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Current Rants and Recent Rambles
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05-08-2018: Dragon 15 and Philips DVT. or how to get a novel
written without RSI from typing for hours and days on end. Dragon Professional Individual Software Link.  I bought Dragon naturally speaking a while ago. It was the cheap version. And because my computer is set out in a common walkway, where my roommates are walking, you know, to the kitchen, into the bathroom, and in and out. I was a little hesitant to practice my dictation software. I got a phone call from this really nice lady named Mary. She was in customer service at Nuance software. She asked me "So, Nora, how are you doing with your Dragon software?" "Honestly, I haven't been using it because I'm a little hesitant to dictate when I don't have privacy. I know that Dragon 15 has the transcription ability, but it really is too expensive for me." Dragon 15 sells for $300, which is a little rich for my blood. "Not to mention I would like to have a recording device so I can record my dictation when I'm out and about instead of being tethered to my computer at home." Then Mary makes me this offer, "How would you like a Dragon 15 package for $143." "I'll buy it!" I said impulsively. Mary goes on to offer me Philips dvt3200, a digital voice tracker, which usually sells for over $100. This particular model is no longer being sold. There are more current models offered by Philips.  I go for both of them because together they cost less than the the regular rate of the Dragon 15. Mary and I settle the deal I give her my credit card number. She gives me at the tip that getting the CD is better than downloading the software online, in case something happens to my computer I can always have the CD to access the software. When I get my invoice for my credit card I was only charged $173 instead of $243 which I had expected. But I'm not going to complain about that. I've been taking walks to the local mall testing the DVT in different environments. Sitting on a bench by the bus stop in front of SFSU, at the really noisy foodcourt at the local mall, while walking down a thorough fare with a lot of traffic, and the DVT recordings were able to be transcribed into text with only a few words that needed correcting. It works like this. I record my dictation on the DVT, like Special Agent Dale Cooper on Twin Peaks. When I get home I plug the DVT into the micro USB, which is connected to the regular USB to my desktop computer. I open Dragon 15 and click "transcribe" and it asks where the file is located. I tell it. Then it asks where do I want the transcription to be put and I tell it. The time for the transcription is equal to the length of the recording, or that's what it's been for me. The transcription can be then copied into Scrivener, or to a blog, or where ever you need the text. Ok, now dig this. The Dragon 15 can open programs, web pages, everthing on your computer with a voice command. You could be in full traction in the hospital and only need your voice to command your computer to open your email program, for example, address it, put a subject to it, fil out the body of the email, then send it. All without using your keyboard. An author who had a bad back problem, multiple herniated disks, ended up using his Dragon software to keep on making money even though he was flat on his back in bed recouperating for months. The learning curve between the Dragon 15, the Phillips DVT, and Scrivener, the writing program that I've been using, has been taking up a lot of time and energy on my part to absorb. But I feel that it's going to be worth it in the long run. Yesterday I was able to compile my novel draft from Scrivener into an EPUB file and then convert it into a MOBI file, upload it to my Kindle fire, and listen to my novel while I walked to the mall. It was awesome. I know all this sounds just like too much hardware and software for most people to have to deal with. But in 2001 I had to have surgery on my left wrist for carpal tunnel syndrome. The pain that repetitive stress injury creates is enough motivation for me to learn new hardware, software, climb this learning curve like I'm going up Mount Everest, because I don't want to have RSI again. You know it's bad when you can't turn a doorknob, pick up a tea cup, or button your buttons, and all because you've been typing? That's crazy! So this page has been dictated onto Dragon 15 software, using the headset with the mic, and while I'm doing that I'm not using my hands for anything more than dramatic gesturing, LOL. It's going to take time to get used to dictating instead of typing. I find myself wanting to say punctuation out loud when I'm talking to people. But that's one of the common drawbacks of using dictation software. I can't say enough good things about the software. I tested it on my neighbor, Jolly, who is from Uganda and has a fairly intense accent, and she was able to train this Dragon 15 to understand what she was saying. The only problem was that Jolly has a Mac and not a PC. The Dragon software for the Mac is not as good as the Dragon software for the PC. To get a PC emulator for her Mac on top of the cost for the Dragon software for PC, and she wasn't getting a discount like I was because she is a new customer, was too expensive for her to move forward on that. But we found it an app for the Mac for dictation, I think it's called something like Mac Enhanced Dictation, or something like that. I'd have to look it up. Another lady friend in upstate New York is using that dictation software for the Mac because she has arthritis and her hands hurt all the time. So, there are options for people who have Macs and not PCs, but the $300 price tag for Dragon 15 is just a little steep for most people. I just lucked out because I was a former customer and they were calling out to their former customers to see if they can move this Dragon 15 software for less than half price. So that's the story, and I'm sticking to it. All this has been dictated using Dragon 15, into the DragonPad-which is like a notepad, and when I'm done I'm going to select all-copy-paste this text onto my ramble page. I gotta find a picture of my DVT to put on this page too. I best go off and do that now. |
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