Voice Activated Software

[LaMemChose]

Last visit, my doctor mentioned to me again about using voice activated software. I resisted at first, but having more difficulties with my arm, I'm ready to make the transition.

What software do you use including version? What extras are needed to go with any software package?

My doctor suggested Dragon, but there are many Dragon versions available at their site.

The site says it can write as quickly as a person speaks, up to 160 words per minute. Is that the usual case or a best case, perfect world scenario?

Any info will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Liz321]

Dragon version 8
You can buy it anywhere. If your state as a tech act program you could see if they have it to try

Comes with the mic and headphones

practice,practice practice

[Patonb]

Buy the best mic you can, and as much RAM as you can. Now adays less than a gig is jut scrapen by.

[LaMemChose]

Dragon version 8
You can buy it anywhere. If your state as a tech act program you could see if they have it to try

Comes with the mic and headphones

practice,practice practice

Thanks, Liz. I just ordered Version 8 and should have it later this week. I'm about to order "Dragon Naturally Speaking for Dummies" just in case.

Dr. J told me I'd have to train it. I think that must be where the practice comes into play.

[LaMemChose]

Buy the best mic you can, and as much RAM as you can. Now adays less than a gig is jut scrapen by.

What's a good mic? Any suggestions?

[Jadis]

Plantronics usb mic is what I use.

usb mics are not dependant on soundcard quality like standard headsets are.

[Aly]

I used the mic that came with my Dragon software and it worked very well until I smashed it packing it, draging it around, and unpacking it. I now put my headset in one of those gladware containers when hauling my laptop around instead of just throwing it in my computer bag. The tatorial to train the program is very simple, I doubt you will need a book for dummies to use it. :D Make sure you back up your voice files after you train the system to your voice. I did not do this and lost my specific training to my voice and have to go back and redo the whole thing again. Wont have time to do that until May :mad:

[LaMemChose]

I used the mic that came with my Dragon software and it worked very well until I smashed it packing it, draging it around, and unpacking it. I now put my headset in one of those gladware containers when hauling my laptop around instead of just throwing it in my computer bag. The tatorial to train the program is very simple, I doubt you will need a book for dummies to use it. :D Make sure you back up your voice files after you train the system to your voice. I did not do this and lost my specific training to my voice and have to go back and redo the whole thing again. Wont have time to do that until May :mad:

Good tips. Thanks.

I hope you're right about book for dummies. :D It was available at Amazon, but not at Barnes and Noble. I'll pass on it unless I get in a real bind.

I trust I can train Dragon for my Southern accent. I can kill the dreaded accent when I must, but usually let it fly. :p ;)

[Aly]

I am from southwest Va so your TN accent can't be much worse than mine. It still confusses in & and when I talk and it has a hard time with a couple other things I say but you save your files each time and occasioal run an acustic booster and read another story to help it and it gets to know your voice pretty well. I just use it to do basic word processing not much else. There is a basic version in most Word programs now a days you just need to turn it on to try it out.

[RehabRhino]

Mem

Dragon is amazing for simple dictation once you've got it trained but it can be really frustrating some days. It won't understand a word you say until you exclaim 'oh for f*ck's sake' and then it will print that perfectly.

The other thing I have found frustrating is not the software issue but mine. As a creative person, like yourself, who has written for a living since I was 18, I find the thought process involved in dictating rather than typing slightly weird. It's difficult to explain other than to say it's like asking a tennis player to suddenly switch hands and play as fluently. Might just be me though.

[LaMemChose]

Mem

Dragon is amazing for simple dictation once you've got it trained but it can be really frustrating some days. It won't understand a word you say until you exclaim 'oh for f*ck's sake' and then it will print that perfectly.

The other thing I have found frustrating is not the software issue but mine. As a creative person, like yourself, who has written for a living since I was 18, I find the thought process involved in dictating rather than typing slightly weird. It's difficult to explain other than to say it's like asking a tennis player to suddenly switch hands and play as fluently. Might just be me though.

Aaccckkkk, Rhino man!!! That has been my fear. I'm concerned about "saying" it rather than physically "doing" the writing. I tried saying what I wanted to write earlier as though I had the software and it was weird. It just did not flow as it does when I click it into the keyboard.

This will definitely be a learning experience and it may have a rather large learning curve. I have a feeling this may be like learning a foreign language.

I read reviews of the software and people said it will dictate your phone calls if you don't silence it when the phone rings. I can see how this could get interesting if I'm not careful. No more swearing for me unless it is part of what I'm writing.

[RehabRhino]

Aaccckkkk, Rhino man!!! That has been my fear. I'm concerned about "saying" it rather than physically "doing" the writing. I tried saying what I wanted to write earlier as though I had the software and it was weird. It just did not flow as it does when I click it into the keyboard.

This will definitely be a learning experience and it may have a rather large learning curve. I have a feeling this may be like learning a foreign language.

I read reviews of the software and people said it will dictate your phone calls if you don't silence it when the phone rings. I can see how this could get interesting if I'm not careful. No more swearing for me unless it is part of what I'm writing.

I can dictate an email no problem but my thoughts jam up when I'm 'writing' a press release/article. No-one seems to understand when I try to explain this but it's frustrating because I do think Dragon is good, just a new way of doing something which my mind hasn't mastered yet. It's frustrating in the office when people talk to me because I have to silence it, answerv them, regain train of thought. I used to be able to hold a conversation and type.

[Patonb]

I can dictate an email no problem but my thoughts jam up when I'm 'writing' a press release/article. No-one seems to understand when I try to explain this but it's frustrating because I do think Dragon is good, just a new way of doing something which my mind hasn't mastered yet. It's frustrating in the office when people talk to me because I have to silence it, answerv them, regain train of thought. I used to be able to hold a conversation and type.

I fully understand yha......... I'm the same way.... I think as i write, and uforunately cant talk and think....or is it think before i talk. Can'teven count the times thas got me in trouble.:)

A properly setup voice system is an excellent tool. I actually use one to play video game: https://edimensional.com/index.php?cPath=23&osCsid=2029dafc67c57f80a4a2b173abd15ffb

off topic how do you link a word to a web address?

[PN]

It's difficult to explain other than to say it's like asking a tennis player to suddenly switch hands and play as fluently. Might just be me though.
Game, set, and match, and it's not you. By the way, excellent analogy. I typed through high school, college, and grad school along with playing tennis wiith Pete S. who went on to become one of the greatest.

I would much prefer to type than to dictate, and I try to pretend that I am a news anchor person while going through this process. The only time I played tennis with my left hand was when the person was about two or three levels below me and I needed to make things more interesting/closer.

[LaMemChose]

Dragon version 8
You can buy it anywhere. If your state as a tech act program you could see if they have it to try

Comes with the mic and headphones

practice,practice practice

You weren't kidding on the practice. :zombie:

I got Dragon 8 less than 24 hours after ordering it. Seems it was shipped overnight. Got here before noon.

I'm practicing, but this will definitely take getting used to. No, this isn't being written on Dragon. I'm not that good yet!

For some reason, this whole experience reminds me of that weird little ditty:

I love you period
Do you love me question mark
Please please exclamation point
I want to hold you in parentheses.

I'll adjust up pretty quickly, but I needed to give Dragon and my brain a rest. Using Dragon feels as though I'm using a part of my brain I don't normally engage.

Thanks for the input everyone. Dragon 8 will definitely work for me and should make life much easier.

[alan]

If anyone tries eComStation, it should still include IBM's OS/2 Voice Type (I can't use it because of my breathing trouble from the abdominal pain, but it's on my system.) As almost everyone uses Windows, though, Dragon does seem the way to go (several people have mentioned it to me.)