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We highly recommend you run the Flash Tutorial to learn more.
Step 1: If you haven’t already done so, load the software via the free download.
- Follow the step by step installation instructions. We suggest accepting the
default settings during the installation. After set up, select the VR Commander
Shortcut icon from your desktop or Start menu to launch the program.
Step 2: Get a decent microphone!
- A headset style, noise canceling microphone will yield the best results,
however, we recommend you try it with the microphone you will be using the
most. Please see this user guide for tips on choosing a microphone. Make sure
your microphone is turned on if it has an on/off or mute switch!
Step 3: Start using VR Commander.
- a. Load a template. A template is what VR Commander uses to assign voice
commands to applications. If using VR Commander for the first time, we
suggest you select the Evaluation Template (uses Notepad), PowerPoint or
Outlook template to start. From the Main Control Panel select a template and
select the Load button. You will hear a ping sound which indicates the
template has successfully loaded.
b. Check to see what commands have been set up in the template. Hit the
View Commands button to see what voice commands are available in that
template. (You may want to print this list using the Notepad print functionality)
c. Tell VR Commander to Start Listening. Select Start Listening on the Main
Control Panel. The tray icon will switch to the listening icon .
d. Open the application for the template you loaded and bring it into focus
on your desktop. In other words, make sure it is the application in which the
cursor on your computer is blinking. (If you are using the Evaluation Template,
the Notepad application may already be open.) Say a few commands and see
what happens!
Step 4: Create your own template
- a. Select an application or game for which you think adding voice commands
would be fun and/or useful.
b. Create a new template for this application by selecting the Create New
Template button on the Main Control Panel.
c. In the Template Editor, create the new template by naming the template
(pick the same name as the application), adding the application executable file
name (this is the .exe file for your application - include the .exe extension in
the name field.).
d. Start adding voice commands. Pick commands that are frequently used. Pick
words or phrases that are easy to say and are distinct from each other. (For
example, try to avoid similar sounding words like region and regen). Try
different action types.
The three action types are:
- 1) Simulate Keystrokes
2) Run a file or macro
3) Input Text String
- Record a wav file (use the sound recorder application that comes as part of
Windows XP) and launch it using a voice command. Run your favorite scripts
from voice commands. Try using the text string input command type on
repetitive tasks like email. Try different text strings – great for instant
messaging. Explore what happens with Allow Continuous Commands checked
and unchecked.
e. Remember to save and Load the new template and to make sure the
application is in focus on your desktop.
Step 5: Try editing your template to see how easy it is to assign new commands
or alter existing commands. Have fun with it!
Step 6: Register your copy of VR Commander to enjoy the wonders of using a
voice interface for as long as you wish.
Step 7: Tell everyone you know about VR Commander! Thanks and have a great
time.
Other Application Settings to be aware of and to experiment with:
(See the User Guide for complete descriptions of available options and settings)
1. Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Press the Alt key on your keyboard to see the available shortcuts per screen.
2. Listening Options (set from the Application Settings Screen)
- a. VR Commander is always ON when listening:
b. Press and hold the activation key to instruct VR Commander to Start
Listening: This setting is used when the user wishes VR Commander to be on
only when a key is pressed and held. This is commonly known as “Push to
Talk”. This is often used in conjunction with VOIP Chat programs. In these
cases, the VOIP program is either always on or it too has a push to talk
feature. The user would press one key to activate VR Commander and yet
another key to activate the VOIP program. It is important that the VOIP and
VR Commander Activation keys be different so that voice commands are not
inadvertently sent as voice chat and visa versa. (If the user selects to "start
listening"from the tray icon or the Main Control Panel while this option is
selected, the system will automatically switch to VR Commander is always ON
when listening. The user must reselect this option to re-activate the activation
key.)
Choosing a proper Activation Key
It is important to choose an appropriate activation key. It is possible that there is no
single key that is best for you, as different games and applications have different
needs for the keyboard for their own purposes and VR Commander must operate
smoothly alongside them. It should not be one that you have to press while playing
the game or running the application. Such a choice would cause your use of the key
to do two completely unrelated things. If you use typed messages within a game to
communicate with other players, using keys you need to type messages (shift, enter,
numbers, letters) are also bad activation keys.
Given these conditions, here are some keys we find to be fairly nice choices: Insert,
Delete, PageUp, PageDown, End, Home, `, \, F12. Conveniently, many applications
allow you to remap their keys. If a key seems really nice as a activation key but is
used by one or two of the applications you use -- change their configurations so they
use a different one for that purpose and free it for use as your VR Commander
Activation key.
- c. Press and hold the activation key to instruct VR Commander to Stop
Listening: This setting is used when the user wishes VR Commander to be off
only when a key is pressed and held. This is also used in conjunction with
VOIP Chat programs. In this case, the user can choose the same key as the
activation key of their VOIP program. When pressed and held, this would
toggle off VR Commander and toggle on the VOIP program.
- Check this box for your template (in the Template Editor) if you want this
template to allow the user to speak commands continuously, one after the
other with no pause between commands. If the box is not checked, the user
will be required to pause for 600 milliseconds between commands. Many
applications work best by not allowing continuous commands. Applications
such as PowerPoint, AutoCAD, Excel, etc require the user to input distinct
single commands at a time. Miss interpreted commands (although rare with VR
Commander) would not be tolerated with these applications.
On the other hand, fast paced applications such as games work best when the
user can issue many commands in rapid fire action. Check the box and this
becomes possible.
We recommend the user experiment with this setting to determine the
preferred setting for each application. When used in conjunction with the
various listening mode options available in VR Commander (i.e. push to talk)
this feature greatly enhances the usability experience for the user.
The user tips section of the user guide also offers suggestions as to when and
when not to allow continuous commands.
- This is a very important feature of VR Commander located in the Application
Settings screen. This setting can be set from 0 to 100. A higher number
indicates a greater noise rejection level. The default is set to 50 which is often
an optimal setting for most users. Noise rejection level is one of the first
settings to be adjusted when the user is experiencing performance issues.
The user must load or reload a template to have new settings take affect
VR Commander in less
than a Minute! Follow
these simple steps.
Tray Icons
Not Listening
Listening
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