Software, voice recognition, Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11 %u2013 Nuance. I was at a meeting some time ago and somebody mention the use of dictating software. I'd originally tried Dragon NaturallySpeaking solutions a few years ago I think it was version 3 and I have to say that it was very tedious. I had to spend about an hour repeating words that were displaced me on the screen, and even then the dictation wasn't exactly accurate. However time has moved on, and I thought I would give it another go. I decided to choose the home edition which I got from Amazon and it was reasonably priced.
The software came complete with a headset and a brief book of instructions, and when I say brief I mean no more than the side of an a full sheet of paper. Installation was really quick and easy and I had to repeat a speech from John F Kennedy for about 5 min while the software got used to my voice. That was all the training I had to give it and to and to say I am impressed is something of an understatement! I have had to do very little further training and the corrections that I have had to make have been minimal. The software sometimes gets confused between the word "to" and the figure 2. I wrote the document today which was about 3000 words long and hardly had to make any changes at all.
It does take a little bit of getting used to, particularly because you need to remember to adding words such as comma and fullstop. It's also a little unusual to just think in a stream of consciousness and having appearing on the screen in front of you. The speed with which this works is quite phenomenal, since I don't have to pause for it, it just catches up with me. As long as I can think of what it is I want to say I can just say it, and don't need to keep pausing. The only times I pause is to look at the screen in amazement as my words appear one after another.
Moreover, although I haven't yet tried this out myself I can also use the software to open and close documents to search the Web and to start and close different programs. To give you an indication as to how well the software works, I have written this entirely by using the dictation software and the only alterations that I have made have been when I have coughed! I don't think we can blame the software when it can't understand what I want to say in that particular instance.
If you're thinking about trying out dictation software, or you tried it before and wondered if it's any use now I can thoroughly recommend at least this particular package. It's fast effective accurate and it just does exactly what is it is supposed to do.
The software came complete with a headset and a brief book of instructions, and when I say brief I mean no more than the side of an a full sheet of paper. Installation was really quick and easy and I had to repeat a speech from John F Kennedy for about 5 min while the software got used to my voice. That was all the training I had to give it and to and to say I am impressed is something of an understatement! I have had to do very little further training and the corrections that I have had to make have been minimal. The software sometimes gets confused between the word "to" and the figure 2. I wrote the document today which was about 3000 words long and hardly had to make any changes at all.
It does take a little bit of getting used to, particularly because you need to remember to adding words such as comma and fullstop. It's also a little unusual to just think in a stream of consciousness and having appearing on the screen in front of you. The speed with which this works is quite phenomenal, since I don't have to pause for it, it just catches up with me. As long as I can think of what it is I want to say I can just say it, and don't need to keep pausing. The only times I pause is to look at the screen in amazement as my words appear one after another.
Moreover, although I haven't yet tried this out myself I can also use the software to open and close documents to search the Web and to start and close different programs. To give you an indication as to how well the software works, I have written this entirely by using the dictation software and the only alterations that I have made have been when I have coughed! I don't think we can blame the software when it can't understand what I want to say in that particular instance.
If you're thinking about trying out dictation software, or you tried it before and wondered if it's any use now I can thoroughly recommend at least this particular package. It's fast effective accurate and it just does exactly what is it is supposed to do.
I too use Dragon v11.0, mine is the the professional edition, but Phil is absolutely right, it is very impressive. I have been with Dragon for about 10 years since v4.0, and I could not live without it. My main practical issue is that I too often forget to use it all the time and waste time time typing short emails, which as non touch typist would be quicker dictated, just like now!
Also, the prices of the Home and Premium Edition from Nuance are so low that trying it for the first time is easy.
You will not be disappointed if you buy it.
Posted by: Tim Travers | October 28, 2010 at 05:20 AM
I'm not sure you need to buy it as Windows 7 comes with voice recognition. I have used both - but I have to say with the vastly increased interactive options with Windows 7 I wouldn't bother with Dragon now.
Posted by: Nor | October 28, 2010 at 06:21 PM