Voice Recognition Software

[DC Rules]

Does anyone have any experience of voice recognition software? I had some a few years ago, but I am sure it must have improved since then. We are looking because a student at the school I work at has severe arthritis, so finds writing difficult, especially in exams, using a laptop isn't much better as he finds typing hard, and he doesn't want to use a scribe (someone who writes what he says) as he finds that affects the flow of his thought.

Any suggestions gratefully received (preferably polite ones connected to the initial question!)

 

[clapham_gull]

IBM Via Voice is quite good - but it does have to learn your voice.

You need to go through a process of reading some given text to it.

From what I recall its a chapter of Alice in Wonderland.

It wasn't any good for me because of what I do, but for doing a "written exam", I would imagine it's absolutely perfect.

 

[Clothes Peg]

It's called DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING PREFERRED 9.
WSCC purchased it for me this month for £109.

It needs a bit of training, but it picks up pretty quick.

 

[Clothes Peg]

He'd also probably need someone to correct any words that the software doesn't pick up or mishears.

 

[DC Rules]

Dragon - thats the one that someone at work suggested, but didn't know anyone who used it...is it good?

 

[Clothes Peg]

Dragon - thats the one that someone at work suggested, but didn't know anyone who used it...is it good?

Dragon? It's pretty much accepted as being the best available. It's recommended to all disabled students at my university.

I find it pretty good, but I don't use it an awful lot. Only for long essays. My jaw sometimes plays up, and it has difficulty recognising speech if I'm not speaking completely clearly. I don't know if this will be the same for your student.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

It's called DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING PREFERRED 9.
WSCC purchased it for me this month for £109.

It needs a bit of training, but it picks up pretty quick.

I've got version 8, and it is amazing, really recommended, and works well on laptops

 

[clapham_gull]

Couldn't remember the name of it, but Dragon is supposed to better than Via Voice

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I've got a discount voucher for v9 of Dragon that I was given at a trade show yesterday. If you want to use it, PM me I'll pass on the info.

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

I've used both ViaVoice 10 and Dragon 8 Preferred - and now have Preferred 9.5. Streets ahead of ViaVoice.

I use DNS all the time, and get around 95-98% accuracy. It's great, but to get the best out of it, you do need a fast processor and 2GB of RAM, plus a decent microphone. The one DNS supply in the box is very limited...

But this will change your life. For an outlay of around £100 - £150 you can throw away forever your dictaphone, your secretary, your spellchecker...

And finally, your fingers.

 

[liverpool_one]

see here http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3290272/Dragon_NaturallySpeaking_8_Preferred_-_English_German

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

see here http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3290272/Dragon_NaturallySpeaking_8_Preferred_-_English_German

Is that what people call, er, theft?