First Look: Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9
Voice-Recognition Software
The latest edition of the venerable program is
impressive but not perfect.
By:
Jennifer Berger,
Over the years, Dragon NaturallySpeaking
voice-recognition software has helped disabled users,
as well as those in dictation-heavy fields. I looked
at the
shipping version of the $200 Dragon NaturallySpeaking
9 Preferred, which includes features for customizing
some commands, as well as full support for most
popular business programs.
While this version offers excellent accuracy in
capturing verbal commands, current vendor
Nuance's claim
that NaturallySpeaking 9 Preferred is 99 percent
accurate untrained seems a reach, based on my testing.
To adjust the software to your voice, Nuance suggests
reading training excerpts, a process that takes about
5 minutes. (I didn't read the excerpts, as I'm
familiar with the software.) I tested the software by
taking a 675-word business article from a
general-interest Web site and dictating it into
Microsoft
Word.
Close, but Not Quite 99 Percent
A new-user file I created in
NaturallySpeaking 8 Professional
gave me 94 percent accuracy, while NaturallySpeaking
9 Preferred, untrained, produced 96 percent accuracy,
not quite the 99 percent
Nuance
promises. Although the company says that accuracy
varies by sound quality and by how a person talks, my
PC has a top-grade sound card, and I enunciated
when I spoke.
While 96 percent accuracy falls short of the claimed
mark, it's still impressive. And consider this: The
app put the text on the page at about 150 words
per minute. I typed the same article at 71 words per
minute--a blue-ribbon rate for typists, but slothful
compared with dictation.
Headset Support
The Vansonic HG-GEN headset that comes with both the
Standard and Preferred editions of the software is not
terribly difficult to adjust for good recognition
results, but the hard plastic can squeeze the ear
uncomfortably after a while.
The Preferred software adds official support for two
Bluetooth headsets: the
BlueParrott TalkPro B1000-GTX USB
(about $290) and the
Xovox XCommunicator5
(about $200). In contrast to version 8, it also
supports more digital voice recorders, which you can
use on the road and then plug into your PC at the
office to transcribe. I didn't test these two
features.
Mozilla Products Supported
Version 9 works famously with Microsoft Word and
Excel, and it adds support for Mozilla's Firefox Web
browser and Thunderbird e-mail client. Regrettably,
my experiences with Firefox and Thunderbird voice
support were fraught with "now-it-works,
now-it-doesn't" moments. And dictation accuracy relies
partly
on the context of the words, which you lose when
giving your computer isolated commands like "click
link."
In general, Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Preferred is
best for writing or dictating. Only with
practice--akin to learning a new language--is it
satisfying
to use for navigating your PC for a true hands-off
experience. If you're a version 8 user, you hardly
have a reason to upgrade. But if you've been curious
about voice recognition, now would be a good time to
try it out.
Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 Preferred
PCW
86
Newest version of venerable voice-recognition software
provides excellent performance but doesn't quite live
up to its maker's claims.
Price when reviewed: $200
www.nuance.com
Current prices
(if available)
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