The Speech Components Group just announced the initial public availability of Windows Speech Recognition Macros. WSR Macros combines the ease of Windows Speech Recognition with the power of an XML-based scripting language. It makes it easy to create speech interfaces to applications and perform otherwise tedious tasks with simple spoken commands.

This tool is the brainchild of Rob Chambers and has been in development for quite a long time. Once in SCG, Rob and Onur Domanic worked on refining the functionality, fixing issues and getting the code in shape to ship. Aziz El Ouaqid ran the test effort.

Download it now
More info on the team blog

The Windows Speech Recognition Macros tool (aka WSRMacros) extends the usefulness of the speech recognition capabilities already included in Windows Vista. Users can now create powerful macros that are triggered by spoken commands. These macros can perform a single task, or a series of tasks. Macros can be as simple as inserting your mailing address to as complex as providing a completely different speech interaction utilizing a number of built in capabilities or utilizing custom JScript/VBScript actions.

XML Code samples for WSR Macro commands:

<speechMacros>
<command>
<listenFor>What are macros</listenFor>
<setTextFeedback>Macros are cool!</setTextFeedback>
<speak>W S R Macros extends the power of my voice</speak>
</command>
<!– Play Artist Command –>
<command>
<listenFor>play ?the ?artist [Artists]</listenFor>
<listenFor>play ?the band [Artists]</listenFor>
<listenFor>play ?the group [Artists]</listenFor>  <disambiguate title=”Which artist do you want to play?” prompt=”Choose an Artist” timeout=”25″ propname=”Artist”/> 
<wmpMediaControl command=”pause”/>
<speak>Playing Artist {[Artist]}</speak>
<wmpMediaPlay attrname=”WM/AlbumArtist” attrvalue=”{[Artist]}”/>
</command></speechMacros>