Nuance - I Speak Dragon

dragonstories2011 Posted: 06-17-2011 12:17 PM

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During Labor Day weekend of 2010, I was in a hit-and-run car accident, which resulted in the loss of fingers as well as the use of my left hand.  I began to type with one hand but discovered that it was extremely slow; so my son suggested that I get a Dragon.  The idea of a small, cute Dragon who only puffed smoke and did not breathe fire while taking meticulous dictation was quite appealing to me; my only hope was that he would not eat too much and could be trained to use a litter box.  However, imagine my surprise at receiving instead, a box of software containing my new Dragon.  After I got over my initial disappointment, I began to discover that this amazing software was almost as magical as any green-scaled, fire-breathing dragon.

I began to train my Dragon by reading to him; as with any small child, I expected my little Dragon to fall asleep or interrupt – he did neither, simply listen, apparently totally enraptured and hanging on my every word. I enjoyed saying that I was spending my time training my Dragon long past the point that this amazing software needed training.  And after I have completed a user profile I found that my Dragon is not tethered by any boundaries within my computer.  My Dragon loved to chat on Facebook, browse the Internet, or write e-mails whether they are short and to the point or long and pompous – never making a judgment.  I spent nine months at home with my Dragon while I recovered but upon my return to work discovered that I could not live without my useful Dragon.  And so, on my first foray back to my job as a victim advocate at the Florida Atlantic University Police Department, I promptly walked into the Chief's office and told him that I needed a Dragon for my office.  Police chiefs are quite accustomed to purchasing items that might raise an eyebrow in other business arenas but even he did say he had never been asked to buy Dragon before.  When I explained how well my wonderful Dragon works for me at home, and how important it was to me to have a work Dragon, he completely agreed.

I am now the proud owner of two dragons, the Dragon I use at home which helps me with social networking, chatty e-mails, grocery lists, surfing the Internet, and other assorted daily minutia.  And then there's my work Dragon, who helps me write professional letters, prepare PowerPoint’s, search the Internet, keep my calendar up-to-date, and write memos.

How in the world did I live without a Dragon, make that double Dragons, before?