Welcome to the September Edition of the VRNews
We want to take a moment to describe to you in more detail the advantages of using tablet PCs especially in conjunction with voice recognition software. Tablet PCs offer new freedom and mobility for just about any type of voice recognition user by providing the power of a desktop PC in a lightweight tablet normally weighing less than 3 pounds. This month we've included more information below which we feel will be useful as you look into a tablet PC a solution for yourself or your organization. As always, feel free to contact us at 1-800-245-2133 to get more information, or to get product or pricing information on the tablets we have featured below.
Tablet Trends
One of the many directions that our typical voice recognition software user has been moving towards is more mobile, portable and wireless options for remote dictation. When voice recognition software first came out many years ago, about the only option a user had was to dictate directly into a desktop PC. As laptops evolved and became faster and just about as powerful as the desktop PC, voice recognition software users were granted a bit more flexibility concerning when and where they dictated. Then came the release of high-quality digital recorders which allowed for mobile dictation but the digital recorders of a few years ago had lower sampling rates than those of today, and left a great deal to be desired as far as speech accuracy once the voice was converted to .wav file format and then transcribed by Dragon NaturallySpeaking®. Today's recorders such as the Sony BM-1 and the Olympus DS-2200 offer some of the highest sampling rates of any digital recorder which equates to a higher degree of voice recognition accuracy; almost the same percentage accuracy as live dictation using a headset plugged into a PC sound card.
For the ultimate in mobile dictation, many users are starting to become more familiar with tablet PCs which offer wireless portability for dictation, yet weigh just a few pounds and are about the size of a standard legal pad. These completely self-contained tablet PCs offer the same power as many desktop and laptop computers but with a new degree of mobility that users had not experienced before. Some of the new models from Motion Computing such as the LE1600 and the LS800 offer superb accuracy with Dragon NaturallySpeaking even with the built-in array microphone, which up until now was almost unheard of. For those who still want to have a keyboard and mouse, most tablet PCs can be plugged into a docking station and thus can also have a keyboard and mouse available. Here at voicerecognition.com, we see a great future and much potential in tablet PCs for use with voice recognition software. If one of the slight disadvantages of a tablet PC is its lack of a standard keyboard, the use of voice recognition software certainly remedies the situation by giving the ability to the user to compose text at up to 160 words per minute with up to 99% accuracy.
Tablets In the Medical Field
The first environment where the combination of the tablet PC and voice recognition software seems to make the most sense is the medical field. Imagine a physician or nurse being able to simply dictate patient information into a small portable tablet PC and have the patient record and other patient data generated instantaneously with no transcription turnaround time and no outside transcription costs. This also helps keep patient data much more confidential because electronic data can be password-protected and encrypted. And it means less paper around a medical office for others to see. Tablet PCs in many cases are integrated with Dragon NaturallySpeaking Medical version 8.1 and the appropriate Electronic Medical Record depending on the size and type of practice. This can offer an extremely powerful tool to physicians and other health-care providers who need the power and flexibility of an EMR, but want to voice automate the process of composing patient records. And, this process can be completely wireless and mobile at the same time. Most physicians are accustomed already to carrying a paper file or chart around with them from exam room to exam room. This scenario is not much different, except that now it is an electronic tablet which can provide instant communication to the front office for patient information including billing, records, prescriptions and all medical correspondence relating to that particular patient.
In Conclusion
Tablet PCs and voice recognition software are not restricted to the medical environment. Just about anyone in any profession can benefit from the ability to create documentation on a wireless and lightweight mobile platform while sharing key information with a home-office, satellite office or even a home-office. We can certainly see in the very near future that tablet PCs will continue to grow in popularity and the use of voice recognition software will continue to be a part of that new technology growth.
Visit Our Free And Invaluable Forum
No Such Thing As Free Tech Support? We Beg To Differ.
http://www.voicerecognition.com/board/ If you are new to our online forum, you should know that this is one of the most informative and up-to-date online users forums anywhere on the Internet. We have a wealth of new information and archived information to address just about any question or concern regarding voice recognition software and accessories such as microphones and digital recorders. In fact, we are offering, for the first time anywhere that we know of, the opportunity to create your own BLOG regarding your experiences with voice recognition software. The forum is free for anyone to use, and does require a quick and simple registration process. Remember, as Better Business Bureau Online members in good standing, we will never share your personal information with anyone at any time.
In The News:
Motion Computing LS800 Tablet PC Review-GeekZone
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=5068
The Evolution and Death of the Laptop Computer-TechNews World
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/45581.html
Tablet PC market anticipates solid growth
http://www.manufacturing.net/ctl/article/CA631564?spacedesc=industryUpdates
Voice Technology Enters the Mainstream-PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1843004,00.asp
Speak Dragon, Speak from “On Computersâ€
http://www.oncomp.com/aug05-1.htm
Voice Recognition: Encouraging Signs
http://www.edn.com/blog/400000040/post/1160001316.html
Tech Tips
This month we offer a bit more advanced but powerful new tool for use with Dragon NaturallySpeaking:
One thing we are constantly asked about with Dragon NaturallySpeaking is how to set the default font size for the Dragon Pad. The DragonPad is standard equipment on all versions of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. When any user opens the DragonPad they notice the font type is 'Arial' and the font's default size is 10. Most people don't use that as a font; the bad news is that's the default font type and font size, but the good news is there's a way to configure a user profile so that the DragonPad will permanently become any font size the user wants!
Many users will use the DragonPad to look at the selection of fonts and font sizes, then choose.
Remember this is an exercise in configuration, so be patient and take your time so you don’t corrupt your copy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking!
Follow these steps:
1. Make a full copy of the user profile that you’re about to modify – you never know when things can go South. Better safe than sorry…
2. Once this is done, close the user and Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
3. Open Windows Explorer (to look at your computers file system) and search for the path to the user profile you want to modify. Typically it is located (assuming Windows XP)
C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataScanSoftNaturallySpeaking8Users<your user name>current
Open this directory then open the options.ini file with notepad, wordpad, or a text editor: NOT MICROSOFT WORD! Simply highlight the options.ini file, right-click and select 'open with'. A dialog should open with different applications available, just choose 'Notepad' then click OK. Second, don't check off the 'always use the selected program to open this type of file' that might affect other programs and files!
4. Add the following two lines to the bottom of that file:
enx Default Font=Garamond enx Default Font Size=240
Now let me explain what you’re doing…
What does 'Garamond' mean?
You choose your font's name. Go through the fonts on the DragonPad and see which one you like. I use Garamond. Some of you might like 'Times New Roman' or any of the other font names.
What does that '240' mean?
You have to do a little math (it's easy!) simply decide the font size you want the Dragon Pad to have, and then multiply that number by 20. I use a 12 point font, so I have to multiply (20 x 12) for the number to go into the Options Default Font Size or 240.
5. Now that I've finished this, I save and close the options.ini file.
6. Close up any other windows, and start Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
7. I open the user file that I changed, open DragonPad, and the font size is 'Garamond' and the size is '12'
Featured Product
Do you need an accurate and reliable wireless option to use with Dragon NaturallySpeaking? The Plantronics CS50-USB offers up to 300 feet of range without compromising accuracy with Dragon NaturallySpeaking. We have had great success with this particular solution for many of our clients who need the ability to be mobile and not use a typical corded headset. Up until this headset was released, there was almost always a compromise in speech recognition accuracy, but that seems to no longer be the case with this headset from Plantronics.
From The Manufacturer:
You've eliminated the phone, now remove the wires. The CS50-USB from Plantronics extends wireless freedom to your soft phone. It's the first wireless headset for VoIP applications with remote call detection and answer/end capability via PerSonoCallâ„¢ .software. Experience superior sound quality, stylish design, four comfortable wearing options and hands-free convenience via your USB port.
See What Others Had To Say About Our Company and Voice Recognition Software
I want to take a moment to thank you. You have made the learning process easy and enjoyable. In evaluating software and companies I did a comprehensive review of available resources on the Internet. I determine the three best places to purchase the program I felt was the best. That program is Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
Being rather computer illiterate I was worried about the time it would take me to gain the knowledge necessary to appropriately utilize the software I wanted to purchase. I spoke to each of the three companies I thought would provide the best service. I chose 21st Century Eloquence.
I could not be happier with my choice. Fritz helped me with the Initial process and has been very positive during my phone conversations with him. You have been outstanding. You are able to provide instruction in a manner that allows me to both understand what it is I need to do and allows me to accomplish the task with your assistance.
I now find that I can do psychological reports, letters, developed macros and even correct errors (most of which I have caused). You have been an excellent trainer. I find that I'm less and less dependent on either the manual for Dragon Naturally Speaking 7 or your assistance.
Keep up the good work. I'm pleased to have you and Fritz as backups. I hope the two of you will be available to all the clients of 21st Century Eloquence for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Steven P. Dingfelder, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist