Dragon Naturally Speaking – A Better Way to Be Productive?
Marg McAlister| September 17, 2009 1:37 amThe past few weeks I’ve been busier than ever – partly because I’m trying some new opportunities on for size; partly because we’ve had three family birthdays within a week and part of the clan visiting from interstate.
All in all… it’s hard to get some of the writing done. I think most writers feel more natural WRITING rather than dictating, but I know that some writers have seen their productivity soar when they started to use a speech recognition program. Dragon Naturally Speaking seems to be the one that is streets ahead of anyone else (I tried the version that came with Vista and even after some ‘training’ of the software, the results were laughable.)
However, Dragon Naturally Speaking is supposed to work with a high degree of accuracy straight out of the box, and even better if you put in the recommended 20 minutes to train the software for your voice patterns. I have seen some disagreement over what kind of microphone is best to use.
In this case, I’d love some feedback from anyone who HAS used it (even better, is using it on a regular basis). Care to share the benefits and pitfalls, if any?
Marg 
4 Responses to “Dragon Naturally Speaking – A Better Way to Be Productive?”
Hi Marg,
I bought Dragon Naturally Speaking some time ago and ‘trained’ it to recognise my voice, but found it was useless for the job I particularly wanted it for. I had intended to read out a novel I had handwritten years ago simply to save typing it all up.
I spent several days reading, then going back to retrain the software yet again and found in the end it was useless. I even tried to sound like an American – e.g., emphasizing the ‘r’ on the end of a word and that did help a little, but not enough. I gave up using it in the finish.
I believe there could be an Australian speech version out now though.
hello, marg:
thanks so much for all your great tips and content!
i have been using Dragon Naturally Speaking on and off for several years now, both in english + in spanish: i can say it’s a marvelous software, in the beginning you have to be a bit patient, but it really works very well once you use it appropiately, i highly recommend it!
i use a normal general electric headset with mike (about $35 usd) and windows XP, both on desktop as on laptop.
i normally use it to translate major projects, such as books. the major problem i encountered was when the noise level around you increases, as the program starts writing the noise as if you were dictating! the solution to this is very simple: just perform a fast audio check (on toolbar click: naturally speaking / advanced / check audio) to check volume and sound levels).
the greatest disadvantages i have found are that i have not found a german version and that i recently updated one computer to windows 7 (i looove it!!!), but dragon does not work on that platform (or i have not found a version that does!)
kind regads from colombia, southamerica!
Hi Bev,
You’re right: there is a version out now for Australians. I borrowed a copy from a friend and was astounded by its accuracy… so I went out and bought the Dragon Preferred version for myself!
So far, so good… I’ll keep you posted!
Marg
Tom,
I’m glad that you’re finding the content useful!
I agree with you that you have to be patient at first, but honestly, for what it does it doesn’t take long to train. It’s interesting that you’re finding it effective in Spanish as well.
Uh oh – it doesn’t work with Windows 7??? I hope they address that soon! I’m using it with Vista at the moment, but I am planning to buy a new laptop early next year when it will come with Windows 7 installed.
I would imagine that a program as popular as Dragon will put out new drivers, or an upgrade, or whatever it takes…???
I hope so!
Cheers
Marg
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