| Working on the computer all day long can lead to | | | | processors like MS Word, WordPerfect, Outlook |
| quite a few problems. While there is not much | | | | etc), then go for the cheapest Standard Edition. |
| that can be done about tired eyes, Dragon | | | | The Preferred Edition includes software voice |
| Naturally Speaking 10 can help with sore fingers, | | | | commands and support for mobile devices. |
| wrists and the possibilities of getting carpel tunnel | | | | Professional Edition is for office use with its |
| syndrome. Moreover, creating documents with 4 | | | | networking and security capabilities, support for |
| to 5 times faster rate than typing them is | | | | filling out forms and for custom commands etc. |
| another great advantage of Dragon. Speech | | | | The Legal Edition and Medical Edition are for |
| recognition software is becoming more and more | | | | lawyers and doctors respectively, as they include |
| popular, and this is one of the best on the | | | | extra preconfigured vocabularies with legal and |
| market. Before continuing with our Dragon | | | | medical specific terms. |
| Naturally Speaking Review, let's talk a little bit | | | | I think the biggest drawback of Dragon Naturally |
| about speech recognition software and what you | | | | Speaking is the microphone headset that comes |
| should expect from such a program. | | | | with the product. It is recommended that if you |
| Understanding voice recognition software is all | | | | do not already have a good headset, get one. |
| about having the right expectations. While they will | | | | You can find a good noise-cancelling microphone |
| eliminate the need to type, they will also have to | | | | for under $20. The quality of the microphone will |
| be trained, and this can take some time. When | | | | go a long way in making this software much |
| we talk about "training" we mean to make the | | | | more effective. The one that comes with the |
| voice recognition software understand our voice | | | | program is of low quality, but that is par for the |
| better and convert our speech into written words | | | | course with these programs. Do not let the added |
| with better accuracy. This means that if your | | | | cost of the microphone deter you from buying |
| speech is not clear enough or your annunciation is | | | | the product because it will be the same regardless |
| not good, the software will have a hard time to | | | | of the program that is being used. I suggest you |
| get the word right. There is some training that | | | | to try the included microphone first to see how it |
| happens right out of the box, but the program will | | | | works for you, because some people found it ok. |
| more than likely continue to make some mistakes. | | | | Accuracy is pretty good, but you are going to |
| The more the program is used and that | | | | have to take your time when speaking. They tout |
| corrections are made, the more likely it is to get | | | | 99% accuracy, but this is going to take some |
| better. So keep in mind the training factor when | | | | time to achieve. Very few of us speak clear |
| using Dragon Naturally Speaking, although the | | | | enough for the program to truly be able to |
| company touts a 99% accuracy for this particular | | | | recognize every word that we say. If you take |
| product (which I believe is valid with the proper | | | | your time and enunciate every word, after a few |
| training). | | | | weeks the program will do a great job of picking |
| Out of the box, Dragon Naturally Speaking is | | | | up just about every word. It may not be so |
| pretty easy to use. The installation goes relatively | | | | much a matter of training the software as it is |
| quickly and the setup does not take very much | | | | retraining you on how to speak. |
| time at all. The software works on all modern | | | | Overall, Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 is about as |
| Windows versions (XP, Vista, Win 7). As far as | | | | good as it gets. We consider the microphone |
| hardware resources needed, the software comes | | | | inconsequential because every program out there |
| with a microphone headset but requires a PC with | | | | that included one is of low quality. While this |
| 16-bit sound card and a DVD. Even the training | | | | headset will serve its purpose, the software is |
| process will go fairly quickly. Pay particular | | | | much more effective with a high-quality headset. |
| attention when training to see how easy the | | | | There is also the price to consider, but you do |
| program is actually picking up what you are | | | | truly get what you pay for when it comes to |
| saying, as this will give you a better idea of the | | | | voice recognition software. It will take some |
| speed at which you can talk when using the | | | | training, but the software offers the best |
| program for real. | | | | alternative to typing. Once you become proficient |
| The software's pricing depends on which product | | | | in speaking to the software, 100-120 words a |
| edition best fits your needs. There are five major | | | | minute with few or no mistakes is very |
| editions available: Standard, Preferred, Professional, | | | | achievable. Actually, this article was created by |
| Legal and Medical. If you only need the tool just | | | | dictating using Dragon. It made a couple of |
| for its basic functionality (that is, to type words | | | | mistakes but overall I'm very satisfied with this |
| as you talk using the most popular word | | | | software. |