[Amie Love]

I am possibly looking for some voice recogntion software for our family friend who has recently become disabled....I saw this mentioned in another thread but since the thread was about other things, I didn't want to 'hijack it' by asking about this. I believe the product Dragon Naturally Speaking was mentioned...has anyone used this before? or can you recommend anything else that is better? I appreciate any and all help!

[Captain Pike]

I've been using Dragon NaturallySpeaking and found it to be infinitely useful. With a really short learning curve, I'm able to fully use my PC. I can surf the Web, read and write e-mails, use software tools like editors, word processors, spreadsheets: just about anything I used to do on the computer I do as fast and efficient as ever before. And I have no use of my fingers at all.

When I was in the hospital after my accident one of the O.T. guys showed me how I could use the keyboard with a pencil attached to a Velcro strap on my arm. Later, I developed my own style using my little finger knuckle. But, this was a nightmare. Before my accident, I was a software engineer, a real power user (a computer geek), so I became very frustrated, trying to type with that knuckle outstretched before me. When I went to rehab at Spaulding rehabilitation Hospital in Boston a guy there showed me about Dragon NaturallySpeaking. By the end of the day, I was dictating e-mails -- talking right along normally -- it was really great. I kind of suffer from not being the most motivated guy in therapy, but I've been able to work really hard at this and the results have really paid off.

I paid about 200 bucks. That included the software and a usable microphone. The software installs easily and seems to work well with most all applications -- I mean it doesn't screw other things up. You go through a brief training program: once you've got the software installed and the microphone on you, the program puts up pages of text for you to read. As you read along, a little karaoke like arrow follows along, showing you that it has understood what you've said. After a short time, it's done learning enough about your speech so you are ready now to just speak directly to the computer. From then on, the software learns more and more about your particular speech patterns, continuously improving its accuracy. There is a simple little correction mechanism you can use when the computer hears you wrong. The more you use this mechanism (correctly) the better the software gets at understanding what you are saying.

I have since bought a different microphone, and array microphone, so I only have to be near it -- don't have to put on a microphone. This way, I can roll up to the PC, begin dictating, and then roll away to answer the door, or what ever, without having to remove a headset. Another great option is to use a wireless head set. Also, I have a large trackball type mouse -- easier for me to use than a regular mouse. But Dragon NaturallySpeaking contains commands for moving the mouse around and clicking and so forth. Depending on your level of mobility, you might have to rely on these voice commands for your mouse.

I'd recommend this highly. Other quadriplegics I know don't seem to be able to use this, I don't know why. I like to use a least prosthetics as possible. I also like to be able to answer several e-mails in a couple of hours. I would be happy to provide other support or to answer any questions you may have about this. Please feel free to contact me directly.

Best of luck!

This post has been edited by Captain Pike: 05 December 2006 - 07:51 PM

[Amie Love]

oh wow!!!!! thank you so much for your detailed reply! You have given me so much info to work with! So I looked up some info on Dragon, do you have the version 9? Also from what I see as far as prices, did you buy the Preferred version? it looks like the Standard is only about $100.00.

thank you so much again!!!

[Captain Pike]

I'm still using version 8.0, I'm kind of waiting for them to flush the bugs out of version 9. Yes, the prices have come down for the standard "preferred" version. I don't think you need professional version unless you're really into programming scripts and things like that -- typically for the high end user. Further, I believe the professional version costs somewhere between three and four times the cost of a regular, "preferred" version.

I don't know about other software products that offer this kind of capability. I'm sure they exist, but I believe this is the best thing out there for the money. There is a pretty good support forum available for the software too.

The new versions of Microsoft Word supposedly include voice-recognition, but I haven't used it -- don't know anything about it.

There is one thing to keep in mind about the way they designed Dragon NaturallySpeaking. It will only recognize the voice of one person at a time. Any number of people can be trained and their user files recorded, but each person must select their file before dictation.

Any other questions you have I can try to answer, or visit the form at:
http://knowbrainer.com/PubForum/index.cfm?...mp;categoryId=2

Good luck

[Amie Love]

oh, thank you so much again for all your help and info! It really sounds like Dragon is the way to go. I just want to make sure I get something that is user friendly, I wouldn't want to cause more stress in anyone's life! However, from what you've said and the things I have read, it really sounds like Dragon has improved a lot and will do a lot of good. Thank you so much for all your help!

[susiejt]

Amie Love, on Dec 7 2006, 01:41 PM, said:

oh, thank you so much again for all your help and info! It really sounds like Dragon is the way to go. I just want to make sure I get something that is user friendly, I wouldn't want to cause more stress in anyone's life! However, from what you've said and the things I have read, it really sounds like Dragon has improved a lot and will do a lot of good. Thank you so much for all your help!

Hi Amy, I use Dragon v9 Preferred with a headset mic; prev tried an Array Mic but alwyas had terrible trouble with it & then when i read the Manual it said that Dragon only supported an Array with Professional, not Preferred or Standard (despite the distributor telling me different). Not sure but maybe v9 can support Array Mic. But it seems Capt Pike has had a far better experience with his Array. I've unplugged my $500(AUS) mic & am happily using the $30 one, Parrot brand.

Version 9 is much better than 8, so much better. My v8, bought 3 mths ago, always had very annoying bugs. v9 much improved now & for me now so much faster.
Good luck with it.

Susie

[Captain Pike]

It's hard to talk in a forum about how useful this Dragon NaturallySpeaking software is -- I mean, it's really subjective. I have been told that I have the right kind of voice for this kind of thing. Also, as a software engineer, I know what kind of an animal this program is -- how it has to work, the things that are going on. And most of all, these days, I'm a terrible typist!

I use an array microphone. And I'll be the first to admit that with it come inherent difficulties: the phone ringing, the aquarium bubbling, people talking in the room and music all take away from the effectiveness of an array microphone. On the other hand, no pun intended, getting a headset on and off, for some of us, presents other problems which sometimes seem even worse. The way I understand it, any of the versions of Dragon will work with any microphone that is supported by the PC.

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I've received an e-mail yesterday, a promotion I guess, where anyone can buy the new version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking for 50 bucks. I am not involved in any way with Nuance, the company that makes the software, but if anyone is considering buying it, this promotion seems like it would be enough to tip the balance. Follow this link:

http://www.digitalri...om/promo=161844

[Amie Love]

I hadn't thought about the headset being a possible problem, but in this case, I think it'll be ok. Also, I just saw Dragon at Costco this week for only $49 so there is another option if anyone else is looking to buy it! I am going to go back and get it!!! Thanks for the help!