Abstract: An audio system may include a plurality of sound reproduction devices characterized by parameter values; a plurality of audio signal sources characterized by parameter values; a plurality of remote control devices, a system controller, constructed and arranged to wirelessly receive command signals from the remote control devices and to wirelessly transmit parameter values of audio signal sources and of sound reproduction sources to the remote control device. The remote control devices are constructed and arranged for wirelessly transmitting command signals to the system controller and for wirelessly receiving parameter values and displaying parameter values. The remote control devices are being further constructed and arranged to transmit command signals to and receive parameter values from a system controller that is separated from remote control.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) has multiple application processes. A speech recognition process takes input speech from a user and produces a recognition output representative of the input speech. A text-to-speech process takes output text and produces a representative speech output. A speech manager interface allows the speech recognition process and the text-to-speech process to be accessed by other application processes.

Abstract: An audio recorder for interfacing with a speech recognition systems includes a microphone having an open front port that senses an audio signal and a closable back port which, when open, senses an audio signal. The microphone also produces an output signal representative of the audio sensed by the microphone. The recorder further includes a mode selector switch having two positions. The first position provides a close-talking mode in which the back port is open so that audio signals are sensed through both the front port and the back port to reduce representation of environmental noise in the output signal. The second position provides a conference-talking mode in which the back port is closed and audio signals are sensed through the front port only and environmental noise is not reduced.