New idea
 

I got the new Dragon software for Christmas. You speak into a headset and it types for you. For those of us that can't type it is a great invention plus I believe it would help those who have trouble with their fingers or hands I'm currently using it to type this or even those like me who can't type. My wife bought it at Walmart and I think it was $50 they have two or three versions but this cheap version works great. I priced one at Office Depot and it was $80. I recommend it for all those who think they might be able to use it.
Mike

Mike, I recommended this to a friend of mine who doesn't like to type but loves to talk and wanted to put together stories about her life with pain.

Obviously, for MGers who can't speak well for long, it's not great. But, alternating between muscle groups, using Dragon and then typing, might be a great way to adapt to MG.

It's not a great alternative for those like me with bulbar issues but I LOVE this software. Think about all of the older people we know who hate to use computers but whose stories we'd all love to save. I think about my Mom and her brothers and sisters who lived through times like the Great Depression on a farm and have so many great stories to tell.

Thanks for bringing this up!

Annie

Funny you should mention family stories. I spend 4-6 hours a day doing family research and just love it. I use Ancestry to post my data for all to see. I go nuts when I get an old family photo.
Mike

I have times when I can write but not read, or listen but not talk. So, can relate to that.

Although a good friend told me that I should read out-loud what I write and that would make my sentences more clear and much shorter.

I use a very soft key-board, and also have a mouse that requires very little force. (trackball). http://www.kensington.com/kensington...use%C2%AE.aspxand have good support for my arms, so only need to mostly use the tips of my fingers when I type.

This was the advice of my Occupational Therapist and made a difference for me. So, maybe it can help others.

That's what it is all about!! Helping others. I have gotten so much helpful information from this board. I just want to help out in any small way.
Mike

Don't be trying to use Dragon Naturally Speaking if you have an accent ;) It works great for people from NE and Western US... Texans and people from the British Isles tend to have a lot of frustration with it.

I've used it in the past, I'm faster & more accurate with a keyboard. I do have a full split keyboard which works well for me (but I'm a touch-typist). I'm glad that Dragon works well for you. For anybody using Windows 7, there's a free "Windows Speech Recognition" application built in that you can try out (under accessories, ease of access) before you buy Dragon. Dragon is much better and very much worth the purchase if speech->text works for you.

Texans and people from the British Isles tend to have a lot of frustration with it.

Funny you should mention that - my car's voice-data recognition system and I have gone round and round, and I've finally given up on her.

The gal cain't drawl fer nuttin'...... :D

What a hoot! Well it works well for me on 90% of my words (southern). Just can't give up some of that drawl.
Mike

I use the accessibility version of that software in my Windows Vista OS. It works great and I am just about done my B.A. program with it!:)

The more I use it the more I like it. Being a one finger typer this is like a godsend! It saves me a ton of time.
Mike