Voice Activated Commands Needed

[Anonymous]

Having voice-activated commands built into AutoCAD would enable users to keep eyes focused on specific drawn items on the screen rather than looking down to keyboard or look for a tiny button on the tool bar.  Reducing the number of times users have to look down at their keyboard would be a great thing.  If I could say "Ortho" and have the on/off box pop up at my cursor, that saves me a glance down to my keyboard to find/press F8.  

[LionelRKatz]

It would be fun yeah, but for now you can change the commands and choose a better letter or number in the keyboard for you, so you dont have to waste time finding F8 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to...

[pendean]

Autodesk is never going to do that for free anytime soon.

Are you aware of the plethora of voice-control software you can add to PCs and MACs for the past 20-years to do exactly what you want/desire? Help yourself with a Google Search, I'll get you started with one brand, remember to try before you buy http://voice2cad.com/how-does-it-work/

Happy hunting.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

If I could say "Ortho" and have the on/off box pop up at my cursor, that saves me a glance down to my keyboard to find/press F8.  

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Now, multiply that by the number of designers in your office.  If you're lucky you've got high cubicle walls, others have short walls or even worse... 'hoteling' with workbenches.  And try spending most of a day speaking random words - chances are you'll find yourself hoarse after a day or two.  Just like tendonitis when using a mouse incorrectly, or a wonky back from sitting on a yoga ball all day instead of a proper chair.

In the meantime, get a multi-function mouse.  Could be one of the fancy 15+ button gaming mice, could be a simple Logitech with a couple of extra thumb buttons.  Install the driver software and configure the extra buttons to be F8/CTRL-H/whatever other combinations you need.  If you want to go whole hog, get a left-hand keypad.  Those can program even more buttons; I had one which had three separate mappings available for every registered program, a thumb joystick, and a thumbwheel, more than enough for multiple applications.

[jggerth]

20 years ago I was doing that.  Sorta worked, but.... training was flaky.  No doubt the voice recognition software has improved a lot since them, so buy/try one out and see if it works for you.

But, it's nothing I would want in the typical cube farm with zero walls or doors..

[Valentin_CAD]

@Anonymous ,

Welcome to the AutoCAD Community Forum.

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@Anonymous wrote:

Reducing the number of times users have to look down at their keyboard would be a great thing.  

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Until this Wish (submit on AUGI Wish List) becomes available, we can all work faster and more efficiently by using the AUTOCAD KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS & hotkey guide (attached). You can find a downloadable list of shortcuts and commands in the AutoCAD Keyboard Shortcuts PDF.

[Patchy]

Get a mouse with 5 buttons and program one to be F8, you'll be happy.

[RobDraw]

If you are truly trying to reach Autodesk to request that functionality, chances are it won't go anywhere from here, a user help forum.

[Anonymous]

Having a voice activated commands in AutoCad will be very helpful to engineering community. Currently, Engineers spend lot of time developing conceptual sketched ( require multiple iteration) & in drawing reviews./checking. Marking up drawing with comments takes a lot of time. A voice activated  tool with basic functionality like  marking comments, changing dimensions etc. will save lot of time for checkers/reviewers.

Going forward Working from home is new normal & we can use this technology at home without disturbing others.

[RobDraw]

Have you tried any of the available programs?

[Washingtonn]

When reading about voice-activated AutoCAD commands, I am always amazed by the comments that it just won’t work because there are too many problems.  I don’t know how many of those commentors have actually used the technology, but I have to disagree with them.

The technology has made great strides with both software and hardware to the extent that it is a viable option for almost any office.

On the hardware side, there are microphones that can recognize whispered commands in offices even with substantial background noise.   This means that even if there are many workspaces without walls, there need not be concern regarding disruptions. The associated noise level should be less than an office conversation or nearby telephone call.

The software has also improved dramatically over the years – both in recognition and features. Standard and custom commands can be created which could combine shortcuts, lisp routines, and action macros.

I’m sure some of what people envision is a time when everything is done by voice. That is not going to happen in the near future, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good thing to investigate and work towards.

I have attached a link for a short video showing a number of voice commands used successfully with a mouse or keyboard to input the necessary point data.  The list of AutoCAD commands was made available using one voice-command instead of having to use all of the programmable buttons on a fancy gaming mouse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uINpaksbOYw

[Tomislav.Golubovic]

Once you start using it long enough, the keyboard commands come naturally and you'll know what each command does without looking at the command line.

[RobDraw]

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@Washingtonn wrote:

When reading about voice-activated AutoCAD commands, I am always amazed by the comments that it just won’t work because there are too many problems. 

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Do you check the dates on those comments? A lot of the advances on voice recognition technology is very recent.

Regardless, I would tend doubt that Autodesk has any intentions of including in AutoCAD. Any solutions would be third party software.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

just one experience we had years ago when first tested it ... go to your neighbor working with AutoCAD and (close to his/her microphone) ... say "QUIT" and then "YES" ... and then ... .run 😉

- alfred -

[Washingtonn]

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RobDraw 

: " Do you check the dates on those comments?"

Yes I do check, but maybe I should have checked with you first so I would know what is the appropriate time frame for considering  "those comments" - my bad. Seriously, I was referring to threads from just the past few years, though the attitudes of many have not changed much over the past decade.

RobDraw

 : "A lot of the advances on voice recognition technology is very recent."

We agree on the advances as indicated in my second paragraph:  "....The technology has made great strides with both software and hardware to the extent that it is a viable option for almost any office...."

RobDraw : "Regardless, I would tend doubt that Autodesk has any intentions of including in AutoCAD. Any solutions would be third party software."

I agree. Voice-activation won't be integrated anytime soon by Autodesk but that's OK - the video shows that you don't need it.

[LyleHardin]

I wouldn't want it for commands, but for speaking into an mtext box. We're looking at using a tablet with AutoCAD in the field to minimize reworking hand sketches at the office. Speaking notes into the drawing would be helpful. I guess commands would be too, for that matter. I'm looking at Dragon and Rubius. I've not tried either yet. Just came here for some ideas.