SURVEY: Any Members Using & Posting With Dragon Software?

[308Mike]

We've seen all the ads, and my wife bought the software (last year) but hasn't gotten around to using it much, but I was curious as to our member's experiences and tips when using the software. I DOUBT we're the ONLY ones who have the program, especially considering just how far they've come with the software in the years since its initial release.

Thoughts? Tips? Things to avoid? Easter Eggs?

Any and all feedback is appreciated!!

[Rich]

If this is the Dragon speech to text program for use with Word, I've used it in the past. Once trained to your voice, it works pretty well. After the novelty wore off, I didn't use it that much.

You train it by reading a few prepared speeches in training mode, then setting up your account.

Pro's; Worked with Word, Word Perfect, Open Office (Windows version), and Atlantis. Though that may have changed now. Pretty reliable, once trained, and keeping friends and relatives away from it.

Con's; Must be trained to your voice. Anyone else who uses it must train it to their voice, and set up their own account (there are provisions for that). One of the biggest problems is people who want to try it and then use your account and mess all over your personal voice file. Then you have to start all over again.

Useful to someone who does creative writing mostly.

[308Mike]

Rich, how long ago did you use it, and what version do you have (if you don't mind disclosing the info).

Bottom line, how recent is/was the software?

THANKS a TON!

[Rich]

About 10-12 years ago, and I think I got up to version 6 before not bothering to upgrade. I was still using Windows (98 I think). I still have a couple of the old discs tucked away here and there. I might give it a try again if they were to come out with a version for Linux, but I have no idea what I would use it for.

My recommendation, given the number of versions of Windows that have floated by since '98, is to start with something written for your version, be it XP, Vista, 7 or 8. Cruise Amazon to see what they have, as there are various levels of installs available. I always got by with the basic package, as the specialized ones were waay outa my price range.

Hope this helps, dated though it may be.

[Lokidude]

I want to say Evyl Robot has mentioned using some kind of speech to text program.

[308Mike]

Soldiers Angels uses Dragon for Project Valour-IT

Do you happen to recall them mentioning how happy or frustrated they were with the software?

[MarkD]

I think my wife has used it, she's an executive assistant and the executives she assists use it to create draft documents which she proofs. IIRC they make a recording, then pass the recording thru Dragon, then she listens to the recording while she reads the text and corrects anything that needs correcting. She's not home right now, but I'll ask her when I can. She said it works pretty well, has a hard time with proper names (and sometimes does hilarious things with them).

[Aglifter]

How does she go about playing the recordings to it? I leave myself voice memos all the time.

[Cybrludite]

The ER docs at work use it for dictating their notes, and seem to like it.

[308Mike]

The ER docs at work use it for dictating their notes, and seem to like it.

I've heard they have a version with medical dictionaries, especially since many of the words and terms are in Latin and/or aren't used in daily language (unless you're in the medical profession).