Hi,

My dad is a c4 quadriplegic and we have been working on an accessible computer system with some success. He has been using Dragon 9 preferred for quite some time and I just recently got him a new(er) laptop as his old one would lock up from time to time.

He would like to be able to use macros and advanced commands, for example: Answer a call on skype then put dragon "to sleep" with a single voice command. (this is because if you're on the phone with skype, dragon will take your voice input and think you are issuing commands)

I understand that this is possible with Dragon Professional but we just don't have 900 dollars to spend on it.

I've also heard of a product called KnowBrainer but they do not seem to offer any sort've trial version and we'd like to try it out before spending the 250 dollars.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Hi Steve,

The KnowBrainer and UniVoice software packages appear to be add-on/utility/enhancements for Dragon; commands, technical/professional dictionaries, etc., not a stand-alone SRS. I've only looked at the website tho...not contacted their technical support...but, unless I'm mistaken, you must buy Dragon first, before you can use their products. Given they are an add-on/support type company and a Dragon Rep, they might actually give discounts on the Dragon products if you order both products directly from them.

Links to their website and product manual PDF are both below, good luck...

Jerry

KnowBrainer Online Store
http://www.knowbrainer.com/ShopOnline/index.cfm

WHAT IS KNOWBRAINER
http://www.knowbrainer.com/ShopOnline/file...KnowBrainer.pdf

Thanks Jerry

Yes, they are an add-on, I've discovered that what they do is add the command functionality of "professional" dragon into the "preferred" version... so you can make macros and advanced commands without going pro..

I actually e-mailed them about the possibility of a trial version, I havent heard back...

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Jerry, in the PDF you linked KnowBrainer had a form for the physically challenged, it looks like we may be able to get it for free!

Thanks!

Your welcome, if indeed you do get the software free or at a discount, plez let us know, there are several members on this site that use dragon.

Regards,

Jerry

I will.

hi,

knowbrainer 2008 is free (without tech support) for non commercial use for quads. well it was wen i ordered it early this year.

if you send them an e-mail stating that you are quadriplegic they will get back to you with a product key which can then use to activate your software from the download site. They asked me to prove my disability which I did by sending them a photo of me in my chair.

I can highly recommend knowbrainer for its scripting capabilities. I am currently using the latest version-revision f which comes with lots of prebuilt scripts for applications including skype.

btw-anyone using dragon 9 should consider upgrading to version 10 if you can afford it and particularly if you use it a lot. The accuracy and translation rates are much better (although in my experience still not as good as Macspeech 1.5).

// j

I've had Dragon 9 for ages but then stopped using it. I recently started to use it but retrained it. I felt a bit stupid reading Alice in Wonderland out loud. I even use it on here and its been ok for writing my book. "The Life & Loves of Scribb's"...

The biggest problem I'm having is 'Numbers'. It used to write 400.20, or I had the option to choose it from the drop-down list of choices. All it does now is write, ' four hundred and twenty'.

I've done everything the manual tells me but it wont work. If I want to write a number like 50, I have to physically click on numbers or just type it in with my pencils.

I've dictated 9,000 words and find it much easier just speaking my thoughts onto a page, as I cant type as fast as I think.