Hi Will,

I do not have a Mac myself - I use Microsoft Windows PCs - however the number of NT RECES clients with Macs has increased.  In this instance the user has a MacBook with Mac OS X version 10.6.8 and Dragon Dictate 2.5.1 installed.

I have not tested the built-in speech recognition engine on the Mac, however it is unlikely that this engine is as well developed, having both the capabilities and voice recognition accuracy of Dragon.

Using Dragon Dictate 2 it is possible to use the "Open" command followed by the program's name to launch/open any item located in the "Applications" folder.
Additionally, Dragon Dictate allows the creation of user defined commands for different contexts.
For example, in the Finder context, it is possible create commands for:
- AppleScripts
- Applications
- Bookmarks
- File or Folders
- Keystrokes
- Menu Items
- Shell scripts
- Text macros
- Automator Workflows
… therefore, providing that an appropriate adapter can be sourced, control of an adapter should be possible from Dragon Dictate 2.

I have been unable to find an off-the-shelf telephony package that will allow a quadriplegic user, with a good voice, hands-free usage of their Mac as a telephone (with Dragon Dictate and a speaker’phone).

When I mentioned telephone/speakerphone adapters I was referring to telephony dialling devices that can be used on an analogue telephone line.
Yes - a USB to 6P6C (RJ11) lead is likely to be used to connect the device to a computer.
The Mac's internal modem may be suitable but it does not support voice or caller ID.  The client has not requested Caller ID, if they do then an external telephone adapter device is required.
Controlling the Modem using hyperterminal is a possibility.

Dialler software can be used to initiate (and end?) a call using the Mac's internal modem an analogue telephone line ... however there would be no audio!
MacDialer ( http://www.fromconcentratesoftware.com/MacDialer/ ) is no longer available/supported, however Dialectic and ABDialer 2 are recommended as alternatives:
ABDialer 2 ( http://www.macronsoft.com/pages/en/abdialer.html )
& Dialectic ( http://www.jonn8.com/dialectic/ )

Phone Amego ( http://www.sustworks.com/pa_guide/index.html ) seems to be a more advanced type of dialler software.

Sophisticated 'telephone answering machine' like software and hardware is available to automatically answer a call on a Mac computer.  Unfortunately none of the 'solutions' investigated so far have an inbuilt speaker’phone that allow the user to answer or place a telephone call, hold a conversation and then end a telephone call from the computer itself.
The Ovolab Phlink at:
http://www.ovolab.com/phlink/index.php
… is an example of the type of answering machine software available for the Mac.

Any Mac compatible USB Dialler/Modem that is capable of working with an analogue telephone landline - and which does not have an inbuilt speaker’phone - will need to be used in conjunction with a telephone handset to accept or place a landline call.  In this situation, users dialling from a modem connected landline phone are required to ‘pick-up’ the phone first, or immediately after dialling while the call is "Connecting".

A possible solution is to add a USB speakerphone to a USB Modem such as the ClearOne CHAT 50 | Personal USB Speakerphone at:
http://www.clearone.com/personal-usb-speakerphone.html
However this would increase the complexity of the solution as scripts would have to be written to control both the speakerphone, Dialer software and the USB Modem so that they worked together.  Unfortunately ‘alarm bells’ started ringing when I contacted ClearOne and they advised that the driver software for the Apple Mac was not as ‘well developed’ in comparison to their CHAT 50 Windows software.  Indeed, ClearOne were unable to give any assurance as to whether their Mac software for the CHAT 50 would work with Mac OS X version 10.6.8


It may be simplest to go the VoIP/IP telephony (IPT)/“soft’phone” route as these solutions are available for the Mac (although VoIP solution would have to be configured to work with Dragon Dictate).  The addition of VoIP services to a telephone line will increase the client’s monthly telephone bill - particularly when the client calls an analogue telephone number.
Whereas telephone calls from a VoIP device to a VoIP device are normally free, charges are very likely to be incurred when a call is routed to another network (VoIP to analogue telephone line).

At present it seems that VoIP is the only practical method of achieving full voice control of a telephone line on the Mac – unless another approach can be suggested?


Peter Hamlin [Tel: 0 (044) 1895 279162 Fax: 0 (044) 1895 279737]
Rehabilitation Engineer
North Thames Regional Environmental Control Equipment Service (NT RECES)
Alderbourne Rehabilitation Unit (Entrance 'C' - off Royal Lane)
Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Pield Heath Road
Uxbridge
Middlesex
 
UB8 3NN

UNITED KINGDOM