I am planning to buy a new computer and want to install a speech recognition program. Any suggestions on what program and the options between a headset microphone and a desk mounted microphone.
Regards, hotfoot.

Hi Hotfoot!

I know Mr Incredible is using "Dragon Naturally Speaking" Speech Recognition software, which is written, I think, by Nuance. The latest version is 9.5 and is available as a number of different packages; For Home use there is Dragon naturally Speaking Standard or Preferred. Preferred is the better edition, from what I understand, as it is compatible with Excel, Corel and many others as well as the obvious MS Word.
There are also a few in the Professional range including Dragon Naturally Speaking Professional, which claims to have 99% accuracy as well as Dragon Naturally Speaking Medical & Legal, which obviously covers the lingo of those professions.
There is more info on the following site: www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/, but I would also suggest you use this forum's email system to contact Mr Incredible, who uses this program regularly and can give you further insight. Oh and by the way as to your other question - I think the Dragon software comes with a headset/mike, which reduces outside interference and other problems associated with desktop mikes when used for speech recognition.

Hope this helped.

Cheers

Sarge

G'day Hotfoot

I do, indeed, use Dragon NaturallySpeaking voice recognition software Sarge mentioned. My injury is at C4 so I have restricted arm and hand movement. The software allows me to open and close programs on my PC, write letters and reports, browse the Internet, all by voice and in a fraction of the time it would take to do it manually.

I'm running NaturallySpeaking version 9.5, Preferred, which is the latest version. It is relatively inexpensive for the value it provides and is easy to install and very quick to train and get started. I'm impressed, in particular, with its high accuracy during dictation. It almost makes writing letters and reports enjoyable, dare I say that.

I have tested the program with three types of microphone; plug-in headset, desktop microphone and Bluetooth wireless earpiece. All of them work pretty much the same in quality. I use Bluetooth most of the time. In addition to the Nuance website Sarge gave, here is a very good one with lots of details about the software:
http://www.voicerecognition.com.au/

Regards

This should interest you.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/index.shtml

Hello Hotfoot although you support the bunnies I will not hold that against you! I do some teaching at the spinal units and have had great results with Dragon Preferred 9.5. I also us a desktop mic (Buddy desktop mic) purchased from Voice perfect in Sydney. The cost of the desktop mic is $260 but it is very accurate and gives you the freedom to leave your desk and come back to it without assistance.

You need to be in a relatively quiet area, but it works really well.

Let me know if you need more info.

p.s. Just in case you are wondering It's Bill T

Go the Sharks!

This is Andrea's latest contribution to the speech recognition world and is a top class in every way. It is small, works beautifully, and relatively inexpensive. It is about the size of thumb drive and has input jacks for both the microphone and speaker plug from your headset microphone. Unique to this device is employment of Pure Audio noise reduction algorithms. The result is extraordinarily low noise ceilings and excellent results with speech recognition products.

Hi sararasool,

I am bit confused here (not difficult I assure you ), but what is Andrea's latest contribution? What is this great little gadget. It sounds good, but not sure what it is! Please can you explain.

Cheers

Why dont you try Windows XP speech recognition? I've tried it in my old pc. My pals told me voice recognition crave to much memory.

you can follow the link:

www.emicrophones.com/site_map.asp