Think it. Speak it. Create it Hands-Free.

[The Copy Nazi]

Check this out. I've just bought the voice recognition software "MacSpeech Dictate" for Apple Mac ($200). Runs on the same technology that went into "Dragon Naturally Speaking" for PC (they recently did a deal, as I understand it).

Why have I bought it? Two reasons. Most important is I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my hands/wrists/fingers - yeah, a repetitive strain injury from too much typing. I had it diagnosed a few years back - they put electric shocks into each finger - horrible experience. So with "Dictate" I don't need to type much. I can wander around my office dictating into the mic. while "Dictate" transcribes my words for me. It comes with a WiFi connector and Bluetooth as well.

It has its limitations. They claim "supports 13 different English dialects, provides near perfect accuracy of up to 99%". It's struggling with my Australian accent, I can tell you - even though I opted for the "Australian accent" version. "Up to 99% accurate" - definitely stretching it there. I find it makes quite a few mistakes.

But the best part is, I can get that all-important conversational tone into my writing. Don't know about you but that's what I'm striving for all the time. So I forgive "Dictate" its limitations.

This was written straight in to the comment box using "Dictate". I had to correct a few things - half of them my fault as I keep forgetting the commands.

Pretty cool eh?

Here's as it came out of the horse's mouth -

Check this out. I'll just bought the voice recognition software MacSpeech Dictate for Apple Mac $200. It runs on the same technology that went into Dragon NaturallySpeaking for PC they recently did a deal as I understand it

Why have I bought it? Two reasons. Most important is I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands/wrists/fingers -- the air, a repetitive strain injury from too much typing. I had it diagnosed a few years back -- they put electric shocks into each finger -- horrible experience. So with Dictate I don't need to type much. I can wonder around my office dictating into the mic while Dictate transcribes my words for me. It comes with a WiFi connector and Bluetooth as well.

It has its limitations. They claim "supports 13 different English dialects, provides near perfect accuracy of up to 99%" . It's struggling with my straight in accent, I can tell you -- even though I opted for the Estonian accent version. Up to 99% accurate -- definitely stretching it there. I find it makes quite a few mistakes.

But the best part is, I can get that all-important conversational tone into my writing. Don't know about you but that's what I'm striving for all the time. So I forgive dictate its limitations.

This was written straight into the comment box using Dictate. I had to correct a few things -- half of them my fault as I keep forgetting the commands.

Pretty cool aid?

Pretty Kool Aid?

BTW - I nicked the title from Dictate. The original is "Think it, Speak it, Create it."

[Scott Murdaugh]

I've used "DNS"...

I found it was great for articles and things like that. I have yet to use it for copy but I may need to try it.

I found that for some reason when speaking as opposed to writing it really messed with my thought process.

I'm also worried about Carpal Tunnel, so I may have to bust it back out and give it another go.

-Scott

[Loren Woirhaye]

If your hands bother you consider switching to the Dvorak
keyboard or a variation of it. You'll despise the process of learning
a new system, and you have to commit to it, but it really
is better... and you'll gain speed.

I'm being a bit of a wuss here, because I started learning
Dvorak while I was having some problems with my
hands but have backslid into using QWERTY again
due to convenience and moving around a lot over the
past few months and using different computers.

However, working with the dvorak system improved
my typing on qwerty too because I became more
used to keeping my fingers positioned over the
home keys - a habit Dvorak forces you to embrace
in a way that qwerty does not.

You'll move your fingers much less working with
Dvorak, up to 50% less by some estimates, which
leads to less repetitive-stress injuries.

I noticed that mouse clicking activities aggravated
my wrists so I learned many keyboard shortcuts
which cut down on the mouse stuff. I use a thumb-
tracball mouse, but it was the clicking that caused
the pain.

...of course you could just dictate with a voice
recognition program, but, as you've learned, the
way you think when you type is different and
you have to go back and edit a lot with VR software
anyway.

[Mike Anthony]

Windows 7 ultimate comes with voice recognition. At first I thought it was junk compared to Dragon but it really learns as you go along and now I don't see a need for DNS. It doesn't make many mistakes unless you are throwing a lot of new terms at it.

[SellItLikeItIs]

Can someone recommend a free software of this capacity? Doesn't have to be anything fancy. I just want to play with it and I would like to check it out to see if my creative juices will flow well talking vrs. writing.

[Loren Woirhaye]

Nothing free will do this function as far as I know. Software
of this kind costs many millions of dollars to develop.

[Scott Murdaugh]

Can someone recommend a free software of this capacity? Doesn't have to be anything fancy. I just want to play with it and I would like to check it out to see if my creative juices will flow well talking vrs. writing.

Check Amazon/Ebay etc for deals on DNS... You can find the newest version for $50 or so, and older versions for less.

-Scott

[amber1210]

Thats really great. I've been looking into getting one of those, because I type a lot of articles each day. Its really taking a toll on my hands and wrists. I believe I would be more productive if I could just speak what I want to type. Only problem, Freelance writing is my only form of income. It barely pays the bills right now. So, I'll be typing the old fashioned way until I become a great freelance writer.

[mccflo99]

I just installed DNS Preferred but have yet to use it/train it. Anyone have any experience with how accurate it is at normal speaking speed after training it?

Chris Elliott