Abstract: A graphical user interface comprising real world metaphors is provided for navigating an information handling method and system. The interface comprises four screens with metaphors (Items, People, Actions, Results) that simplify user interaction and navigation. An improved information handling method and system is provided in which the graphical user interface is combined with a central transactional database and a user-definable workflow technology. The central transactional database table stores all transactions at the line item level, with each record containing information according to four main dimensions (Items, People, Actions and Time). The invention allows users to define action types, to link action types logically, and to trace actual transactions at the line item level according to these linkages as defined at the time the transaction takes place.

Abstract: Some at least of the control signals usually produced by manual control members and applied to the control circuit of the watch to control the performance of the different functions thereof are produced directly from words pronounced by the user, belonging to a pre-determined vocabulary, by an assembly for producing control signals by means of speech, which comprises electro-acoustic means for converting a pronounced word into an analog signal representing that word, means for transforming the analog signal into an item of logic control information and means for transforming the logic information into a control signal which can be directly applied to a control circuit for controlling performance of the function corresponding to the word pronounced.

Abstract: In a speech recognition and control apparatus, the speech signal is filtered into sub-bands, each sub-band signal sampled and binary quantized to form a digital string which is simplified (data reduced or compressed) by further encoding based on detecting in the string an isolated sample having one binary value surrounded by two samples having the other binary value.

Abstract: Speech recognition is improved by adaptive update of reference word codes. The apparatus can be used for controlling a piece of equipment and comprises memories which in coded form contains the references of the vocabulary of the machine; a microphone, a coding circuit and a memory for coding and memorizing the word pronounced by the user; a device for displaying the word recognized by the apparatus; and a control circuit for comparing the pronounced word to the different memorized references and for displaying at each repetition of the word the words corresponding to the references in their order of resemblance to the pronounced word. The user is able to train the apparatus easily by repeating a word until the displayed word agrees with what he has said, the coded form of this spoken word then being stored as the reference for the corresponding word of the vocabulary.