Nuance - Dragon NaturallySpeaking Solutions

Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources

Dragon is one of those products that is so deep that it is difficult for anyone to know everything about it.  I am reminded of this when I get inquiries to this blog about existing functionality of Dragon.  I learn new things about Dragon all the time - especially when I visit a customer with one of our systems engineers or read some of the tips from our newsletter that is written by our product managers.

I realized recently that we have so many great resources to learn about Dragon, sometimes people don't know where to look.  This list probably isn't comprehensive - if I missed something, please feel free to leave a comment.

  • Help system and tutorial.  You would be surprised how many people overlook the help system and tutorial that are built into Dragon.  When we release a new version of the software, I go through the entire help system and tutorial.  It's amazing how much I learn every time I do this - and I often learn about features that have been in Dragon for years.
  • Online User Guide. The Dragon User Guide is available on our website in HTML, PDF, MS Word and WAV format (read by Jake from our corporate marketing department)
  • Dragon newsletter. This monthly newsletter is a great resources for tips and tricks about Dragon.  It is written by the product management team and includes really great information.  You can read the archives and sign up for monthly delivery on our website (you have to scroll down a little bit to get to the sign up area).
  • Knowledgebase.  If you have a technical issue with Dragon, the Technical Support Knowledgebase is the best place to start.  This resource includes technical articles that have been documented and updated for years.  The support team is always updating this information, so make sure you take a look every once in a while for updated information.
  • Product pages. When we released Dragon 10, we rewrote the entire Dragon website from the ground up.  Along with the Product Pages, there are sections for Consumers, Small Business and Enterprises - and a complete set of Industry Pages.
  • Dragon blog. My favorite new resource - please visit often ;-)
  • Dragon VARs. If you need some in depth technical training or custom services, you can use our Partner Locator to find one of our highly-qualified, well-trained value added resellers.  These partners are fantastic resources for businesses of all sizes that need local support.
  • Coming soon - Dragon webinars. We are working on a series of introductory web seminars to get new users more acquainted with Dragon.  These are still under development, but we will announce their availability here as soon as we have a date.
  • Comine soon - new user forum. Some people have commented in this blog about our old user forum.  Unfortunately, the old forum was on very old technology that couldn't be supported any more,  We are working on a new forum and will let you know as soon as it is available!

In the spirit of full disclosure - I did not use Dragon to create this blog entry.  I normally do, but my seven year old daughter was having trouble getting to sleep, so I am typing this on my laptop while sitting in her room - and I can't use Dragon because I need her to go to sleep!  This is a great reminder for me how much I depend on Dragon...this entry has taken me about three times longer than normal to write...


Peter

Posted 02-27-2009 10:41 PM by Peter Mahoney
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Comments

JackyV wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 07-04-2009 9:08 PM

<<Comine soon - new user forum. Some people have commented in this blog about our old user forum.  Unfortunately, the old forum was on very old technology that couldn't be supported any more,  We are working on a new forum and will let you know as soon as it is available!>>

Any ETA for this feature?

paul wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 04-09-2009 3:05 PM

"Thanks, and congratulations to Nuance for finally opening up to all the Dragon users."

Well, so much for that optimistic theory. Like John Cleese said "It's not the despair that gets you, it's the hope!"

paul wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 04-06-2009 5:03 PM

Hi peter,

I noticed you mention the Dragon package with the Bluetooth headset.  I received an e-mail from nuance sometime within the last few weeks that had a decent offer on the 10.1 with the Bluetooth headset.  Like so many other people, I have been waiting a while for this 64-bit compatibility.  currently, I'm using version 9. Consequently, I bought myself a 64-bit laptop last week. came home.  Opened my office Outlook to link to the offer.  Couldn't find the damn e-mail!

I e-mailed nuance from the site last Thursday to ask whether they could re-send me the offer. No answer.

Would you be so kind as to hook me up with this offer?  I believe it was $199 Canadian for 10.1 and the Callisto Bluetooth headset with adaptor.

Thanks, and congratulations to Nuance for finally opening up to all the Dragon users.

paul

Derek Austin wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 04-02-2009 8:27 AM

Hi Bob,

Re> Is there a way to "train" Dragon for these dictaphones, to increase accuracy?

Did you follow the training process described in the user guide? Set up a new source for the digital recorder, record the sample text and then use that to enrol?

Best regards,

Derek

Bob Conder wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 04-01-2009 9:05 PM

-I have been trying Dragon 10 with the digital dictaphones you recomended. This includes the Olympus DS-3 and the Sony ICD-UX70. And with the settings you recommend. Accuracy is only 60-65%. Is there a way to "train" Dragon for these dictaphones, to increase accuracy?

Thanks,

Bob

Peter Mahoney wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-17-2009 9:15 AM

Hi Colorado Chris --

I can definitely relate. I also have a 10-year-old daughter with physical disabilities. She uses Dragon for homework (as does her typically developing 12-year-old brother).

For laptop, you should make sure that it meets the minimum system specifications that are defined on each of the product pages. For example, the minimum specifications for the Preferred Edition can be found here:

www.nuance.com/.../preferred.asp

Those specifications also list what we call "recommended specifications" including additional memory and faster processors.

At this point, I would not recommend any of the netbook computers because they are quite underpowered.

I hope that helps!

Peter

Colorado Chris wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-17-2009 9:09 AM

Hi!

I am purchasing Dragon 10 for my duaghter. She is 11 with physical (not mental) disabilities. It's hard for her to write fast enought to keep up with the class.

Any way, I am looking for a laptop that she can take to and from school with her that is light enought to tote yet beefy enough for Drgaon 10. What should I be looking for? Help!

Brad from Fair Lawn wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-16-2009 11:09 PM

(Dictated with Dragon version 10)

Hi folks!  I hope that this customer feedback forum generates lots of interest for everybody as well as useful tips here and there.

As someone who has been using Dragon for the past 7 years, I finally own a computer which contains the hardware worthy of the program.  Since the introduction of version 10, it turns out that this latest version also works much better on some of my older computers including laptops.  The laptop in particular lets you know when it is overwhelmed, as the cooling fans increase their RPMs.

My current rigs are custom-built micro Center computers, using Intel 6750, 8400 or the new i7 920.  They all run with between 2-3 GB of RAM with operating system Windows XP using a hard disk running at 7200 RPMs.  Ever since using these latter-day computers, I have never had to fuss with things like adjusting the page memory file, setting the Dragon program to high priority, etc.  It just flies now!  I can spew out reports at incredibly-high words per minute.

I would like to make a case for the humble, hand-held microphone, especially BECAUSE IT HAS AN ON-OFF SWITCH, so extraneous discussion from me and people around me does not sneak into any of my dictations.  I am using a Sony ECM-MS 907 which is available on the Internet for $70 or less.  Since I have 3 or 4 dictation locations, each of them has its own microphone without breaking the bank.  The microphone plugs into and Andrea electronics miniature USB sound converter.  The beauty of this setup is that, using the same microphone model and USB converter, the dictation "sounds the same" to me - and probably to the computer - whereever I dictate, so the results are very reliable and reproducible.  I have never been comfortable with headsets; and when I benchmark my microphone setup using the Accuracy Center, the microphone consistently scores at between 19-22.

I would value any useful tips which will improve the value of the Dragon program for me.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Brad from Fair Lawn

Judy Evans wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-15-2009 2:45 PM

Good to hear there'll be a forum again soon.

Jeff Anderson wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-14-2009 12:55 PM

I have to say this is a pretty nuance centered...

I have to commend nuance on opening up like this, (i.e. putting a blog together) but they're also going to have to knowledge that there is a very vibrant community that is already active...

so for anybody interested in the other non-nuance sponsored resources for NaturallySpeaking...

http://www.knowbrainer.com/

www.speechcomputing.com/node

Are great and very active forums to learn what other people are doing...

http://vocola.net/default.asp

-if you want to get amazing or functionality that actually allows you to create macros without using a mouse or keyboard, and it's free

code.google.com/.../dragonfly

www.speechcomputing.com/node/1788

if you want to get really advanced macro functionality in object oriented context

www.speechutilities.com/index.htm

some interesting utilities

tech.groups.yahoo.com/.../VoiceCoder

a lot of conversations around the bleeding edge of how to use NaturallySpeaking to do various kinds of macros can be found here...

phyllis michaels wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-13-2009 3:14 PM

dragon gets dumber and dumber. i correct the same mistake again and again.  dragon never learns inspite of my clicking - and spelling the correct word. no matter the next time it makes the same mistake.  what can be done to hit the dragon brain with a hammer?

frustrated

marshroger wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-13-2009 2:42 PM

I have used the Jabbra Bluetooth headset with Dragon and it works perfectly.

marshroger wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-13-2009 2:41 PM

I have been using Dragon since its inception and currently have Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional 10. For some reason I cannot get Canadian postal code to work properly, although I have been able to do them in every previous version. It appears to be set up properly. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I've tried the command "post code"in many variations, but it just will not format properly.

shiralee wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-06-2009 12:31 AM

hi, I have tired all the resources but Dragon has some uncomfortable features - it makes a long sound every time it finshes a sentance or I stop dictating.

Does anyone know how to turn off this sound?

Secondly I dictate  my email in Eudora and I have problems anchoring the yellow bar - does nayone know how to anchor this bar to the top like in Microsfot products or just anchor it somewhere convenient.

Peter Mahoney wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-03-2009 8:26 PM

I use a BT headset all the time (the Plantronics Calisto that we sell with the wireless bundle...)  The performance is quite good for me and I love the convenience.  We have a Knowledgebase article on the Calisto that has some useful information about configuring Dragon for a Bluetooth profile.  The article can be found here:

knowledgebase.nuance.com/view.asp

It is important to note that not all BT microphones will work well with Dragon - many are too noisy.  The Calisto has a long boom which helps to minimize the noise.  You can also check the hadrware compatibility guide for more Bluetooth mics that we have tested.  The link for the hardware compatibility guide can be found here:

support.nuance.com/compatibility

I hope that helps

Peter

g111342 wrote re: Not Getting the Most out of Dragon? Try These Resources
on 03-03-2009 8:02 PM

Do you have experiance with Dragon and Bluetsooth.:I am using a tablet PC. Any hints/advice?

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