Dictation Software
By relache
Let Dictation Software Change How You Write By Computer
The Internet has been a part of my daily life since 1996. I began to create web content as part of my then-day-job in 1996 and it's now my sole means of support. I'm very lucky in the the Internet has evolved so that I can pretty much write whatever I want, whenever I want and manage to pay the rent.
I've had to learn about ergonomics along the way, as sitting in front of a computer nearly every day is more stressful and harder on the body than people imagine. How I set up my desk, my chair, my keyboard, my mouse and my monitor have all changed over the years. And now how I write is about to change... radically!
The 2009 holiday season brought a fun gift to my house, one that I hoped would help me be more productive and completely change how I write. I was gifted with dictation software for my Mac computer! Having now used it for over a year, I have to say this was one of the best gifts I ever requested!
Mac OS X dictation software
 | Amazon Price: Too low to display List Price: $199.99 |
 | Amazon Price: Too low to display List Price: $169.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $19.75 List Price: $29.99 |
Why Wait For Damage?
I've talked to a variety of people who use dictation software, which allows a writer to talk into a microphone and translates the spoken word into text documents. Most of them turned to electronic assistance when they developed terrible carpal tunnel issues or some other physical ailment which prevented them from typing conventionally into a computer.
Given that I find web writing to be more and more part of my daily life, I wondered why I should wait for something tragic to happen? Software prices are not unreasonable and the functionality has really improved.
A Really Cool Development:
On Monday April 5, 2010 I got an email from the Dragon Diction folks, letting me know that they had a free app so that my new iPad could take dictation too. My new toy just got even more fun.
What Say You About Dictation Software?
What's Your Take On Dictation Software?
See results without votingsoftware dictation developments
- DictateHQ Now Offers Innovative Speech Recognition Software To Medical ... - Virtual-Strategy Magazine
DictateHQ Now Offers Innovative Speech Recognition Software To Medical ... - 3 days ago
- Siri-like Dictation coming in Mountain Lion - MacVideo.tv
MacVideo. - 5 hours ago
- Trusted Consultant now offers latest Medical Dictation Software - Seattle Post Intelligencer
Trusted Consultant now offers latest Medical Dictation Software Seattle Post Intelligencer The latest version of the award-winning medical dictation software from Nuance, Dragon® Medical Practice Edition, is now being offered by consultant group Lyft. - 3 weeks ago
- Nuance brings Dragon dictation to vehicles with 'Dragon Drive!' - HEXUS
Sydney Morning Herald Nuance brings Dragon dictation to vehicles with 'Dragon Drive! - 2 days ago
PC/Windows dication software
 | Amazon Price: $39.99 List Price: $99.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $89.99 List Price: $199.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $17.99 List Price: $29.99 |
Training Your Software (and You)
Learning to work with dictation software takes a bit of practice, but as I work on it, the effort seems well worth it.
How the program interprets speech isn't as fine-tuned as how a living human being does, so it takes a bit of training on the part of the human to teach the software how to hear the user and understand more clearly. You have to learn to speak your punctuation, saying things like "comma," "period" and "new paragraph" for when you need the program to make those appropriate pauses, stops and breaks.
The program has a database of words and phrases that is partially based on how commonly they are used by the average person, so if you are more highly-educated and use a larger vocabulary than the average human being (which I do as I'm a logophile with a Master's degree) you may find you have to do a tad more teaching of the software, or change your wording, or spend just a touch more time on making hand-corrections to especially uncommon phrases.
As the user, you will also learn a lot about how you speak. If you mumble or slur any words or sounds, the program is going to have a harder time figuring out what you were trying to say. The translated results can be incomprehensibly oblique or just really funny but with a bit of practice, you may find that your speaking voice improves too as a side effect.
Can You Share Any Experiences You've Had With Dictation Software?
KT, I speak unaccented English (having lived on both the East and West coasts) so I don't know how the software does with regional accents. Essentially once it learned "you" it should be able to understand you. You can speak fairly quickly, the key is if your speech stays distinct when you do.
They've improved the recognition abilities and short cuts over the years, so I do still like using it. But it's also important that people know that it's a tool you have to put in the time to learn to use well, like just about anything else...
I've been waiting for someone to talk about this and if they really like it. And this has been here for, what? Two years? So, I'm wondering if you like it more or less than you did at first? And can it keep up with a fast talker? Or a Texas accent?
Thanks!
I've been using the software to transcribe a handwritten notebook from a friend of mine who has trouble with computers, and I strongly recommend reading to the software as a way to practice using it and getting more comfortable with using the verbal commands for moving around or adding punctuation. You can use a favorite book to practice before you start with your own writing.
The more I've thought out what I want to say, the more smoothly the dictation goes. You have to learn not to "umm" and "unh" when you speak or that shows up too!
I've only used this software so I don't have any research or info about comparisons or pricing.
I need to check out ergonomics as well as this software. I have quite a bit of neck and back pain. I do not think that will make cat happy - she would rather I am with her all the time while my computer is in the study - but I will be more comfortable.
As for the software, I need to get this whether I write online or not. Having to look at the keyboard while I type is not great for my health - I am bent over a lot of the time.
I was born with cerebral palsy in my right side, so I have never had manual dexterity in my right hand except for my thumb. Ironically, my disability is a lot slighter than others and normally doesn't affect my ability to do things but rather the speed at which I do them. However, having to look at the keyboard to type with one hand in an era dominated by computers is very limiting.
The most difficult thing for me to get used to will be saying the punctuation words.
I noticed the many types of this software with quite a variety of price ranges. Would the the most affordable be helpful, or do I really need to save up to get the most expensive?
I had considered dictation software. But I had been told it's mostly for those who are unable to type well. At a previous job Dragon Naturally Speaking was used by those who were covered under the American's (with) Disabilities Act along with ergonomic keyboard. (I would think now many use them by default, I know I do!) After reading this now I'm seriously considering it.
I use this app too together with a few others. I like the facility to email the text notes to ever note so they appear in your ever note system like your style of writing to rated you and following you!
Billy, if you go back and actually read what I wrote, you'll see that I myself use a Mac, and the software is for that.
Thanks Relache, I want to ask you if you are aware of this type of program for macintosh?
Thank you
BillY
Very intresting, might have to givee it a go
Great hub, but I must say I'm a bit of an old-fashioned kind of a guy. I think part of the problem for me is that I really don't think that, at least for most of us, that we write quite the same way that we speak, and so I would tend to think that some of the quality of the writing process would be 'lost in translation,' if you'll pardon the pun. Plus, you would still have to go back and chop things up and move things around...
The other thing is that I would think that some fluidity would be lost as well as you'd break the process by saying "comma," "question mark," etc. Maybe not, but that's just me.
Hi,
I used it once or twice long back. However, I left it because it is difficult for Indians to speak in American accent.
I will try it again.
Thanks for sharing. Thumbs up!
Jyoti Kothari
I've bookmarked this and definitely going to check it out. I've tried such programs in the past and wasn't impressed, but that was then and this is now. Great overview!
I wondered about this not sure if I could use it I am a hands on kind a of girl.
I haven't used dictation software, but it sounds like something I would like to try. But I do so love to type, but am sure as I go along I will want to try this. Thanks so much for the great info.
I have tried software like this before. It didn't work out.
So far, I've had the best luck writing my weekly body art articles for Bellaonline using the dictation software. What used to take me at least half an hour is now down to five or ten minutes. And then I just manually add in any links or pictures and upload them. Speaking in sentences is getting easier the more I do it.
I have tried speech recognition software in the past and wasn't too impressed. Like Gemsong, I seem to do better when I write it down. Of course, if my mobility/muscle problems get a lot worse I will probably have no choice. I'm glad it's constantly improving.
Sorry mate I am not convinced.I bought the new speak and type software every few years. Spent thousands The idea sucked me in over and over again. Spent hours with phoneme training, read in the prescribed language over and over. Good ideas sell over and over. Like the hydrogen fuel for our cars. 90 miles to a gallon blah, blah, blah. Doesn't work. One thing is for sure, a good idea can source development funds from the public and eventually if funded enough, it will work. At under 200 bucks its a lot cheaper of a gamble than it used to be. The previous versions I purchased were always over 500 and some over a thousand. I cant speak for everyone only myself, I am not a believer.
I use Dragon on my PC. They improve it with each version. It does eat RAM space and you can't have too many other programs open at the same time. I multitask so I find that annoying.I so hate the headphones/earplugs.
Whining aside, it does a darn good job. It takes time to get used to it and works better if you speak in sentences. I think and speak in phrases so it is taken some practice.
I recommend patience and proofreading. Good luck.
Ruby H Rose 8 days ago
Oh Yeah, I have already noticed I have to slow down my thinking/speaking process. Especially when I am answering comments or just writing off the top of my head. This is a great hub. Thanks. I am still learning more about how to use it. And getting used to seeing my words printing on the page. Nice!