Voice Recognition - The Conversion of a Skeptic
Hello. My name is Wade Goodman and I was a skeptic. A doubter. A non-believer. But, I have seen the light. I am now an official voice recognition supporter. Let me tell you about my conversion...
I'm no stranger to the boasts of voice recognition software. I've long been familiar with the theory that people could speak to their computer and in return their computer, like the perfect child, would do exactly as expected.
I'm also a brand new dad who, in theory, had the perfect child. But, as close to perfect as she is, I can't avoid the smell of dirty diapers, midnight feedings and soiled clothes (hers and mine). So I assumed it to be with voice recognition --great to wish for but messy once you start using it.
However, in June I attended the ALA (American Library Association) show in Orlando, Florida. I was a guest of one of our askSam resellers - Voice Factor PCS. Voice Factor sells perfect odorless children... sorry, I mean, they offer voice recognition software. Voice Factor is an OEM partner of ScanSoft and they offer special packages that include Dragon Naturally Speaking software.
From the minute I walked up to the booth and heard the Voice Factor showman announce to the crowd (via loudspeaker I might add), "Even someone like Wade Goodman can type up to 160 words per minute", I knew this was no ordinary trade show. And, as I saw my name displayed, with perfect spelling, across the big display screen, my conversion, although far from complete, had begun.
As I watched demonstrations that included men reclining in lounge chairs six feet from their computer's keyboard while producing sentences with words like “supercalifragilistiexpialidocious", "myocardial infarction", and "pneumonicultramicrospoicsicalvolocanosis", I was greatly impressed but still managed to have some doubts.
Those doubts were soon erased as I embarked on my first hands-on (or should I say, hands-off) experience with voice software. My head was girded with a microphone and I was plugged into a computer. I was told to read into the microphone a short voice recognition tutorial that appeared on the screen. Within 10 minutes I was "voice activated". I was opening software programs, playing games, writing email, dictating letters, and producing sentences with words I can't even spell --all while opening a snickers bar and doing a Rubik's Cube. Ever thought about what you would do with your hands if they weren’t glued to your keyboard?
I was up and running quickly but, as with any other technology, there are steps to take that make you more successful. You will definitely need to take the 10-20 minute tutorial so that the software can learn how you pronounce words, your dialect, tone, etc. It is also recommended that you spend time training the software beyond the initial tutorial. Even though it is not required, spending time with the additional tutorials can greatly increase your success. The more time you spend training the system and familiarizing yourself with the commands the better the experience.
You will also need a fast machine. The minimum system requirements are listed as a Pentium III, 500 MHz with 128 MB RAM and 300 MB of hard drive space. However, Voice Factor recommends that you use at least a Pentium III, 500 MHz with 256 MB of RAM. For optimal performance they recommend a Pentium 4 with 512 MB RAM.
While some things, like dictating letters or entering spreadsheet info, are perfect for voice I find other things, like intense editing, more convenient with a keyboard. I admit to being a keyboard junkie and old habits die hard. So for me a key feature of voice is the freedom to use voice and keyboard together. You can easily bark out a letter followed by a series of keystrokes for maximum efficiency. You even have the ability to tell your voice software to "Quit Listening" --saves you from embarrassing conversations automatically being typed on your screen.
So, with my conversion now complete, my world was a little brighter. Life seemed simpler. I began to think of all the ways that askSam and voice make a powerful duo (and how they might help with diapers and dry cleaning bills). Voice recognition is another way of getting information, quickly and easily, into your computer and askSam is the best tool for organizing information. What a perfect combination.
Ÿ Imagine being able to dictate your thoughts, ideas and notes directly into a searchable format. What about being able to journal without touching a keyboard or dictate letters directly into a searchable database? Repeat parts of phone conversations into the notes of a customer record. Everything you speak automatically saved forever in an easy to retrieve format.
Ÿ How about research? What if you had the ability to simply read a magazine or web article into your askSam research database? No more retyping. How about being able to quickly read an excerpt or quotation from a book into your research database.
Ÿ All of this voice recognized information can then be combined with askSam's ability to gather information from other sources like email, Microsoft Word, PDF, and more.
Ÿ Search your information without touching a keyboard. Just say, "ESCAPE" and you're in the askSam search line. Speak your search criteria and say, "ENTER" and askSam automatically produces the results you need. You say it, askSam finds it (It only works like that in the movies, doesn't it?)
Ÿ Run reports, stored searches or mail merge letters using only your voice.
The possibilities are endless.
I have a whole new outlook on voice recognition. It even gave me new perspective on diaper changing. If you haven't tried voice recognition in a while or have been skeptical, like me, I recommend giving it a try. I think you will find the combination of askSam and voice to be a valuable tool.
Wade Goodman
Product Manager - askSam
EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR ASKSAM/CITATION USERS
Save more than $70 on Voice Recognition Software Bundle
The Voice Factor Bundle includes
* NaturallySpeaking Preferred Plus 7.3 voice recognition software
* TextAloud MP3 Text to Speech Software
* Upgraded AC 100 Headset (w/ lifetime warranty)
* Free technical support
Voice Factor, an askSam reseller, is offering this bundle to askSam/Citation users for $159.95 - over $70 less than the standard retail price.
This offer expires on September 15th.
More Information:
http://www.voicefactor.com/splash/index.html
To Order:
https://www.asksam.com/purchase/offers/vf/voicefactor.asp
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