anyone else using Dragon NaturallySpeaking?

[Riddleman]

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is his speech recognition program, the latest version is eight. It is significantly more accurate than the predecessor. I've been using it for over a month nowand I just wanna say it's unbelievable. Now posting on forums is a joke and writing up 15 page essays for classes is a breeze, as a matter of fact I'm using it right now to type this post. Does anyone else had Dragon NaturallySpeaking,if so do you have any tips?

 

[GhettoFob]

I tried it out a few years ago and it wasn't that great. It took forever to train too. Do you still have to train it for hours?

 

[Riddleman]

Originally posted by: GhettoFob
I tried it out a few years ago and it wasn't that great. It took forever to train too. Do you still have to train it for hours?

you must've used the older versions, version 8 is much more improved because they've incorporated IBM technology. You don't have to train it for that long, but it gives you the option of training it further therefore making it more accurate. But it only takes about five minutes to train.

 

[alm4rr]

I used it for paper once... luckily the professor laughed when I explained why the paper was all f'd up and he let me redo it

 

[Riddleman]

Originally posted by: alm4rr
I used it for paper once... luckily the professor laughed when I explained why the paper was all f'd up and he let me redo it

not with me, the last two papers that I used Dragon NaturallySpeaking with, I got A's on both of them. Like I said before you are probably using an older version

 

[mundane]

We used it for the transcription portion of an application in development. It was an older version, 7.0, I think. The API was hairier than we were comfortable with, so we ended up using MS's speech sdk. That was well over a year ago. Neither was terribly good in regards to accuracy at the time.

 

[apoppin]

not many people like it . . . . i don't know about ver 8.0 (the "claims" are the same for 5, 6, & 7).

Anyway, i am an eXcellent typist . . . i am waiting for "Naturally Thinking"
(thought-recognition software)

 

[Schadenfroh]

It seem to work ok, we used version 7 i think, at the vocational school

 

[Riddleman]

version 8 is unlike any of the previous Dragon NaturallySpeaking programs, you don'thave to takemy word for it check out some other reviews online.

 

[crisscross]

Do you work for Dragon?

 

[Riddleman]

Originally posted by: crisscross
Do you work for Dragon?

no comment.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor

Originally posted by: crisscross
Do you work for Dragon?

..they work for me!

Fixed.

 

[Riddleman]

wow, I get accused for working for a companyjust because I'm trying to let you guys know about an awesome program they make. Sucks for you guyswho don't know about it.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
wow, I get accused for working for a companyjust because I'm trying to let you guys know about an awesome program they make. Sucks for you guyswho don't know about it.

well, it's expensive and i gave up on it a few versions back . . .

perhaps you care to link to the rave reviews of ver 8

 

[Lonyo]

The BBC program "Click Online" gave a brief review of it, and it looked like it was pretty impressive.

See here
Click "Watch on broadband" in the top right to see the show itself, I think the section is towards the end (last 5 minutes or so).

 

[essential]

Can Dragon read text back to you? Like, does it have a built in text to speech engine? I've always wondered that, cause I'd almost buy it if not only could I read my papers to it, but if it could read my papers back to me and they sounded good. I've tried other text to speech progs on the net, all robot voices, worthless ... I'd assume Dragon would sound human if it had the feature.

 

[IdaGno]

rumored to be much improved in its current version http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=20173

 

[Modeps]

I tried it out a while ago, but preferred typing. Most of my roomates looked at me odd when I was talking to my computer.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: essential
Can Dragon read text back to you? Like, does it have a built in text to speech engine? I've always wondered that, cause I'd almost buy it if not only could I read my papers to it, but if it could read my papers back to me and they sounded good. I've tried other text to speech progs on the net, all robot voices, worthless ... I'd assume Dragon would sound human if it had the feature.

from the inq article:

When it's installed, a bar appears at the top of the Windows screen, which allows you to turn the microphone off and on, and even lets the software read out what you've dictated.
. . .
as an observer I was very favourably impressed with the performance of Dragon Naturally Speaking 8. It claims 99 per cent accuracy on voice recognition, delivering a speech to page speed of 160 words a minute, and I'd say that's probably a fair figure.

looks ok

 

[nealh]

Hi..I use DNS Pro Med version 7 and 8..I do 30-40 patient dictations a day

version 7.3 iMHO is overall better than version 8..the increased accuracy is true out of the box but over time version 8 does not seem to learn as well as 7

There is a big differnence in Version 7 and 8...8 you really need Pro version for macros and other features which have been left out of preferred version..also version 8 has a stupid activation system which limits its use...

I spent $1000 on version 7 pro med and upgrade cost to version 8was $200 and you can not uninstall 7 you have to leave then install 8...I guess later you could uninstall it...I personally think this is why it does not work as well because of left over crap

but I believe the improvements are more hype than real...however not all DNS users agree with me

go here for the best forum on DNS

http://forum.knowbrainer.com/list.php?f=2

BTW the key to using DNS is good soundcard(SB live is ?? better than audigy 1 or 2 ) and top notch microphone...best headset is Sennheiser ME3 $150.....
also clear enuciation

 

[apoppin]

nealh, the question is . . . is it worth it?

i mean compared to (1) typing it yourself (if you are a relatively skilled typist)
or (2) paying your secretary to transcribe it?

Thanks for the insights (including the OP)

 

[ponyo]

Wasn't Dragon NaturallySpeaking originally made by some Belgium company that was totally cooking their books? I can't remember the company's name but if I remember correctly, the stock was highflyer during the go-go days of the Internet and eventually went to zero once the news came out. I believe the founders went to jail but maybe they're already out.

OP, are you that jailed founder by chance?

 

[Lonyo]

it's a pretty good programme to be honest.
Fairly accurate and you can train extra words.
Still is not perfect but none of them are.

 

[Lonyo]

That was done using the software.
It didn't like the forum though (I couldn't go and select words to edit them :/)
But it's pretty neat overall.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
it's a pretty good programme to be honest.
Fairly accurate and you can train extra words.
Still is not perfect but none of them are.

programme . . . . the UK version

again . . . . do you use it all the time? is it worth it to you (considering the "imperfections")?

i guess "perfection" is waiting for the super-fast dual-core processors . . . .