Something new

Bob

June 21, 2008 by Bob
Filed under Bob

Over the last few months I’ve been having pain in my wrists. No doubt it comes from too much typing on a keyboard. Then, a few days ago it got so painful that I was unable to sleep. The next morning I was unable to type at all. Because I make my living at the computer, I knew that I needed to do something.

A few months ago I read an article about voice recognition software, and how much it had improved lately. I read that the voice recognition in Windows Vista was excellent. With this in mind I decided I might need to look for new computer so I went shopping. Previously I had been using Linux as my operating system, however one area where Linux falls short is with voice recognition.

So after doing a little shopping around the city, I purchased a new Compaq Presario laptop. I’m using the new laptop now, and also using the voice recognition software. I am using Dragon NaturallySpeaking software for the voice recognition. All I can say is that it’s excellent. After only a few hours of using it, I can now enter text much quicker by speaking than I ever did by typing. I’m a fast typist to, around 100 words per minute. They say that the Dragon NaturallySpeaking software is good up to 150 words per minute, and I believe it. I’m thinking this is something I should have done years ago. Not only is it good from the help of my wrists, I’m also quicker, more productive! in addition, I can still use my computer even though it’s difficult to type.

After even just one or two days of not typing I can feel a huge improvement in my wrists. Even when my wrists and fully healed, though, I’ll be sticking with Dragon so that I don’t have this problem again.

I tried the voice recognition software built into Windows Vista as well, but I find that it is not nearly as good as Dragon. The Windows Vista voice recognition, which I thought was good at first, became frustrating because I was always fixing errors of entry.

I must say I’ve also learned something new since I started using this voice recognition software. Because it’s much easier to talk than type, I’m leaving better comments in response to those who leave comments. Instead of just having the time to type in a quick one-liner in response, I find that I leave a paragraph or two instead. I can also spend more time reading long comments, because I’m not spending my time typing in my comments. I must say, I’m really feeling liberated by leaving the keyboard behind!

Anyway, I just thought I’d tell you about my new purchase, and the new way I am entering my columns. It’s really something new, and something that requires a little adjustment, and getting used to.

Do you have experience with voice recognition software? If so, let me know what you think about it.

About the Author: Bob Martin is the Publisher & Editor in Chief of the Live in the Philippines Web Magazine. Bob is an Internet Entrepreneur who is based in Davao. Bob is an American who has lived permanently in Mindanao since May 2000. Here in Mindanao, Bob has resided in General Santos City, and now in Davao City. Bob is the owner of this website and many others.

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Comments

37 Responses to “Something new”

Ron W on June 21st, 2008 5:57 am

hello bon
i guess i never even heard of voice recoginition before.very nice huh.i have some insight of carpel tunnel.its a condition of the wrist when the blood flow is strained from using the muscles alot.i can tell when we improve our catch of lobsters because my fingers will fall asleep very easily.even easy task like using the phone or reading my fingers allways fall asleep.perhaps i will look into voice recognition as well.
salamat bob
Ron W on June 21st, 2008 5:58 am

oops mabe i need spell check as well bob
salamat
chas on June 21st, 2008 6:26 am

Hi Bob,Sounds a brilliant solution,it would be ideal for me also,as i’m such a lousy typist.I wonder if Dragon will work on Windows XP or do i need to upgrade to Vista.Regards Chas.
James on June 21st, 2008 7:01 am

Hi Bob, I don’t have any discomfort while typing, but I will consider buying voice recognition software because I will start my doctoral degree this year and I think the voice recognition software will help speed up my typing.

Thanks for the great idea!
Bob on June 21st, 2008 7:06 am

Hi Ron W - I can certainly believe you about the lobster fishing problem, because anytime you do any kind of repetitive actions. Your body can take a toll. I spent a lot of time on the keyboard before, so I guess I was just paying the price. Don’t worry about the spelling, I can understand everything you say!
Bob on June 21st, 2008 7:10 am

Hi chas - Dragon will also work on XP, make sure you have plenty of memory, though. I think it’s a great solution.
Bob on June 21st, 2008 7:12 am

Hi James - for me, it’s definitely a lot faster than typing. I believe that I’ve at least doubled my speed. The downside is you need to be in a quiet room, and a fear around other people it could be a little bit embarrassing to be talking into your computer like that!
Dan on June 21st, 2008 9:50 am

This sounds great Bob………Now……I wonder..will this program do HTML for web pages? If so then it is wonderfull……but I do not think it will do that….maybe?
Tom on June 21st, 2008 11:30 am

I tried Dragon a few years ago and it did not work as well as I had hoped. Lately I have heard that newer versions are improved. I might take another shot at it. As it happens, I have a project coming up that might be the perfect test for the new version.
Bob on June 21st, 2008 11:37 am

Hi Dan - actually, yes it will do HTML if you wish. It just types in the text that you speak. You could do quite well with a WYSIWYG HTML editor. Just talk in the text, and then you can either formatted through the voice commands or with a mouse.
Bob on June 21st, 2008 11:39 am

Hi Tom - I also tried Dragon several years ago. As I recall I was using version 7 at the time, and I’m now using version 9.51 if I recall correctly. This new version rarely makes any errors, and on the occasional error, that’s just easy to fix anyway, but I rarely even have to do that.

If you’re interested in using voice recognition software, I would highly recommend this. Make sure your computer has the horsepower and especially plenty of RAM. I think you be surprised and happy.
Peter Mystakas on June 21st, 2008 3:04 pm

I feel the new voice recognition program suits you Bob. From just reading your replies it seems you are saying what your thinking rather than typing the things you want to say. It’s coming across in more friendly less formal tone. I like the “new Bob Martin way….” lol
Maryg on June 21st, 2008 3:05 pm

Its good to know that you purchased that software asap because your wrists problem becomes worst…

I had the same problem 7yrs ago, i found out that my position in typing was the problem.

Btw, your typing speed is amazing!
Bob on June 21st, 2008 4:28 pm

Hello Peter Mystakas - thanks very much for your comment Peter! I’m glad you like the way it’s working out. I do find that I tend to leave longer replies to comments, with more information than if I’m typing.
Tyleen on June 21st, 2008 4:32 pm

Hi Bob,
I am so sorry to hear about your wrists. I had surgery on my right hand/wrist by a fab hand specialist and am angry with myself for waiting so long to do it.
If you need wrist splints and can not get the good ones in PI….please let me know I will DHL/Fedex them to you.
They keep your hand/wrist firmly in place to help in the healing process. I wore them at night to keep me from curling my hand under the pillows. Well worth the 20 bucks each !!!!
Bob on June 21st, 2008 4:33 pm

Hi Maryg - won’t I have heard that changing your position, getting a new chair, that kind of thing can really do a great job in helping get rid of repetitive stress problems. I have tried all kinds of different things, but this voice recognition, I think will be the best.

By the way, I don’t think my typing speed is too amazing, maybe a little above normal for a typist. The way that I got really good and typing was back in high school. In my first year of high school we lived in Los Angeles, and I took typing my first year. After that first year we moved in lived in Louisiana. In my third year of high school that school required me to take typing, it didn’t matter that I had already taken typing. So I got a double dose, and it turned out that my typing skills were pretty good.
Bob on June 21st, 2008 4:35 pm

Hi Tyleen - back in the 1990s. I started coming down was some symptoms of carpal tunnel. At that time I went to the doctor and he gave me a brace for my wrist, and ordered me to stay away from the keyboard for two weeks. That break and a brace kept me from needing surgery at the time. I fully recovered until a couple months ago when a recurred. Luckily, I still have the brazen started wearing it immediately. It made a huge difference. I believe I caught the pain in time that surgery won’t be necessary because an arty feel a huge amount of healing going on. I think I’ll stick with his voice recognition software keep using the microphone and try to stay healthy!

I really appreciate your offer, though, thank you very much.
Tyleen on June 21st, 2008 4:44 pm

Hi Bob,
Good for you….you a smart man. Too many people just try and “work thru” the pain and find themselves unable to open a doorknob or turn the key in the ignition etc and then start heading for the Dr when it is almost too late to avoid surgery.
I can hardly wait…. only 3 more weeks to go and then I am landing in Manila….yippee!!!!!
P.S. thanks for the tip about Dragon NatuallySpeaking. I think I will go and check it out at Circuit City tomorrow.
Bob on June 21st, 2008 4:47 pm

Hi Tyleen - good luck on your coming trip it seems like it’s getting close.

If you decide to get the Dragon naturally speaking, be sure to take the time to train the software. That’s the most important thing so that he can learn to understand the way you speak. Good luck!
Highlander on June 21st, 2008 6:26 pm

Hi Bob I know how frustrating carpel tunnel can be,I have had surgery on both my wrists a few years ago the only thing that bothers me now is I cannot hold a golf club properly.I used to do a lot of rock climbing and this activity was to blame for my carpel tunnel,Working in Qatar at present but we go back to the Pillippines twise a year to visit my partners family.Just waiting for the day when we retire there.Take Care Don
Bob on June 21st, 2008 6:34 pm

Hi Highlander - I can understand your pain all too well! I’m glad that mine didn’t get to the point where surgery was required.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Malcolm on June 21st, 2008 6:49 pm

Hi Bob
As I read the first few lines of your blog today, I was thinking, I will tell him about voice recognition, but lo and behold it turns out you are now using it! I do sometimes use Dragon on Windows XP, but didn`t find it very good, however it is a few years old and I hear the new versions are much better. Let us hope that you don`t get a sore throat and painful wrists at the same time!
All the best
Malcolm
Wayne A. Derby on June 21st, 2008 7:34 pm

Hi Bob:

Being dyslexic I tried voice activation for many years back in the 90s, IBM Gold. Eventually I gave it up because of to may corrections that did not save me any time over my very slow typing skills of about 15 WPM. From the sounds of your experience it would be worth trying.

Let the Lord help all make it a great day.
Ellen on June 22nd, 2008 6:09 am

Regarding comments made by Ron W (#1): You might want to check your upper spine through MRI. I have the same problem and the layman’s explanation given to me was that vertebra # 5 and 6 are starting to collapse and are pinching the nerves - hence the numbing of my fingers. I also get a lot of headaches because of this. I changed to a very good pillow (and quite expensive) for neck support and am always conscious of my posture. The numbing and tingling feeling is a very minor irritation now. Hope this helps, Ellen

ps Try accumpuncture too!
Bob on June 22nd, 2008 6:35 am

Hi Malcolm - I guess this time I beat you to it before you could give me the tip! Thanks for your thoughtfulness, though. Indeed, I think the newer versions are much better now.
Bob on June 22nd, 2008 6:43 am

Hello, Wayne A. Derby — if you have problems with typing, and the dyslexia, I really think it’s worth trying to Dragon naturally speaking. For me it’s simply amazing! Good luck.
Bob on June 22nd, 2008 6:45 am

Hi Ellen — thank you very much for the tips. I’ll keep those in mind.

I have a friend who does acupuncture. I’ve never tried it myself but I find it interesting. Maybe I’ll give it a try one of these days!
Tyleen on June 22nd, 2008 4:09 pm

Hi Bob,
Thanks for the tip about Dragon. How are you doing with it so far????
I have been checking the weather for Manila and Angeles for the past 2 weeks and all I see is rain, rain and more rain for my upcoming trip ….please tell me it isn’t so!!!!!
Bob on June 22nd, 2008 5:06 pm

Hi Tyleen - well at this time of year, you kind of have to expect rain. Why don’t you come down and visit Davao? It’s usually sunny everyday here, with showers at night.

So far dragons working great. I love it.
Tyleen on June 23rd, 2008 2:57 am

Hi Bob,
You know I was just thinking about that. I checked out Cebu Pacific and the fare is reasonable and times great. I will check with my friend and maybe I will just do that. I will let you know what transpires. Will 1 day of the week be better that the other for you to join me/us for lunch with Femya??
Bob on June 23rd, 2008 6:45 am

Hi Tyleen - Any day of the week is okay for us. Probably weekdays are better because the kids are in school. And a couple days of advance notice helps too.

Maybe we’ll be seeing you soon?
Tyleen on June 23rd, 2008 7:14 am

Hi Bob,
Yes we can give you lots of notice before we arrive. Do you wish me to leave info on this message board as to our arrival or what???
Bob on June 23rd, 2008 7:16 am

Hi Tyleen - No, if you look up at the top of my page, right underneath my picture, you’ll see a link that says, contact Bob. Just use that and it’ll e-mail me. That’s more private without publishing the details of your trip!
Danny Thompson on June 26th, 2008 1:21 am

Bob,
Just curious. How did you happen to pick Dragon?
There seems to be a lot of different companys selling this kind of software and I’m sure some is better than others.
Did someone recommend it to you?
Dan
Bob on June 26th, 2008 6:10 am

Hi Danny Thompson — actually, the Dragon software was my second choice. I tried be built-in speech recognition in Windows Vista first, but I found that it wasn’t very good. From what I’ve heard. I believe that Dragon is the leading provider of speech recognition software. I’ve heard about them for years and years now, so trying them was fairly natural for me, I’d say.
Alistair on June 26th, 2008 8:02 pm

Hi Bob,

I tried the Dragon software a few years back (thinking about it I guess it was actually around 2000). Not sure what version it was but it took ages to go through the initial training exercises and then after that I found it nearly next to useless and subsequently too the the software back to the retailer. However after reading your blog I thought I would give it another try again (using Windows Xp) and I have to say that it is brilliant and much improved on the version I had previously used. Only been using it for a couple of hours but certainly look forward to the benefits it will have.

Alistair
Bob on June 26th, 2008 8:38 pm

Hi Alistair - I’m glad that you gave it a try, and I’m glad to know that you have experienced similar results to what I found. I really love using it!