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
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
- 
		    					    		    
Linux Now Runs Most Windows Games
The latest data shows that nearly 90 percent of Windows games can be played on Linux.
 - 
		    					    		    
Fedora 43 Has Finally Landed
The Fedora Linux developers have announced their latest release, Fedora 43.
 - 
		    					    		    
KDE Unleashes Plasma 6.5
The Plasma 6.5 desktop environment is now available with new features, improvements, and the usual bug fixes.
 - 
		    					    		    
Xubuntu Site Possibly Hacked
It appears that the Xubuntu site was hacked and briefly served up a malicious ZIP file from its download page.
 - 
		    					    		    
LMDE 7 Now Available
Linux Mint Debian Edition, version 7, has been officially released and is based on upstream Debian.
 - 
		    					    		    
Linux Kernel 6.16 Reaches EOL
Linux kernel 6.16 has reached its end of life, which means you'll need to upgrade to the next stable release, Linux kernel 6.17.
 - 
		    					    		    
Amazon Ditches Android for a Linux-Based OS
Amazon has migrated from Android to the Linux-based Vega OS for its Fire TV.
 - 
		    					    		    
Cairo Dock 3.6 Now Available for More Compositors
If you're a fan of third-party desktop docks, then the latest release of Cairo Dock with Wayland support is for you.
 - 
		    					    		    
System76 Unleashes Pop!_OS 24.04 Beta
System76's first beta of Pop!_OS 24.04 is an impressive feat.
 - 
		    					    		    
Linux Kernel 6.17 is Available
Linus Torvalds has announced that the latest kernel has been released with plenty of core improvements and even more hardware support.
 

