June 30th, 2005

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Technology
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Nearly Naturally Speaking

I’m writing this with my text-to-speech software Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8. I’ve had perennial problems with my wrist, and some recent lower back trouble. As such, I’ve decided to try to use in this software to do some of my blogging, e-mailing and general writing activities.

You may recall the last fall I checked in on speech-recognition courtesy of Jon Udell. At that time I was underwhelmed, but I’ve decided to give it another try.

In truth, I’m really impressed with how the software naturally transcribes what I say. it’s not exactly error-free, but it knew the terms ‘blogging’ and ‘Jon Udell’. The biggest problem so far is that I haven’t figured out how to teach it to capitalize the first letter of a sentence. Another issue is that including markup is darned tricky (hey, it knew the word ‘darned’). For example, it’s nearly impossible to say ‘<p>’, or at least I haven’t figured out how yet.

Still, I’m not utterly discouraged. Even if it only permits me to stand up five minutes an hour and saves my wrists 10% wear and tear, then it will be worth the trouble.

Comments: 6 Responses so far

NetChick
June 30th, 2005
9:29 am

My suggestion is to write your blog entries in Word, with auto-correction on — This way, adding markup, and capitalization isn’t an issue.

…Coincidentally, I’m becoming a ‘grammars’ expert for our team, because speech rec is becoming a standard technology for telecom automation. It’s come a LONG way in the past year of development alone.

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Will Pate
June 30th, 2005
1:40 pm

I used to have quite a bit of pain in my wrist from all the repetetive motion of typing and video games, until I tried using a Dynaflex Pro Gyro Wrist Exerciser. About 2-3 days worth of that and I was feeling no pain anymore. It really does work.

It was recommended to me by a friend that had a metal plate in one wrist from a skateboard accident, and was getting a lot of pain from working in a kitchen 10 hours a day (mostly chopping). He got fantastic results and had me try it. His physiotherapist gave one to him and said that she recommends them to anyone that works on a computer all day.

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Nicole Simon
June 30th, 2005
2:00 pm

If I may ask, how fast can you speak while doing this?

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Darren
June 30th, 2005
2:18 pm

Pretty fast, actually. I’d say that it can record me speaking more or less at normal speed. That aspect of the app is pretty remarkable.

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Nicole Simon
July 1st, 2005
3:39 am

Hm, I might give it a try then.

I can imagine it works better in English than in German, but the additional advantage of it probably spelling better than I do, would be a great achievement! [I know, you hated my accent, but I hope the version can deal with that ;)]

Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

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Monique
July 1st, 2005
6:48 pm

Have you tried wrist drops? Studies have shown that wrist drops can help eleviate wrist tension [note the rhetorical glissade, what studies? well, I don't know ... but I could find out if you need a source, as an editor, I would understand].

So, with your left hand, support your right arm at a right degree angle (as if you are sitting in a chair with armrests, but instead of armrests, your other hand supports your arm).

Make a fist with your right hand and cock your wrist upwards, now drop your wrist down, releasing your fist on the way down. Just let gravity pull it down. You don’t have to fling your wrist down, think of it as a dead weight and that should do the trick.

Ten times then reverse and do the left.

Why does this work? Watch the tiny muscle on the outside of your elbow on the right-angled arm. When you cock the wrist upwards it contracts, when you drop the wrist it releases. When it releases, it is releasing the tension all the way down into your wrist.

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