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Set up your dictation hardware

You have two options to set up dictation hardware with SpeechLive. These options have different advantages and disadvantages, which you can find in detail below. For the best user experience we recommend to use Philips Device Connector (PDC).

Philips Device Connector (PDC)

Philips Device Connector (PDC) is a Google Chrome extension accompanied by a native host application. PDC connects the SpeechLive Wep App with Philips dictation hardware like Foot controls or SpeechMikes.

Installation

To use Philips Device Connector, you need to install two components:

  • Philips Device Connector Chrome extension

  • Philips Device Connector native host application

The following steps cover the installation of both components:

  1. Navigate to the Philips Device Connector extension page in the Chrome web store.

  2. For the next step, choose your browser first:

    Google Chrome

    1. Click on Add to Chrome .

    2. A pop-up window appears, confirm the installation by clicking on Add extension.

    Microsoft Edge

    1. Click on Get .

    2. The Allow extensions from other stores pop-up window appears, continue by clicking Allow.

    3. Another pop-up window appears, confirm the installation by clicking on Add extension.

  3. For the next step, choose your operating system first:

    Windows

    1. Download the latest Philips Device Connector native host application package heredownload_icon.svg and unzip the file.

    2. In the Windows folder of the installation package you'll find the necessary philips_device_connector_native_host_installer.exe.

    3. Run philips_device_connector_native_host_installer.exe on your local machine and finish the setup.

    macOS

    1. Download the latest Philips Device Connector native host application package heredownload_icon.svg and unzip the file.

    2. In the Mac folder of the installation package you'll find the necessary philips_device_connector_native_host_installer.pkg.

    3. Run philips_device_connector_native_host_installer.pkg and finish the setup.

  4. Restart your browser.

  5. Connect the hardware device to your computer.

[Note]Note

  • Make sure to use your devices (SpeechMike, SpeechOne) in Event Mode. This is the default out-of-the-box button mode, however if you changed the button mode of your device you can find more information in the Switch to Event mode section on how to switch it back.

  • Connect the foot control directly to a free USB port and not via the docking station of the SpeechMike Premium Air / SpeechOne.

  • The installation described above is the basic installation every user can do in local working environments. There are also installation methods for IT administrators, e.g. using Group Policies. Please visit the full Philips Device Connector (PDC) installation guide to learn more about advanced installation methods.

  • If you’re using SpeechLive in virtual environments, you can find more information in the Philips Speech Extensions guide. The guide covers all necessary steps, if you are already familiar with Philips Speech Extensions you can jump right to the Philips Device Connector section. However, we recommend to start with the introduction of the Philips Speech Extensions guide, to cover all the basics of the installation process and the terminology of virtual/remote environments.

  • Hardware is currently only supported in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge

Pros + Cons -

+ Users don't need to do manual steps to connect the device after browser or computer restarts

+ Users don't need to do manual steps if the device is disconnected

+ Also supports third-party devices

- Users (or their admins) need to install additional components

- No support for ChromeOS

Google Chrome

Google Chrome has built in support for Philips dictation hardware like Foot controls or SpeechMikes.

Setup

  1. Connect the hardware device to your computer.

    [Note]Note

    Connect the foot control directly to a free USB port and not via the docking station of the SpeechMike Premium Air / SpeechOne.

  2. In the Dictations tab, click on the hardware button hardware-icon.png .

  3. Click on Add device.

  4. The app.speechlive.com wants to connect to a HID device window will open on the left, where you can choose the desired hardware device. Confirm by clicking Connect.

    connect-hardware.gif

    X You can now control SpeechLive with your hardware device.

Advanced setup

The setup above is for end users without advanced user rights on their computer. IT administrators of an organization can also add policy settings for Google Chrome. This way it is no longer necessary for users to manually allow device access each time they start their browser.

Visit the official documentation of Google Chrome for more information on how to set these policies for different operating systems, with different options available for you:

Pros + Cons -

+ No need to install additional components

+ Also works on ChromeOS

- The manual steps to connect the device must be performed after each browser or computer restart, as well as when you disconnect/reconnect your hardware (this can be prevented by using policy settings, see Advanced setup)

However, when using SpeechMike Premium (LFH3500/3600) devices from serial number 510001 onwards with firmware 3.83 or newer those manual steps to connect the device only need to be performed once. The same is true for SpeechMike Premium Touch (SMP3700/3800) devices with firmware 3.83 or newer or foot controls of the ACC2300 series from production year 2024, week 22 (422 on the label of the device) onwards.

- Third-party devices are not supported