Need help typing?
I’m wondering if something like Dragon Naturally Speaking would be helpful right now.
Presently I’m thinking “out loud” better than I am thinking-as-I-type. This is a dramatic shift for me. I’ve always been right opposite, but since the whack to my head, it is what it is.
My typing speed has also fallen to maybe 20wpm (from 80+wpm) since the wreck. (I tested it a few weeks ago at 82wpm, and then again today using Dragon’s typing speed test!)
Dragon has “always” been highly recommended professional software - my boss introduced me to it somewhere in the late 90’s. I used it several times when I worked for J2S2/Healant, and was starting to get the hang of it (there used to be a huge learning curve - I’m told that it’s much simpler now).
Today’s version boasts a 99% accuracy rate and allows you to use a bluetooth headset. NOT ONLY can you “type” via speech to apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook, you can also format text with voice commands! (Mac users, no worries - there’s a version for you too)
And - get this - you can also surf the web with it! Just say things like, “Search web for info on organic vegetables” or “Search eBay for praise dance flags”.
Dragon Naturally Speaking is great for busy execs - but it’s even better for people with mobility problems, or, like me, concentration problems. Typing becomes more like having a conversation. You can even “type” on the go - just speak into an approved handheld device (some cell phones, PDA’s, digital voice recorders) and connect to your computer later - typing done! I like that thought - I could even get things done from the chiropractor’s office underneath all my ice packs!
But don’t just believe me - check out the Dragon Reviews.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Is there somewhere where we can test this?
October 13th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I considered asking the union if they had a copy of this I could use until my wrist gets better–I sprained it or something on one of those semi-automatic doors–but it’s so much better now that I can type mostly without pain. And it was adaptive technology that got me into this mess in the first place.