Saturday, January 12, 2013

Software Review – Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12

This past Christmas, my wonderful Wife gave me a copy of Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 software (Home Edition).

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is dictation software package designed to convert naturally talking to text.  The program was simple to load on both my Windows 7 and Windows 8 Computers.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking has some minor set-up steps you must complete to create a “user profile” before you can use the program. I thought the steps were rather simple and was up and ready to use very quickly.

Before installing the software you should connect the microphone to your PC Sound System. Dragon 12 came with a new Audio to USB adapter for connecting the provided headset and microphone to your computer. 

Once the software is installed, you are ready for your initial run where you complete several steps that will create your user profile. Speaking into you microphone and speaking naturally you will be taken through steps that will (1) perform a microphone check, (2) perform a sound quality check and (3) will complete a short dictation session to enable the software to create your initial “user profile.”

There’s an interactive tutorial you can complete and you can personalize your profile vocabulary by having the software analyze documents and e-mails that you have created. This step will also update your dictionary with “common used” words found while analyzing these documents.

Now we are set-up and ready for our first dictation session.

The first dictation session was a breeze and took me about 2 minute to complete a short Last Will and Testament.  

As genealogist and family historians we acquire a massive amount of documents. This software has the following advantages and uses:

1.       Definitely make writing faster
2.       Used to Transcribe Deeds & Wills
3.       Dictating letters of correspondence
4.       Case studies and proof arguments
5.    Research Reports (the list is endless)


On the negative side is the inevitable error that will occur with the pronunciation of words and our individual accents. After all, this is a machine; it does not have the capabilities to analyze what you are thinking when you say something. 

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 is a terrific piece of software that has greatly aided me in my genealogical pursuits in the short two weeks I have used it.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 comes with the following items and accessories: headset w/microphone, Audio USB Adapter for headset, Software disk, Quick Reference Card

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 can be used on any PC running Window 98 SE (Second edition and all other subsequently versions including Windows 8. (Not approved on software as ready for Windows 8 but I am using it successfully on Windows 8)

There is also FlexT9 and Dragon Dictation for your Android and iPhone. 

I highly recommend Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 to all genealogists, both novice and professional. Dragon Naturally Speaking 12 is not cheap. My copy was purchased at significantly reduced price during the Christmas shopping season.  I am not an agent, nor do I work for Nunace, I have no connection with them other than registering my copy of their program.

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