01 Speed
We can speak faster than we can type, and once the basics are understood by Dragon 12, documents can be produced much faster by voice. Switching from typing text in a word processor to performing commands is also quicker than using shortcut keys or clicking a mouse.
02 Accuracy (a)
Dragon ‘translates’ based on context and not individual words. So the chances of getting words and phrases such as ‘their’ and ‘they’re’ mixed up or misused is minimised, as is the misuse of the dreaded apostrophe.
03 Flexibility
There’s no need to physically switch between applications using the keyboard or mouse. Using your voice, a single command lets you flick between apps or windows to perform a different function. For example, switch to a browser window to select a web site URL and then copy and paste it into a document. This is so much faster than the manual way.
04 Concentration
If you’re writing a manuscript, story or novel, you can concentrate on the subject, plot or concept rather than on the keyboard. The mind can then ramble, create dot points or outlines for later editing, instead of having to multitask between the story and the typing, which is good for non-typists!
05 Convenience (a)
You’re not bound to the keyboard or a specific location of a computer. Many smartphones and dictation machines can have their content ‘read’ by Dragon 12 letting you transcribe from voice recorder modules. This means interviews or recordings in the field can then be accurately fed into a word processing application for correction and editing.
06 Assistance
According to StepAhead Australia, spinal cord injuries affect around 20,000 Australians, with around 300 new cases each year (2008: 137 paraplegic and 136 quadriplegic patients). Voice technology allows these folk to be creative via the written word other than by using transcription services. It also keeps privacy issues intact.
07 Cost
Using the smartphone voice recorder to do stocktakes, for example, is made cheaper without the need for expensive mobile technology recording systems. Simply quote the part number and quantity, and this information can later be transcribed into a program such as Excel for analysis, costing or other data manipulation.
08 Convenience (b)
Using a headset and a netbook or laptop, notes, documents, thoughts and ideas can be collected in places and at times otherwise impossible (such as driving a car on a long trip). Especially of benefit in this area are the outlining capabilities of Microsoft Word, which can be switched on to become full-on documents, complete with indexes, footnotes, tables of content and more, all from the dictated outline.
09 Accuracy (b)
Having voice-dictated text played back to you via voice synthesis lets you get a better feel for how a document flows than simply reading it. You can also pick up errors more easily; it’s a well-accepted fact that doing your own proofreading by eye is not 100% effective, even for experienced journalists and writers.
10 Fun
There’s a simple joy in playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek or one of the crew of the Discovery in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Giving voice commands to ‘Computer’ or ‘HAL’ is especially fun if you’re a sci-fi fan. Of course, onlookers might think you’re barking mad, but that’s all part of the experience.
We can speak faster than we can type, and once the basics are understood by Dragon 12, documents can be produced much faster by voice. Switching from typing text in a word processor to performing commands is also quicker than using shortcut keys or clicking a mouse.
02 Accuracy (a)
Dragon ‘translates’ based on context and not individual words. So the chances of getting words and phrases such as ‘their’ and ‘they’re’ mixed up or misused is minimised, as is the misuse of the dreaded apostrophe.
03 Flexibility
There’s no need to physically switch between applications using the keyboard or mouse. Using your voice, a single command lets you flick between apps or windows to perform a different function. For example, switch to a browser window to select a web site URL and then copy and paste it into a document. This is so much faster than the manual way.
04 Concentration
If you’re writing a manuscript, story or novel, you can concentrate on the subject, plot or concept rather than on the keyboard. The mind can then ramble, create dot points or outlines for later editing, instead of having to multitask between the story and the typing, which is good for non-typists!
05 Convenience (a)
You’re not bound to the keyboard or a specific location of a computer. Many smartphones and dictation machines can have their content ‘read’ by Dragon 12 letting you transcribe from voice recorder modules. This means interviews or recordings in the field can then be accurately fed into a word processing application for correction and editing.
06 Assistance
According to StepAhead Australia, spinal cord injuries affect around 20,000 Australians, with around 300 new cases each year (2008: 137 paraplegic and 136 quadriplegic patients). Voice technology allows these folk to be creative via the written word other than by using transcription services. It also keeps privacy issues intact.
07 Cost
Using the smartphone voice recorder to do stocktakes, for example, is made cheaper without the need for expensive mobile technology recording systems. Simply quote the part number and quantity, and this information can later be transcribed into a program such as Excel for analysis, costing or other data manipulation.
08 Convenience (b)
Using a headset and a netbook or laptop, notes, documents, thoughts and ideas can be collected in places and at times otherwise impossible (such as driving a car on a long trip). Especially of benefit in this area are the outlining capabilities of Microsoft Word, which can be switched on to become full-on documents, complete with indexes, footnotes, tables of content and more, all from the dictated outline.
09 Accuracy (b)
Having voice-dictated text played back to you via voice synthesis lets you get a better feel for how a document flows than simply reading it. You can also pick up errors more easily; it’s a well-accepted fact that doing your own proofreading by eye is not 100% effective, even for experienced journalists and writers.
10 Fun
There’s a simple joy in playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek or one of the crew of the Discovery in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Giving voice commands to ‘Computer’ or ‘HAL’ is especially fun if you’re a sci-fi fan. Of course, onlookers might think you’re barking mad, but that’s all part of the experience.