioning in the correct window context. I would like this to work regardless of the application text (hence the Text to Speech option). How do I set this up before the keystroke command in the script?
As an aside, is there a way to convert a script file to a SpeakableItems.app document file?

I am not sure if this is what you are looking for.
But have you saved the below workflow as a Service and use a keyboad shortcut?
I have this as a Service and my keyboard short cut is Command-Shift T.
Once I select a paragraph in Preview and press the short cut it speaks the text for me.
Maybe you already thought of this. But here you go.

Speakable items dose not work

Hallo,
in Bedinungshilfen, wenn ich das Menü Speakable Items markiere tauchen keine Einstellungen auf.

In my experience it is simply unusable, SIRI on iOS can do a very good job of my very clear Scottish accent, Dictation even works really quite well on Mavericks for me, but the whole UI and UX of speakable items is riddled with bugs and inconsistencies, it does not work with my USB audio mic, even though Dictation does!! (Yes,I have selected the correct inputs) - it's poorly supported and an insult to the people who need it more than i do.
I got it to work just twice in over 100 attempts, even using the key listening toggle, i had to throw a faux cheesy american accent to get one of those to work !
The attention to the important details has gone down-hill over recent years with Apple, it's all gone a tad superficial and bling imho
very dissapointing

Tip: Speakable Items GONE? Recognition Doesn't Work?

If the Speakable Items folder is empty
"/Macintosh HD/Users/[username]/Libary/Speech/Speakable Items" you can restore the items by adding an new user account with admin rights.
Before loggin in to the newly added user check the Speakable Items directory once again if the files already showed up(this occured on my mac) if so you can remove the created user before even logging in, if not you must log in and go to the "/Macintosh HD/Users/[username]/Libary/Speech/Speakable Items" and copy the files to your main user account witch doesen't have the files.
Recognition doesen't work after the restoration of the files?
Uncheck the Addressbook Command Set or uncheck all the (null) items under the Addressbook configuration.
Hope it helped, it worked for me :P
Have fun talking to your MAC!!

Here is more detailed help , It helped others too .....
I had the same problem but I fixed it and I think I know how .
Go to home then library find the folder Speech , if it is not there , you log out and create anew test user .
From there go to the home folder , then library , then speech folder , make a copy then put it in the Shared file folder .
Log out and log into your normal user and go to the Shared folder get the Speech folder out and drop it into the Home library folder . Now you have the commands .
It still may not work , next open Speech in System Preferences click on the mic , Speech window opens , click commands ,open speakable items to make sure they are there , then uncheck all of the command sets .
Specially the address book one which I believe it to be the cause of this bug .
Start by only checking the app switching command (example: switch to Safari)
Turn on the speakable items and presto the commands should appear .
It is possible that if your address book is messed up , like info not in the proper fields somehow it affects these commands . But as long as I do not have them all checked it worked again for me .
The tech guy gave me another option which did not seem prudent , like reinstall the OS .
Luckily , thanks to the user friendly design of these machines and the OS which helps make it easier to fix problems , after a week of trying to figure it out , I think I did , at least for me .
Please let me know if this helps anyone and pass it along if it does .
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Final Cut Pro speakable items scripts

I am looking for Final Cut Pro speakable items scripts, i have been struggling to get scripts to work.
if anyone has created custom scripts for FCP 7 or X i would greatly appreciate it if i could download them or if someone could send them to: [email protected]

Turned out it was ShapeShifter messing with my display settings. I'd forgotten I even had it. Once it was disabled, everything worked properly again.

Bluetooth A2DP and Speakable Items

I would like to get a bluetooth headset for my phone, but it would be nice if I could use it for speakable items as well. In Tiger, I remember that headsets were not supported by speakable items due to their low sound quality.
Since Leopard now supports the A2DP profile, it is possible to use those headsets with speakable items?
Also, does anyone happen to know if the headset can be paired with my phone and my Mac at the same time?

I had a similar experience with the Motorokr S9-HD and found at least a workaround. It seemed when I connected to non A2DP headset, whether it was used or not, the S9-HD could no longer control the playback. If I shut down the iPhone and the headsets and then restarted the iPhone and the S9-HD but not the other non A2DP headset it would again control the play function.
I had the same problem with the 3G but on the 3G the skip and replay/back functions worked with the S9-HD but these functions do not work on the 3GS.
I have also noticed that the audio stream cuts out and I believe this is caused when my exchange server is doing a push - with push disabled I do not have the problem.
Hope this helps and hopefully Apple will get these issues fixed ASAP.

Speakable Items for all Apps?

We've installed two iMac G5's on walls in a new waiting room/meeting room. The wireless keyboards and mouse are put away so that they aren't stolen. I've activated Speakable Items, and a few commands are working great. Is it possible to find speakable items for all/most applications, or do you have to make something speakable, app by app, command by command9 desired apps and commands only of course).
Thx,

Hi Brian,
Thank you for contributing to the Apple Support Communities.
It sounds like you're having a frustrating experience with Spaces in Yosemite. There are a few options that may help with this behavior.
First, make sure your displays are set up as separate Spaces in the Mission Control pane of System Preferences:
Displays have separate Spaces
If you use the Spaces feature and have multiple displays, you can set up separate spaces for each display.
From:
OS X Yosemite: Mission Control preferences
Then, if you want to move an application window from one space to another, try one of these options:
Assign apps to spaces
If you assign an app to a particular space, it opens in that space by default.
Press and hold an app’s icon in the Dock. You may have to first open the app from Launchpad to see its icon in the Dock.
From the shortcut menu that appears, do one of the following:
Have the app open in the current space: Choose Options > This Desktop.
The app appears only in that space. However, if you open the app in full screen, it appears in its own space.
Have the app open in the current space on a specific display: Choose Options > Desktop on Display [number].
Have the app open in every space: Choose Options > All Desktops.
The app appears in every space.
Have the app open in whichever space you’re using at the time: Choose Options > None.
In Mission Control preferences, you can also specify that, when you switch to an app, your desktop should switch to a space with open windows for that app. To open Mission Control preferences, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Mission Control.
From:
OS X Yosemite: Work in multiple spaces
Best Regards,
Jeremy

No Sleep while Speakable Items is on

I am using OS 10.4.3 and my iMac won't automatically go to sleep when Speakable Items is turned on. (I have "Press to Listen" turned on so it only listens when the ESC key is pressed.)
I just verified it this morning: I turned off Speakable Items and after 20 minutes my iMac was sleeping (pulsing LED). I turned Speakable Items -on- and after 30 minutes, my iMac was not sleeping (screen dark but solid LED).
I don't recall having this problem before. I was having problems sleeping (well, not me.., my Mac) but that had to do with RadioShark, but I removed the RadioShark v.1 software, installed RadioShark SW v2 and the computer sleeps again, except when speakable items is on...
Anyone experiencing this problem?

To Apple Discussions!
Get an external mic. Apple PlainTalk Microphone works best w/G3 iMacs.
If I were you, I would shop around for a cheaper price. I only paid $5 for mine back in 1999 w/my Apple coupon. I think the actual price was around $10.
Speakable Items works best w/external mics. The external mics will handle your "Very South Yorkshire" accent w/no problem.

Add new speakable items

How do i add new speakable items. Menu items, and when using parallels, programs and menu items there?

Thanks for Your Attention..
Basically we need to see some properties (Eg: serial No: of PC) from devices by properties (right click go Properties of a Device)..
such as Property and Value.. ( Serial No: - xxxxxxx)
we can add serial no: to reports by using WMI query, but need to add it for properties of each
item..

Speakable Items not working in Mavericks

The Speakable Items in Mavericks only work about 1 in a 100 commands
Calibrations is working for about 50%
What I don't understand is that my iPhone 5 does a fantastic job with voice commands and my iMac has so far only responded to "what is the time" after saying the command a dozen times.
It looks like the Apple Support Community is not monitored by Apple because I have not seen any answers from Apple.
Has anyone found a way of making it work?

(my post above, user name: siouxsan, was made on a friend's account)
I tried the suggestion above (rtw5), but unfortunately it didn't solve the problem.
To clarify, I can click on the little pop down menu, on the bottom of the round microphone, and select "open speech comands window" and the speech commands window will appear. I can also hold down the selected key and speak a command, ie., "what time is is?" and the little volume lines on the mircophone will register my voice. The problem is, the computer does not respond to any of the commands.
an interesting note: if I go to:
*System Preferences*, then
Speech, then
*Spoken User Interface*, then click on
*Demonstate Settings*
Then, a window pops up that says, "This message demonstrates your settings for talking alerts."
(When the computer was working correctly and responding to speakable commands, if I clicked on
*Demonstrate Settings,* instead of getting that message window, the computer would "speak", actually demonstating the settings.
Currently, the only time the computer speaks now is to announce the time every half hour.

Help with printing out Speakable Items folder(s)

I have a visually impaired family member who would like to learn how to use spoken commands on her iMac.
I have not been able to find a way to print out the "Speakable Items" folder(s) in order for us to let her know what exactly she can say; it is not at all feasible for her to read it from the screen.
It's very, very frustrating for everyone to have the Speakable Items feature available, and not be able to use it properly!

Thanks Niel!
Having it printed out in the way you suggested helped me. To make the text large enough for the person with visual impairment to "see", I also resorted to actually typing them out in Pages and making it about 72pt; I had to print it out so that they can hold the paper right up to their face.

Can't turn off speakable items

My son -- 4 -- was playing with my keyboard and now speakable items will not turn off. The application fails to launch and offers an error code. I cannot open (or find) the app in the HD either. Please help. thanks!

Glad that helped. Most of the "My Mac is weird after my kid used it" posts here come down to an odd keystroke combo that turned on some component of Universal Access. The most common one is that Zoom gets invoked (command + option + 8) and the image no longer fits the screen. The other on the "Top Ten" list of kid-generated wonkiness is black/white or inverse video mode, command +option + shift +8
In anticipation of (or defense from) future pediatric incursions, you may want to look at the Universal Access Preference pane because most of the actions there can be activated by keystroke combos. The combos are listed there
Have a blessing-filled Christmas season!
AJ

I am missing Speakable Items in the Speech commands window

Hi there,
I just realized that I can't command any speakable actions, I have NO commands in place in the speech commands window, and my -/user/library/speech/speakable items folder is empty.
I am administrator and single user of my Mac
I have no idea why it is empty, i suppose it has been like this from the day I have installed OSX, years ago now.
I have tried to install OSX from scratch on a separate partition, and of course, with this new system, the commands are in the proper place and the speech commands works.
However, when I re-import my profile with the SetUp assistant from the original partition, all the commands are lost, since the Speakable items folder is under my personnal home directory, it has just been copied, and left empty by the assistant with all my profile.
Can anyone help me and tell me which items i should copy from/to where to have the speech commands working ????

Same here.
I copied the Speakable Items folder from my old computer, but it still won't work.
I hope you get an answer!
ANSWER! - I had the same problem. Open up your Speech and turn off speakable. Than go to commands select address book click on configure if there is any Name that has (NUL) uncheck it. than go and turn on speakable again. Your commands should be there!
It worked for me! Good Luck!
Message was edited by: Acumowchek

Alternative keyboard layouts + Speakable Items

Speakable Items is a great idea I'd like to use since I frequently use a tablet to sketch art and am out of reach of the keyboard. For some commands, Speakable Items works great (e.g. "Switch to Safari"), but many commands don't.
This puzzled me, especially since some commands seemed to do something outrageously different than what I command. I cracked open some applescripts to take a look at what was going on, and it appears that Speakable Items makes use of very specific keycodes to emulate keypresses. The problem is the keycodes are only valid when using a standard U.S. "qwerty" layout. I use "dvorak", so pretty much all of the commands that utilize key mappings will fail.
I'm not a lazy man, but I am quite busy. I would love to go through and modify the scripts to use the correct key codes if I had the time, but alas, it seems I am at the mercy of Apple fixing this unexpected bug in their software when ever they feel like it. There doesn't seem to be any place on the Apple web site to submit bug reports ala "Bugzilla", which is a shame. The only workaround I can think of is to temporarily switch back to a "qwerty" layout when ever one wants to issue commands, but this is a kludgey solution at best.
So, if you ever wondered why Speakable Items would not work, and you're using a different keyboard layout, now you know.

You can report the problem by emailing [email protected] with details. If you have an apple developers connection account you can report it at bugs.apple.com if I recall the address correctly. Please email the feedback address even if it seems futile - they probably won't reply but they do pay some attention to the messages. Since it's an accessibility related one, you could also report it to [email protected] where you're more likely to get some answer!
r

Speakable Items

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