Software will include IBM"s ViaVoice voice recognition technology.
Opera Software will include voice capabilities in its updated browser software, using IBM"s embedded ViaVoice technology, the company says.
The upgraded browser, which will continue to be offered at no cost, will be available later this year, Opera in Oslo, Norway, says. Initially, it will offer support for ViaVoice in English only, but other languages may be developed in due course, Opera Chief Executive Officer Jon von Tetzchner says.
Voice capabilities could well become the preferred way of interacting with a computer, according to von Tetzchner. While it is obviously useful for people with disabilities, it will also be popular with many other users who prefer voice to using a keyboard and mouse, he says.
For the voice technology to work well, a Web page has to be created using X+V (XHTML+V, or Extensible Hypertext Markup Language and Voice), a standard for browsers in small and mobile devices backed by Opera, IBM, and Motorola.