DRAGON NATURALLY SPEAKING ver. 9
reviewed by: Lorne Longley, SCUG
This program costs approximately $200.00 USD The web site for the program is http://www.Nuance.com/NaturallySpeaking
Computer requirements for the program are:
Intel Pentium 4/lGHz processor or equivalent
512 MB RAM
1 GB free hard disk space
Microsoft Windows XP
Creative Sound Blaster 16 or higher
CD-ROM drive (required for installation)

I have installed and have been using Preferred Dragon NaturallySpeaking since May of this year and am fascinated with the fact that I can speak into the microphone and watch my words appear in type on the monitor. This program can be used to compose letters, memos and send e-mail messages.
The software kit contains two installation discs, a head-set microphone and a book and pamphlet with instructions for installation and training for voice input.
Nuance-approved, noise-cancelling headset microphone (included)
Speakers (required for playback of recorded speech)
A web connection is required for activation
This product is licensed for a single user. Nuance offers Technical Support via phone and e-mail (www.nuance.com/support. There are three versions of the program - Standard, Preferred and Professional. The program recognizes and may be purchased for the following five English dialects: US English, UK English, Australian English, Indian English, Southeast Asian English. The version I am using is the US English version. Canadians are encouraged to use the US English version as it uses US spelling, punctuation and time and currency formats. It formats numbers (including times, telephone numbers, and currency) in North American formats.

Installation
- close all open applications
- turn off or disable any antivirus software
- insert the microphone plug into the MIC input jack of your sound card. If your sound card does not have MIC jack, use the LINE IN jack
- insert the first Dragon Naturally Speaking CD into your CD-ROM drive and continue by following the on-screen connections. Included in the instructions is a request toactivate the program. If you do not activate the software, Dragon NaturallySpeaking will stop working after starting the product five times.

Creating a User
Initial training of the user includes reading aloud from a list of available texts and will enhance your initial recognition accuracy.
Normally after five minutes of initial reading the program will recognize the users voice.
Dictating text
- to start new lines and paragraphs you say “New Line” or “New Paragraph”.
- to erase the last thing you said, say “Scratch That”. You can repeat “Scratch That” toundo a sequence of phrases.
- to undo the effects of a command, say “Undo That”.
- you can change the very last phrase you spoke by saying “Bold That”, “Cap That”, “Correct That”, and so on; you do not have to select the text first.
- to remove a trailing space after a word, you can say “Delete Previous Character”.

Printing and Filing
To print your document simply say “Click File”, pause, and say “Print”.
To save your document say “Click File”, pause, and say “Save”

Correcting, Editing, Punctuation, etc.
Say “Select” or “Correct” and the text that is incorrect, the Correction menu appears with a number of alternatives. If one alternative is correct, say “Choose” and the number of that alternative. If none of the alternatives is correct, say “Spell That”, spell the correct word or words into the Spell dialog box, and then say “OK”.
You can erase the last words you dictated by saying “Scratch That”. Dragon NaturallySpeaking deletes the last thing it typed into your document.
You can change the font as you dictate by saying “Set Font” followed by the font attributes you want. For example, you can say “Set Font Aerial 12 Bold”. When you continue dictating the new text appears with the font attributes you set. Font size can be changed by saying “Set Size” anad then a size from 4 to 100 points. For example, say “Set Size 18". Then continue dictating.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking will automatically add commas and periods at the appropriate places in your dictation. However, other punctuation such as question marks, etc. must be spoken as you dictate.

Summary
I find this program very easy to use. It is helpful to me as I am a slow two-finger typist. It would be beneficial to anyone who has limited or no use of their hands and/or arms One word of warning. For example, if my wife enters the room and I answer her questions, etc. I find that everything I have said is printed into my document. To avoid having this happen, one simply says into the microphone “Go To Sleep” when you wish to stop dictating. When you wish to resume dictating just say “Wake Up”. This avoids any written evidence of any jobs you may have agreed to do.

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