hands free operation Options

[hummingbird]

Hi,

I am still using DragonDictate 3.02 with Microsoft ME with 512MB of RAM.

1) Would any versions of DNS accomplish hands free use? Professional or preferred? Any other companies making comparable software?

2) How much RAM would be ideal?

3) Can I have DragonDictate and DNS both loaded on my computer and switch between programs by voice?

4) Any recommendations on desktop microphones?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[anon1436]

I am accomplishing nearly hands-free operation using Dragon NaturallySpeaking version 7.3 Professional. Only occasionally do I get into a situation where I have to have someone perform certain operations with mouse or keyboard.

I have written several macros to make things easier, but even those have been done hands-free, and mostly to make things easier, not necessarily fix problems.

Two areas that I have problems with are:

1. When I get an error in a macro, the message box that Dragon puts up stops all voice-recognition from occurring, so I have to have someone come in and click the OK button.

2. When trying to restart the computer, Dragon will often closed down as a result of the restart operation, but somehow interferes with the rest of the restart, requiring me to get someone to restart the computer a second time by hand. A friend of mine wrote a script that forces the restart for me, so I am able to get around this one.

Outside of that, and the occasional intermittent problem (the problems listed above happen almost universally), I can generally run for days without having to touch the mouse or the keyboard.

Also, I am having good results (note, not GREAT results, just good results) with a basic, off-the-shelf lapel microphone that just sits on my desktop. I would probably get better results with a headset or good desktop microphone, but the results I get with the lapel mic are acceptable to me, and make it easy for me to wheel my wheelchair up to the computer and start computing, rather than having someone put a headset on me, and having to call them back when I am done to remove it.

I cannot address any issues with DragonDictate, but I have two computers that I have used Dragon NaturallySpeaking on, one with 512MB of RAM the other with 1GB of RAM, and performance was acceptable on both, though I must admit that the accuracy on the computer with 1GB was much better, though that is probably due to the sound card and the fact that is a desktop, whereas the other was a laptop.

Good luck!

[John Wickett]

hummingbird,

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional Edition version 7.x can certainly permit hands-free usage of the computer, telephone, as well as controlling electric hospital beds, thermostats, lights, surveillance cameras, door locks, etc.. DAS, who posts on this forum, is continually expanding his own "home control" system and may wish to add to this posting.

I have a number of clients who are unable to use their hands or arms due to quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, etc. yet they are controlling everything by voice and a number of them are earning a living using the computer.

With DNS version 7, you should probably install a gigabyte of memory for full hands-free usage and dump Windows ME as it tends to be problematical.

Yes, you can have both DragonDictate and DNS loaded on your computer at the same time and you can also switch between them. You have been able to do this since DNS version 3. I have DragonDictate Classic v.3 on my machine.

With respect to microphone, it appears that you do not wish to use a microphone headset, so your best option is to use a Sennheiser microphone mounted on a boom. This is ideal for people who are able to maneuver themselves close to microphone.

Let us know how things are going.

John
Dictated with Dragon Naturally Speaking
John Wickett
PEI Canada
902-368-0141
902-651-2152
jwickett@auracom.com
john.wickett@vac-acc.gc.ca

[hummingbird]

thanks! I'll keep you posted on my progress .

[hummingbird]

John,

What model Sennheiser microphone do you suggest?

[bbillyray]

Along the lines of this topic - I've used DD/DNS forever - but never really got into making macros. Now I find myself needing help with the hands-free way to use voice to turn off the computer. Every time i try, I have to close Dragon 1st.

Help?!?!?

bbillyray1

[John Wickett]

bbillyray1,

Since Marty has responded to hummingbirds' queston, I can deal with yours.

>>Every time i try, I have to close Dragon 1st.

That is correct; you need to close DNS before you can reboot your computer, and rightly so as voice files may require saving and certainly have to be properly closed. What you do is create a macro that closes DNS first and then reboots your computer. You can get fancy and have a MessageBox that asks if you wish to save your voice file or not, or just go straight for the close.

John

[anon1436]

John --

You make a good point regarding the voice files, however the situation is usually this:

When I tried to shut down the computer using the normal process (by voice, of course), the NaturallySpeaking process is informed of the restart, and proceeds to close, asking if I want to save voice files. Regardless of my response, once DNS has closed, the shutdown process stops, and it has to be reinitiated by hand.

If DNS were a properly behaved program, when it was finished cleaning itself up, the shutdown process could continue when it was finished, and would not have to be reinitiated again by hand.

[Judy Evans]

anon1436

I tried this without actually writing a macro. It seems if NaturallySpeaking's in Startup -- as it needs to be for handsfree work -- your problem's inevitable. (If it's not in Startup a macro that saves voice files then shuts the computer down -- or reboots it -- will work.)

John, what's the way around this?

Judy

[hummingbird]

Is DNS professional essential for hands free operation of the computer? Especially if DragonDictate 3.02 is installed on the same machine? Professional is quite expensive.

[John Wickett]

anon1436,

Yes, you really should be using the Professional version. The initial cost seems high, but when you think about all the time and effort it saves it is definitely worth it. Once you have spent the money, upgrades are fairly cheap.

Judy,

>>I tried this without actually writing a macro. It seems if NaturallySpeaking's in Startup -- as it needs to be for handsfree work -- your problem's inevitable. (If it's not in Startup a macro that saves voice files then shuts the computer down -- or reboots it -- will work.)

First, set the computer so you cannot turn it off, even accidently. Even a manual click on "Turn Off" should result in a restart (a lot of my clients like this). Then save the voice file so you don't get the prompt. Then, a simple macro that turns off (restarts) the computer is all that is needed and when the computer reboots DNS is ready to "Wake Up".

John

[Judy Evans]

John

>>>>
First, set the computer so you cannot turn it off, even accidently. Even a manual click on "Turn Off" should result in a restart (a lot of my clients like this). Then save the voice file so you don't get the prompt. Then, a simple macro that turns off (restarts) the computer is all that is needed and when the computer reboots DNS is ready to "Wake Up".
>>>>

I haven't set the computer so it can't be turned off by accident (how would I do that?!) but I am sure that is not happening. (I'm not being misheard, either.) If I have NaturallySpeaking in Startu this happens: I save the user files, then give the restart command; NaturallySpeaking closes, the computer doesn't reboot.

This is nothing to do with a specific macro as I still haven't bothered to write one: I've voiced the steps through, I've also typed them through. And I've tried using Logoff instead of the restart thing; NaturallySpeaking closes, logoff doesn't happen.

This may be one of those oddities that crops up from time to time, something to do with my hardware or software...

Judy

[anon1436]

Judy --

That is exactly what happens on my computers (I've had it happen on two different computers, and is easily repeatable). Give the command to reboot, either by voice or by keyboard, Dragon shuts down, reboot does not happen. I then have to have someone come over and reboot by keyboard.

That is why I had the script written to force the computer to shut down or reboot.

[Judy Evans]

Anon

>>>
Give the command to reboot, either by voice or by keyboard, Dragon shuts down, reboot does not happen
>>>

Yes.

Judy