[Hidden-tech] Opinions: Voice Recognition Software and Jott

[Mark Firehammer]

In my experience, the purpose of forum like this, is to get the value of a
full spectrum of input on any given issue. We count on hearing multiple
points of view so that we may each take into consideration what comes from
widely differing experiences.  Previously unrealized alternatives are born
from disparate points of view which we are all free to take or leave.
That's' why I'm excited when someone doesn't agree with me. It means this
forum works and I have a chance to seek expanded understandings. 
 
Though I'm absolutely certain he means well, please don't heed Richards
caution. I for one, want your pure point of view without filtering for
worries about or a need to protect another's. I'll do any non judgmental
filtering for myself.  I promise that no matter what anyone says, I won't
imagine any attacks on my or anyone else's group. FYI Mine happens to be,
"white human male, perfect health, full of gratitude for all the blessings
in his life."
  
There's a place for everything. As for giving or receiving spankings, the
Advocate is a better place for that. ; )
 
Mark Firehammer
 

  _____  

From: Richard Resnick [mailto:richardres at gmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 8:25 AM
To: Mark Firehammer
Cc: Dan Kirsch; hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Opinions: Voice Recognition Software and Jott


In reaction to Mark Firehammer,

It's great that things work so well for him. Like I mentioned, a very small
subset of the population has success with Dragon.

However, the list of 4 best practices Mark mentioned are all out-of-the-box
obvious tips that any novice Dragon user learns immediately through the
manuals and their very first interactions with the software. It's step 1.
But it doesn't just work for most people.

In the experience of my girlfriend, who like I said doesn't use Dragon to
type quickly, but because she can't use her arms to type and depends on
using a computer for her livelihood, she has obviously invested enormous
energy evolving a set of best practices. This is her number one issue, with
which she grapples every day. She has hired consultants, gone to speech
therapists, brought in audio experts, used third party tools, tried eastern
medicine, meditation, nutrition, doctors, and prayer. She is totally hooked
into the voice recognition industry and recently has even given a talk
directly with the lead developer and inventor of NatSpeak. (Incidentally,
during HIS talk, he gave a demo and had about a 10% misrecognition rate.)

So there are obviously different opinions and experiences.

But I caution this group to be careful to use words like "of course [the
group that gives up] blames the technology." For some of us this is a chance
to speed up our typing input. But for others, this stuff is about serious
issues - like disabled people's ability to make livings.

Let's be mindful of this.

Richard


On Fri, Jan 23, 2009 at 4:23 PM, Mark Firehammer <mark at adeptco.net> wrote:


  ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
  ** If you did, we all thank you.




Hi Dan, 
 
I've been using Dragon Nat Speak since version 4 in 2001.  I too never
learned to type well.  Voice recognition has been a tremendous productivity
boon for me.  I even use a dragon certified portable digital recorder which
I dictate into while driving to optimize use of that time.  Once I get back
to the office, that audio file is translated into text for me.    
 
I have introduced and trained at least a dozen people to use Dragon. 
Half of them continue to use it years later, and the other half gave up
early on.
The difference between the two groups is that the continued users follow the
rules, principles and guidelines that ensures success with voice recognition
programs. The group that gives up doesn't follow the rules guidelines and
principles and ultimately frustrated.  (Of course they blame the
technology!)  
 
Continued success with voice recognition is a combination of 4 things, 

1.	

	Learn to speak the way you need to speak to a computer for it to
understand you.  I tell people to learn to speak like a newscaster, flat and
steady always in full sentences.
2.	

	Correct the software when it makes a specific mistake and it will
not make the same mistake again.
3.	

	Frequently optimize your audio settings to ensure proper sound
levels required for good recognition.  (I do this a couple times a week.  It
only takes a minute) 
4.	

	Spend at least 30 minutes initially training the program to
recognize your speech accurately.  Also allow the program to analyze your
writing style by telling it to go through documents that you've written.

Make a habit of those four things, and you will never regret moving to voice
recognition!  By the way this entire e-mail was dictated with Dragon
NaturallySpeaking version number 9, using a dragon certified Bluetooth
microphone from Blue Parrot.
 
It took approximately 90 seconds to dictate, and spell-check found two typos
before sending!  Good luck and happy dictating.
 
Regards,
Mark Firehammer
 
Adeptco has become:

Mark Firehammer
413 303 0315
SkypeID:  Compatikey
Website: http://techeffective.net <http://techeffective.net/> 
Facebook: Profile
<http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1209428263&ref=profile> 
Links: 
Free  <http://techeffective.net/free_support.htm> Support
Remote  <http://techeffective.net/remote_support2.htm> Support
 

  _____  

From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Dan
Kirsch
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 5:32 PM
To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: [Hidden-tech] Opinions: Voice Recognition Software and Jott


Friends -
 
I just got a promo for Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 and it got me seriously
thinking about making the investment.  So I'm interested in hearing list
members' opinions and experiences with the variety and quality of voice
recognition software options out there today.  I've never used one, but my
image of them is slow and buggy with a long learning curve to get to a
decent level of functionality vs my pitiful typing.
 
Also, I'm curious if anyone is using Jott http://jott.com <http://jott.com/>
and what that experience has been like.
 
Thanks
 
Dan
-- 
Dan Kirsch
KirschLeuchs Consulting
Florence, MA
413.221.9521 
dan at kirschleuchs.com


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