I need a clarification if you would. I have downloaded and installed the correct blackdown java, and there's no difference for me over using Sun's newest. I'm using IBM's VV.
VV as shipped with dictation does not work with IBM's java. VV as shipped with mandrake 8 does work with IBM's java as shipped with mandrake 8 and suse 7.2.
What gets me is that the mike works fine for the first test setting up a user, but once it gets to where it actually starts listening for words, nothing whatsoever happens (it's ignoring me?).
The first test is only a test for input gain to make an input level adjustment, it doesn't try to recognise words (or of it does it's irrelevant). The initial training of 10-15 min will stop if a word is not recognised. If it doesn't work for you, your audio setup is wrong. Pay very special attention to the requirements, if you have a sound card with 16 bit input you'll have trouble. You *must* turn this into 8bit for VV, there were suggestions on the viavoice list. Note that the example given in a readme isn't necessarily conclusive, if it works you should be fine, if it doesn't test with /dev/dsp, somehow. VV does not use /dev/audio (that dd >/dev/audio fails for me, yet VV runs fine).
tried these commands and there's no way IBM's wants to work for me (after waiting two months for delivery). The only variance I've made from your instructions has been to alter the path for the current shell rather than system wide. This should set the path for all spawned processes, unless
Consider following all the modifications in http://volker.orcon.net.nz/linux/viavoice.html as they are specifically for mandrake 8, you'll have to see for your (slightly older) VV from dictation whether you need them, but it might also give you an idea about the issues.
theres some daemon running somewhere that I don't know about.
There should be no interference possible from any daemon.
Also, when it says it's playing "music", i just get clicks. Soundcard is standard Creative SB, works beautifully.
I had the same thing actually, VV wasn't initialising the sound system properly (for whatever reason). Once dealt with that, the click turned to music. (It would be useful if IBM upped the usefulness of any error messages just ever so slightly.)
Where could I get the Mandrake version (outside of buying a mandrake box)?
The only legal way of getting a VV from Mandrake, which also carries a legal license for VV, is to buy a mandrake powerpack, sorry. You can sell everything on except CD 4. You might get a mandrake 7.x powerpack cheap, but make sure it has the same versions of rpms, otherwise the time you potentially lose is worth more than the money you save. For versions see my writeup. Unfortunately for IBM, one would have to advise currently to buy mandrake powerpack 8 instead of the IBM boxed set, and a good quality headset. The headset contained in IBM's box is of entry-level quality only and for serious work should be treated as an emergency-only spare. Volker