Speech recognition software allows you to write vast amounts of text on your computer by using a microphone to convert your speech into text in a word processor of your choice (e.g. Microsoft Word). Just like you would dictating to a person, but here it is to a computer. 

Modern speech recognition software will also allow you to control your computer with your voice, so no more need for a mouse or keyboard! You can now read your emails or surf the net without touching a button.

The market for speech recognition software is vast with many organisations offering a number of software packages. Unfortunately not every software is as good as the other with some very unreliable packages on the market, many first time buyers fall into the price trap, thinking: "I'll buy a cheaper product and if it works well I might invest in a more expensive one later". Unfortunately this is the wrong approach as most of the sub £50 programs are priced that low for a reason. They just don't provide the functionality and reliability one would expect. This leads to many of these individuals to forget about speech recognition and never touch it again, and that is a shame because there are many excellent programs out there.