Controlling Linux with voice input
Clear Statement
Simon is a sophisticated speech recognition tool with easy access to two powerful speech recognition engines, Julius and CMU Sphinx.
On Windows and Mac OS X, users have long grown accustomed to controlling the PC not just with the keyboard and mouse, but by voice. For several years, Linux has been playing catch-up. The nonprofit association “Simon Listens”, founded by Franz Stieger, is the driving force behind the Simon speech recognition software.
The application, originally developed to give people with special needs access to barrier-free PC use, has been around for several years. The association still pursues this goal, but the developers have discovered some additional uses for the software, including verbal control systems that facilitate the use of modern communication technologies by the elderly or allow humans to control robots, wheelchairs, and lifts. However, if you are looking to dictate text to Simon, you will not be happy with the results and will need to look elsewhere.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.