ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7.3

Reviewing the latest version of ScanSoft’s Dragon NaturallySpeaking reveals an unexpected bonus for Pocket PC users: the program installs a voice recorder on your PDA, allowing you to dictate all you want whilst away from the computer.

The magic of typing much faster than you ever thought possible became even more appealing by discovering that Dragon NaturallySpeaking is capable of doing much more than just taking dictation.  But how much of a learning curve is there?  Is it worth the considerable investment, both in time and money?  I'll give you the answer now: it depends.  Personally, I'm very enthusiastic about this program for several reasons. But even if you think it’s not for you, have a look anyway. You may be pleasantly surprised.  Hopefully, this review will answer many of your questions.

Sitting behind the computer for most of the day is not a particularly healthy pastime.  If it is your work you don't have much choice but it can lead to all sorts of problems with Repetitive Strain Injury being a leading cause of pain and frustration.  I have often wished for better methods of input to avoid typing and mouse handling, particularly since I started to develop a mild form of RSI.

So, the opportunity to put the latest version of ScanSoft's Dragon NaturallySpeaking to the test was eagerly accepted.

The DNS family comes in different versions and flavours. Starting with the Essentials and Standard versions and ending with the Professional and Professional Solution series, the Preferred version sits right in the middle.

The Preferred and higher editions among many other features, have the option to create your own custom or VoiceCommands using the MyCommands editor.  This is extremely handy as it lets you automate repetitive text entry and other tasks while working in virtually any Windows application.  I've always used shortcuts and scripts to automate the insertion of long phrases or names, so I'm totally sold on automating as much as possible.

The MyCommands editor is very powerful, because it also lets you insert logos and other graphics into your documents.

Installation

Powerful software demands powerful platforms.

That’s pretty obvious yet it will run on a 500MHz machine if it has at least 256MB of RAM.

It installs effortlessly in a couple of minutes.

Towards the end of the install process my iPAQ 2210 was detected as a compatible PocketPC and I got the option to install the VoiceRecorder module. This is a great way to take dictation and transfer your musings to your PC for DNS7 to transcribe.

Most of my writing is in Australian English, slightly different from the Queen’s English and decidedly different from the US version. Well, there is a choice of five versions when you install, including Indian and SEAsian English!

There’s also a slew of dictation sources to choose from. I went for the standard “Microphone plugged into Mic-jack” before selecting the size of the vocabulary to be used (with more RAM it’s better to go for the larger vocabulary).

The headset microphone, by the way, is an Emkay product which seems to do the job okay. However, it seems that some laptops (mine?) produce a fair bit of internal electrical noise which can interfere with the voice recognition. I’d like to test out some of the better headsets, maybe one from the Andrea stable, to see how much difference that makes.

Next in the install process was a sound check on the microphone before the real training could start.

The initial training takes about 6 mins and the system lets you read a few paragraphs, describing what to expect from your interaction with DNS. Since the program knows what you are supposed to say in this training module it should be fairly easy to figure out how you are saying it.

Next, the program analyses your Word and other text documents for your writing style. That’s pretty clever, I thought.

However, the first reality check will always hold a few surprises.

Have a look at the following screenshot where I had to schedule a lunch meeting with Harriet. We ended up talking about “our beloved avalanche”…

A second try after some more training resulted in a much better rendition but still not perfect: “Harriet, I heard that they do a starting in the job in San Francisco.  Congratulations!  Where does the jumpstart?  I would love to have lunch with you before you leave.”

Time for more training to get the software used to the remnants of a Dutch accent and a mixture of Texan, New England and Aussie twang! Quite a challenge for any program.

The refinement of the program’s listening and interpretation skills can come through going through some more, different training modules.

For some reason the software had difficulty recognising some fairly simple words in the middle of this particular module but went through the next modules without any problems. In fact, it’s often the short, common words that trip you up; longer words are easier to recognise.

Most of this review has been dictated using Dragon NaturallySpeaking and most of these sentences have been edited using spoken editing commands.  I have never used any dictating software before and I was surprised to see how powerful the software commands are.  It is very easy to use commands like bold or underline.  As the software gets used to your voice it makes fewer and fewer mistakes.  It will also learn from the corrections that you make and you can teach it new words.

I found it exhilarating how rapidly it adapts to your speaking and writing style.  Of course, I had to use the words “scratch that” quite often to undo a more creative rendition than I had intended.

The obvious use for Dragon NaturallySpeaking is to compose documents and e-mail.  If you are a prolific writer you will benefit greatly from being able to dictate.  Dictation is probably three times as fast as what a good typist can produce.  In my case, I am not quite of the "Hunt and Peck” school but I can attain a modest 25 words per minute using two fingers.  So for me the real speed gain is in the order of about six times which is quite significant. 

I’ve spent countless frustrating hours in college learning to touch type because it was a requirement for graduation.  Well, if you invest that same amount of time in mastering this program the results will be much better.

Another group of folks who would find voice recognition programs of immense value are those with dyslexia or other impairments that would make typing and mousing difficult.

It's very easy to open up documents or programs and to do all the other things that you would normally do with the mouse or with keyboard commands, just by using standard English phraseology, such as “switch to Microsoft Word” and "go to end of sentence."

The other way to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking is to browse the Web. You can access information and navigate the various web pages by speaking the URL.

I had some trouble initially to make these commands work.  But again, once you get the hang of it, it's quite easy and fun to do.

You might even enjoy moving the mouse along using some verbal directions! If only you could command the whole world around you like that…J

Input does not need to be limited to Word documents only.  Sometimes it is easier to dictate numbers into an Excel spreadsheet rather than moving your eyes from keyboard to screen all the time, checking your input.

(“Moving your eyes” in the previous sentence initially translated into: morphine your Highness…)

Sometimes the translation comes out like something that has been washed in an automatic translator...

Finally, when you are away from your computer you can still use Dragon NaturallySpeaking when you have your handheld computer with you.  You can dictate using the voice recorder that ScanSoft installed on your PDA. This needs a separate training session on your handheld. The accuracy of recognition will be less as the microphone is not of the same quality as the headset that comes with the program.

If you're familiar with earlier versions you may find the following features of interest:

• Support for additional input devices

DNS Version Seven now supports certified PocketPC devices as well as handheld digital recorders or microphones. There’s even a training module on the PocketPC and an excellent help file.

• Improved command browser and text and graphics commands.

At any time you can pose the question "what can I say"? and a list of commands pertinent to what you're doing will pop up.

• The Performance Centre helps you with troubleshooting and optimising the performance.

• The Vocabulary Optimiser closely examines your documents and e-mail and analyses sentence structures and Word use frequency to improve recognition.

This is an excellent way to increase Dragon’s vocabulary with the words, names and expressions that you typically use!

The higher editions of DNS7 also support more applications such as Microsoft Excel, Access and Outlook Express and WordPerfect 10 as well as automatic natural punctuation (I found it easier to just insert the full stops and commas where I wanted it rather than rely on the software).

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is constantly evolving.  They just came out with another service Pack (a whopping 38MB), with a list of improvements and fixes several pages long, updating it to version 7.3.

Reality Check

It may seem that Dragon NaturallySpeaking will do all the hard work for you so that you can lean back in your chair and dictate your documents thinking it's the same as using a secretary.  A human being will easily discern the context of the words and select the right ones and will automatically capitalise where needed. Whilst there is a lot of intelligence in the software it will initially still make a lot of mistakes which only some hard work from your side to train the software will rectify.  If you are impatient it will be a learning curve.  Otherwise it will be just fun.  It will never obviate other methods of input like keyboard and mouse and some tasks are just easier to do with a mouse.  For one thing it will really help you to learn to pronounce your words better. Interestingly, it’s better to speak in a rather monotone, continuous monologue than over-enunciating each word in a dramatic style!

Accuracy may improve over time to more than 90%. I’m not that far yet and with my many corrections I also have not attained to the 150wpm speeds as touted. Others have but I may have a struggle with it as I rather think a bit longer on what I’m about to commit to paper than other may.

One final observation.

You know, of course, that light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. So you just might want to be on your own when you’re learning to interact with dictating software!

 Conclusion

Dragon NaturallySpeaking requires quite an investment, not so much in money, as the software is quite reasonably priced at USD199 for this particular version, but in your time to make it work.  If you have the need, you will make it work and the benefits will be huge.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking has consistently been voted the number-one voice recognition program.

The software gets you up and running in no-time but if you never get beyond the Quick Reference Card you’ll be missing out on many features that make the 200-page manual a goldmine. I’ve started to dig already…

Check out: http://www.scansoft.com/naturallyspeaking/ for more information on this version and the other editions.

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