A method and system is described for enabling rapid access from a voice-responsive interface processor 10 to applications 14 running on a plurality of connected host processors, each host processor using screens to communicate with the interface processor. The method is performed by the interface processor and includes the steps of: establishing virtual terminal session with each host processor that initializes applications on the host processor and places them in an idle state, awaiting further commands; responding to a user's request that requires one such application by accessing a virtual terminal session in existence with the host processor on which the application is running, entering user data in a screen from the application stored by the interface processor, and transmitting the screen with its entered data to the host processor, whereby the host processor immediately processes the screen; and transmits a new screen to the interface processor, the new screen containing data for the user. The Interface processor then finds the data in the new screen and transmits it, via a voice interface 16, to the user.