Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 120009
Apache OpenOffice does not respond to Windows Speech Recognition on Windows OSs
Last modified: 2017-05-20 09:26:19 UTC
This is a usability issue (User Interface). While many non-Microsoft applications respond to the built-in Windows 7 speech recognition engine, OO 3.3.0 does not. Thus, those working in environments were interaction with a keyboard and mouse is not possible (presentation, teaching/training, chemical, nuclear, biological, medical as examples), and those who are unable to interact with applications through the use of a keyboard and mouse (see Americans with Disabilities) are unable to interact with the Open Office software suite. What works: - Can paste text from the clipboard into the open document. - Can scroll up - Can scroll down - Can page up - Can page down - Can close the document What doesn't work: - Cannot dictate text - Cannot edit text - Cannot select any menu item (File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, etc.) - Cannot invoke any toolbar icon (print, save, center, left justify, font, etc.) - Cannot position the cursor Please note that third party software applications such as Firefox work with Windows 7 speech recognition, so OpenOffice should also work with Windows 7 speech recognition. By the way, this bug report was dictated into Firefox using Windows 7 speech recognition.
I can confirm that Windows 7 (Home Edition, 64 bit) Speech Recognition does not work with AOO Writer 4.1.0. It does work with Microsoft Notepad 6.1 and Mozilla Firefox 29.0. See https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=69354 which alerted me to the problem. This Seven Forums post suggests it may be a problem with the application's (ie AOOs) use of the accessibility APIs: ...[non-Microsoft] applications have failed to utilize the accessibility APIs built into Windows which the speech recognition uses. Almost all of Microsoft's applications make heavy use of the accessibility APIs thus they mostly work with speech recognition.
This Sevens Forums post: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/211999-speech-recognition-not-working-non-microsoft-programs.html
Apache OpenOffice is a cross platform program supporting Linux, OS X and Windows environments--for that reason the UNO Accessibility API will remain the basis of support for all AT at comparable levels across all platforms. However, as no agreed "standard" exists for Speach recognition services, that lessens the potential of implementing cross platform support. On the Windows platform, Apache OpenOffice, IBM Symphony before that, and now LibreOffice implement the Linux Foundation IAccessible2 (v1.3) accessibility API. It is providing the AT hooks needed to implement Windows Speech Recognition (MSSR) to both Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice via legacy MSAA and Text Services Framework but it will likely never integrate with Microsoft UI Automation. Realistically it remains for projects external to Apache OpenOffice to implement Speech Recognition AT for mobility impaired users who would benefit from that AT. At present Microsoft has gone its own way with UI and MSSR. And Nuance, with its current Dragon NS 12--Full Text Control function--looks to again have omitted Apache OpenOffice and TDF LibreOffice support for UNO API, and only supporting Microsoft productivity products. So, while it is possible we might see a Nuance DNS commercial module, I'd lean more to an Extension for AOO/LibreOffice using the Python based Dragonfly speech recognition framework and a AOO/LibreOffice specific command-module for the Microsoft WSR for use on Windows. Perhaps a cross over from the NVDA community. So, this enhancement has merit, but it is not a bug or omission in the Apache OpenOffice project.
closing as dup of bug 70567 *** This issue has been marked as a duplicate of issue 70567 ***