The new Dragon NaturallyClear USB System H100 is designed to solve two problems encountered by many speech recognition users. First, the built-in audio systems in more than half of the portables and many of the desktop PCs tested by Dragon Systems do not pass Dragon's certification tests for "acceptable" performance. Others may have "acceptable" but less than optimal performance. The H100 bypasses these sound systems to deliver optimized audio input for speech software. Second, in an enterprise environment, it had been necessary to train speech recognition software to recognize the user's voice on each PC used. This is because each PC could have different audio characteristics. The H100 provides a consistent audio signal on every PC where it is used.

"Accuracy is extremely important to our users. The H100 will be the fastest and easiest way to increase accuracy for many of them," said Roger Matus, Dragon Systems Vice President of North American Marketing. "In our lab, the Dragon NaturallyClear H100 achieved the best results of any sound card and microphone pair that we have ever tested."

The NaturallyClear USB System H100 consists of a headset microphone that attaches to a small black pod that measures approximately 4.5-in long, 2.2-in wide, and .75-in tall. The pod then connects to a PC via a cable to the USB port. Once connected, a Windows 98 PC can automatically detect the H100. There is no need for a user to open the PC or to replace any components.

Inside of the black pod is the equivalent of a sound card that is highly optimized for speech input. This system captures audio input from the user, converts it to digital information, and delivers the data directly to the computer via the USB connection. Because it is isolated from the PC, the Dragon NaturallyClear USB product is not affected by the interfering electrical noise sometimes found inside PC systems.

Dragon NaturallyClear USB System works well with the new Dragon NaturallySpeaking Enterprise software (see today's related announcement, "Dragon NaturallySpeaking Enterprise Enables Speech Recognition in Networked Environments"). Users in a multi-system environment can now move from PC to PC without changing speech files because the H100 provides a consistent signal no matter which PC is being used.

"Our goal is to provide the best possible speech experience for all of our users. That means that we want to offer the most accurate software and to make sure that people have the hardware capabilities to take advantage of it," said Matus.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred USB combines the Dragon NaturallyClear USB System H100 and Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred software in a retail package. Customers who use an Intel® Pentium® III-based computer and purchase the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred USB system can take advantage of BestMatch™ III technology, which reduces initial training time to only a few minutes. This is the first retail product to include BestMatch III. The H100 was designed to Dragon's specifications by Telex Communications, Inc. and will be manufactured by Telex.

AVAILABILITY, PRICING AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Dragon NaturallyClear USB System H100 has a list price of $79.95 U.S. and may be ordered from Dragon Systems directly or through a Dragon Systems VAR or reseller. Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred USB has a list price of $249.95 U.S. and may be purchased from Dragon Systems, a Dragon Systems VAR or reseller, and at various retail stores. Both products will be available this quarter. Both products require a USB-compliant computer with Windows® 98 and an available USB port.

The Dragon NaturallyClear USB System H100 also requires installed speech recognition software, and is compatible with all Dragon NaturallySpeaking and Dragon Point & Speak products, Version 3.0 and higher. It works with all Dragon Systems supported languages.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred USB requires a minimum of a 133 MHz Pentium-class processor with 32 MB of RAM. BestMatch technology requires a 200 MHz Pentium-class processor with 64 MB of RAM. BestMatch III technology requires a Pentium III-class processor with 128 MB of RAM.

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