Hey all! I got my software for Dragon 9 today...just getting ready to try installing it. I was bidding on Version 8, but was outbid and ended up getting a good buy on 9 Preferred instead...also ordered a Plantronics headset--the one set up for VR--but it won't be here till next week. I may try one of my son's headsets from his X-Box just to get it installed, if it will work.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has any tips for getting started with it. New software scares me!! And I don't have a clue how it works.

Thanks for any help...

I Love my Dragon 9 It's very easy to install.. All I can suggest is that you go to the Dictionary and add some words such as TOS, Brachial Plexus etc..I had it misintrepid a few words a couple times Lets just say I'm glad I caught them.. Once you get your upgraded headset it will work so much better.. I'm still learning too...But what a great program...
Enjoy it.. It just takes a little time to train it.

Dawn

With Dragon I read everything to it. Not just the one story that stops at a certain training point but keep going.

I read the Alice in Wonderland, Then the space oddysee, then JFK speech. Not sure what they use now, but the more I read it learned my voice.


Read the book to utilize some shortcuts too. I am not as adempt as some dragon users that set up macros for all kind of shortcuts, but I can lear how to use the prompts; "correct that". It gives me a list after it highlights it and then I can choose.

I used a headset that came with it for a long long time, and had maybe three words on the whole document I was preparing for school. By using doctors names and saying correct that as they misspelled,, I would type it correct and everytime after that it spelled it correct.

There are ways to teach it to spell each letter, to say numbers, hyphen, dash, comma, period, get familar with it.

Even the first time with minimal amount of training and the few ways I elarned to spell things, I had a great releif to my hands.

My only problem now is sitting ehre with everyone listening to me dictate.
Especially my youngest when she would sing or make lound sounds into my mic when I was working.

Take the time to really use it for everything.
I am not sure if you can train this version to open the desk top and Internet and go ti sites, but the professional version that Witnessea used she could.
I have not seen her post in a month but will ask if she drops by.

I woiuld like to learn how to teach it to change fonts, BOLD, underline, set margines and everything...but I am not sure this version even will.
Good luck!
Dianne

Hello! Thank you both for your tips. I am using Dragon right now. And trying to get used to it. The only microphone. I have right now. It's my daughters, plastic one from her toy computer. I think it will probably work much better when I get my new headset :-).

I can see. I'll have to keep practicing! Too many pauses! This is definitely good for a laugh tonight though!



Edited to add: We are rolling on the floor laughing! I tried to start a letter to my son Jacob...It called him "Shakeup"! We were all laughing so hard I couldn't get the microphone to shut off, and it kept adding more words that made no sense at all!

I'm typing this addition...I have to compose myself enough to start talking again

I love my dragon it is my baby

I didn't read much to it as it read my documents in the cpu and has my previous info from dragon 7 to use....but I correct and train as I go, perhaps the wrong way to go, but that is how I do it!! I should have read to it......however I have reinstalled the cpu so many times now and reformatted and lost so much but it still does a good job

dont fear it you are the boss!!!
best of luck training it!!

love and hugs,
Victoria

Hi Donna
I have Dragon v9 and it is a hand saver. One really important thing to me is the copy paste function. I read to it a lot.
Yes, you will get lots of laughs from the way it spells things. Sometimes I don't even correct it, it is so funny. I will say that when my voice changes, like in the morning it is gruff, I have to sip water so it can understand me. Have fun with it.
Hope

Thanks! The plastic microphone isn't cutting it anymore...it no longer passes the audio signal, so I have to wait for my headset to arrive. I'm thinking of all the things I can use it for, though...we homeschool, and I'll be able to use it for all sorts of school assignments and lists for my girls.

I think it will be a big help, and it's much more user friendly than I expected!

Hi

I quickly skipped over from the RSD Forum. I have full body RSD and very limited use of my arms.

I found that Dragon is quite successful as long as I'm willing to correct mistakes as I go along. The biggest issue I have with it is that as my voice is a gravelly it can find my voice hard to understand when I'm tired and in an awful lot of pain. In general it works really well for Uni work and for MSN or e-mail. It's also really useful not having to use a mouse and being able to search the Internet without using my arms.

I also use Dragon nine as well as a folding Plantronics headset. The headset is totally worth it as it definitely improves speech recognition and is generally just a better quality piece of equipment.

The two easiest ways to train appear to be letting Dragon read through your own files or reading lots of books through Dragon to make it dictate. There is a really good tutorial on the programme which could help explain how to edit text or cut and paste etc.

Good luck!!

FRxxx

Hey, Frogga, thanks! Sounds like I got the same headset...the problem is with letting Dragon view my files, most of my personal writing is in Works (I dislike Word and only use it for things I'll need to send someone)...it doesn't read Works files...also I dislike Outlook and use web-based e-mail, which it also doesn't read. It will work in Yahoo and on my message boards, and will of course do documents in Works, just won't read the My Docs files for training.

I have a wireless mouse I can use in my lap, with little arm movement, so that's good for getting around. Should have my headset by Weds, and plan to do a lot of training!