ScanSoft Joins Array of Assistive Technology Vendors in Delivering an Unprecedented Level of Support for Windows XP

Dragon NaturallySpeaking v. 6.0 Enables Hands-Free Operation of Windows XP and Accurate Voice Dictation for Office Applications

Los Angeles, March 20, 2002 - At the CSUN 2002 Conference for Technology and Persons with Disabilities, ScanSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSFT), a leading supplier of imaging, speech and language solutions, today joins other assistive technology vendors in demonstrating an unprecedented level of support for Microsoft Windows XP - the most accessible Microsoft operating system ever - with its latest version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking® speech recognition software for fast, accurate voice automated computer navigation and document creation.

ScanSoft's Dragon NaturallySpeaking v. 6.0 provides easy-to-use, hands-free operation of Windows XP-based applications, enabling users with disabilities or mobility restrictions to utilize the benefits of the Windows XP platform and make their computing experience more enjoyable. Dragon NaturallySpeaking can also enhance the experience for those who simply wish to increase productivity through fast, easy-to-use voice dictation and navigation.

"ScanSoft and Microsoft have worked together to ensure that assistive technology users will have easy-to-use, hands-free access to all features, programs and services in Windows XP," said Gary Moulton, assistive technology vendor relations manager in the Accessible Technology Group at Microsoft Corp. "Through Dragon NaturallySpeaking, users can now experience the full range of Windows XP features, with virtually no mobility or usability restrictions."

Dragon NaturallySpeaking allows a diverse user base to adapt Windows XP to meet their individual needs and more efficiently navigate through many Microsoft products. Dragon NaturallySpeaking provides the industry's highest accuracy rate for voice dictation and navigation, and enables users to fully experience the reliability, security and performance of Windows XP, without compromising productivity levels.

"Dragon NaturallySpeaking v. 6.0 brings a tremendous degree of freedom to users of Windows XP, enabling them to operate virtually any desired function hands-free, through natural language and voice commands," said Robert Weideman, vice president of marketing for ScanSoft. "Through the use of Windows XP and Dragon NaturallySpeaking, a vastly broader audience can now experience increased productivity and reliability without additional strains or difficulties."

Dragon NaturallySpeaking v. 6.0 provides users with the most natural voice commands and accurate dictation features of any ScanSoft speech and language solution. With this software, users can now more easily browse the Web and manage e-mail navigation via a series of customer-developed voice commands. The software continues to be versatile, enabling users to create documents easily and efficiently in virtually all Windows-based applications. The winner of more than 140 major awards worldwide, the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Solution Series software continues to lead the speech recognition category for accuracy and ease of use.

Key benefits of Dragon NaturallySpeaking v. 6.0 include:

• Hands-free, voice-enabled navigation and document creation for virtually any Windows XP-based program
• The industry's highest accuracy rate for converting voice to text;
• An extensive vocabulary consisting of over 250,000 words that can be modified to meet a user's particular needs;
• Advanced mobile transcription features, allowing users to create documents while away from the office, save created documents with associated voice files for outside transcription, listen to e-mails and other documents that can be read aloud by the software; and
• Easy navigation of the Web by voice.

About ScanSoft, Inc.

ScanSoft, Inc. is the leading supplier of imaging, speech and language solutions that are used to automate a wide range of manual processes -- saving time, increasing worker productivity and improving customer service. For more information regarding ScanSoft products and technologies, please visit www.ScanSoft.com.

Trademark reference: ScanSoft and Dragon NaturallySpeaking are registered trademarks or trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc., in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks and trade names mentioned herein are recognized and may be registered to their respective holders.

The Company notes that the statements in this release that relate to future plans, events, performance, including without limitation the projected shipment dates, customers' opting to upgrade to newer or more fully featured products are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market acceptance, engineering delays, quality assurance testing delays, contractual negotiations, successful completion of beta site testing, the scheduling of orders, changes in operating systems, a significant change in the competitive environment, timely delivery by component suppliers and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. Readers are cautioned not to place undo reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

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