Using Mic from 10 feet away for voice recognition
The problem with a microphone 10 feet away for voice recognition isn't just volume or amplitude, but also multi-path interference (or room reverb).  Sound reflecting off of the walls, floors, furniture, etc. is much weaker than your voice when the mic is up close.  Not so when the mic is far away.  This multi-path interference can change and even cancel out portions of the spectrum of your voice, and in a manner that changes anytime you move or face a different direction, which makes voice recognition more difficult.

Solutions might include using multiple microphones and DSP processing to determine and partially cancel any multi-path distortion, or perhaps robotically aimed directional microphones that can follow your position in the room.