Paula's Demonstration 2: DNS Speech Recognition

Paula R. Ulloa
ED443G, Assistive Technology
Dr. J. Cyrus
June 23, 2008

Demonstration 2

Product: Speech Recognition Software
Brand: Dragon®
Distributors: Nuance Communications (MA) www.nuance.com
Product name: Naturally Speaking® Preferred 9
Function: Turns speech into text & voice controls computer functions
Type: High Tech computer software
Status: won 175+ awards, including PC Magazine, cnet Editor’s choice, & PC World’s 100 best products of 2006
Price: From Nuance Communications>>$99.99 (Standard-primary dictation) $199.99 (preferred-Navigates through programs) $9.99 s/h; From E-Bay DNS 8 Voice to text from $1.00 ($9.99 s/h) - $70.00
Availability: on-line at www.nuance.com, E-Bay (careful),
Other brands:
Ø Microsoft Voice Command ($30 - $39) http://www.shopping.com/xGS-Voice_Recognition_Programs~NS-1~linkin_id-8001677
Ø DNS ($621-$772) http://www.shopping.com/xGS-Voice_Recognition_Programs~NS-1~linkin_id-8001677
Ø Global Marketing Partners ($79-$80) http://www.shopping.com/xGS-Voice_Recognition_Programs~NS-1~linkin_id-8001677
Ø European brands> Speech technology Center, http://speechpro.com/eng/company/acomp (Russian, French, British; Technical Forensic functions)
Ø For Mac Users: A number of voice recognition programs & functions from Braille to changing one’s voice http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html#universalaccess
Ø Site for other links, old and new: http://www.linc.org/voicesw.html
Preliminary needs: Personal Computer (PC) with IBM compatibility (Microsoft Windows compatibility)
Ø Minimum system requirements: 1 GHz processor (Faster processor = faster performance)
Ø 1 GB RAM
Ø 2.5 GB hard disk space
Ø Windows Vista, MS windows XP (SP1 or higher), Home and Professional, 2000 (SP4 or higher)
Ø Creative sound blaster® 16 or better (sound must support 16 bit recording)
Ø MS Internet Explorer® or higher
Ø CD-ROM drive (for installation)
Ø A web connection (required for activation)
Features: 9th edition is 99% accurate
Ø works with most desktop applications
Ø quick installation with on-screen tutorials
Ø create documents, reports, & e-mails faster (we speak three times faster than we type)
Ø browse net verbally
Ø reduce risk of carpal tunnel
Ø works with Pocket PC Palm Tungsten™ to transcribe recordings
Ø Nuance® approved Bluetooth microphone
Getting Started:
Ø Create a user (Creates a profile: recognizes speech, pronunciation, tone, rate, pitch)
o This may take up to 45 minutes but you can take a break
o It’s recommended to choose the “best match” speech model & vocabulary despite needing more memory and a faster processor
Ø User type: either speaking directly to the computer or via another recording device
Ø Adjust microphone
Ø Complete training portion of program
Start Dictation:
Ø start Dragon NaturallySpeaking (DNS) from windows
Ø position microphone
Ø start program you would like to talk to (recommended to start with Dragon NaturallySpeaking) but you can now operate your system by voice
Ø turn microphone on (click red microphone in the DNS window OR press + key on the numeric keypad
Ø click on the window of the program you would like to talk to (DNS will type commands in the active windows)
Dictating:
Ø speak clearly & fluidly
Ø don’t pause
Ø see the quick reference for commands & mistakes in dictation
Ø state punctuation
Ø New paragraph = enter 2x; new line = enter 1x
Ø Erase: Scratch that
Ø Correct Mistake: Correct that (DISTINGUISH between the two as DNS learns to associate the sound of one word with the written form of another
Users & Caveats:
Ø Professionals: Secretaries, court reporters, team meetings, news reporters, students, teachers, investigators (forensics), medical doctors, mental health professionals,
Ø Individuals with poor fine motor skills (can’t type or write)
Ø Individuals with poor vision (can’t see screen or keyboard well)
Ø Individuals with a distinct speech impediment will have difficulty and may not benefit from this program
Ø Need existing computer & computer knowledge for the program
Ø Still requires some fine motor skills at the start of program (and possibly throughout program for the more anomalous tasks such as correction of spelling or adding names)