Emma E. Legg Adaptive Technology Center

Session I  - Getting Started with Voice Recognition

• Listen and watch your trainer give a short demonstration of Dragon NaturallySpeaking (DNS):

• Jot down or mentally note some questions about the demo

• You can expect to spend 20 to 50 hours training and practicing dictation before this program will truly benefit you.

• If you are unsure of the value of spending this amount of time, think about your keyboarding skills, your health (is there a physical reason to avoid keyboarding) and your ability to compose text (are you more fluid in text production using voice as opposed to using the keyboard?)

Create your voice profile in 10 minutes by:

• Double clicking the Dragon NaturallySpeaking icon on the desktop.

• Follow the directions on screen to dictate your voice profile

• Listen and interact with the tutorial

• Take a break!!

For your next session  use 10 new commands and develop a memory strategy for internalizing these commands.

Session II - Dictation

  Boot up DNS and open your voice profile.

• You should find yourself in the DNS Dragon Pad (a basic text editor like Note Pad). If you are not in Dragon Pad, click on the Tools Menu and select Dragon Pad

• Use your class notes, a chapter in one of your textbooks or business correspondence as your dictation selection, and dictate from these notes for 5 minutes with the monitor turned OFF.

• Turn ON your monitor and dictate the same text. This time, practice your top 10 commands.

• Remember to try and dictate CONTINUOUSLY; formatting text is not your first concern; learning the cadence of dictation and commands is your first goal!

Session III – Practice!

Dictate 1 paragraph (store your keyboard and do not use it).  Spend at least 15 minutes completely hands free.

Record your questions (you should have many)!!

Make you own Next 10 commands based on what commands you would like to use.

Use the --  HELP menu --to find and print information on correct commands you wish to know

• Say Help
• Say Help Topics
• Say Index
• Say the name or phrase of the command you wish to research
• Say Display
• To print say Print

Session IV – Dictating in Microsoft Word

Start DNS as usual

Try dictating directly in Microsoft Word by saying:

·        Start Microsoft Word

Dictating in Word will allow you to use the grammar check and to format text; recognition may occur at a slightly slower rate.

To switch between MS Word and Dragon Pad, use the command, Switch to Previous Window and Switch to Next Window

Get used to saving any usable text immediately!  If text is selected (black highlight) and further commands are unrecognized, you could loose text unless you immediately use the command.

·  Undo That (if you are able, you can always click Edit and Undo Typing or Ctrl Z from the keyboard.)

Session V – Dictating email

Boot DNS and practice as per usual.  To dictate email use the commands in italics:

• Start Internet Explorer

• For practice, say Click the Adaptive Technology Center

• Click wendy@drc.sjsu.edu

• Tab key, Tab Key, Tab Key (you should be in text entry now)

• Voice a text message to me (list 5 questions you have regarding DNS) and say Click Send or use Mouse Grid or manual click to send your email to me.

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