Braina

Although we can't talk with computers like in Sci-Fi movies, modern software solutions have brought us quite close to having a conversation with a machine, so we can at least perform certain tasks just by speaking into a microphone. While most applications require specific commands to run certain tasks, otherwise they won't work, Braina takes voice commands a bit further. What makes this virtual assistant different from others is the fact that you can issue commands more naturally. Rather typing or speaking specific words, in a specific order, you can simply ask the application to perform a certain action, using your own words.

Braina comes in free and paid versions and it is available for Android devices as well. Installing the application doesn't take long and you can have it up and running on any modern Windows platform. Furthermore, it doesn't ask for any supplementary tools or services and its hardware requirements are modest.

Essentially, the application's user interface is a plain chat window. You can type your commands in the lower region of the window and view the conversation log above, where the application may also present certain options as hyperlinks. Alternatively, you may click a large button, in the lower right corner of the window and speak your commands into a microphone for the same effect.

The commands you can issue are numerous. You can tell Braina to open a file or folder, to bring up a website on your default browser, to shut down the computer and much more. The application is not limited to simple commands. For example, if you type or speak "please give me artist X on YouTube", Braina will immediately perform a search on YouTube for artist X.

As previously mentioned, the chat log may also include certain options, presented as hyperlinks. For example, if you tell Braina to search for something, it will display options for searching on Google, Bing, Wikipedia, your local hard drive or in other places. A similar operation can be performed with music. You can instruct the application to play a certain track or artist and it will immediately search your hard drive for matching audio files and you may click the results if you wish to play the songs.

Besides issuing commands, you can also ask questions. Certain answers will be provided instantly in the chat log, while in other cases, the application will provide you with links for searching on Google or it may perform a search automatically. You can ask for definitions for certain words, ask for the current date, weather forecast and anything else you can think of. You can even ask Braina how it is doing or thank it for performing a certain action and it will answer.

The application's general settings menu includes a few useful options. You can enable and select a male or female voice, change the speech recognition engine, enable support for chat acronyms and make other fine tweaks. Another interesting feature is the possibility of issuing commands remotely, over a Wi-Fi network, from an Android mobile device.