I agree with wheelchair and Steve. Evaluation does help and many occupational therapist centers have the ability to lead the prospective client try out the software first hand.
I have been using Dragon products since 1995 (started with Dragon dictate 3.0). I just purchased Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 preferred. Actually it was purchased for me, because I just wanted an upgrade to my professional NaturallySpeaking product. I'll let you know how that works. According to a couple of my sight impaired friends, Jaws is the best software, but I haven't heard from them in awhile, so it may have changed. On Mon, Jan 25, 2010 at 6:35 PM, Steve Oldaker <[email protected]>wrote: > I concur with W's comments below. That stated, I don't if they can work > concurrently, but here is my input on your questions below: > > > > 1. PC or Mac? - Definitely PC for the products referred to below > > > > 2. Best dictation or speech software? - Dragon NaturallySpeaking is the > industry leader. I have used is for well over 10 years. Excellent product. > Go to http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/ for details. > > > > 3. Best screen reading software? - JAWS is the industry leader. 3 of my > blind cousins use it daily. Go to > http://www.freedomscientific.com/products/fs/jaws-product-page.asp for > details. > > > > Training on either product is advised for most users. > > > > Hope this helps, > > > > Steve - C4, 21 years > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Monday, January 25, 2010 6:04 PM > *To:* [email protected]; [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [QUAD-L] Computer information needed > > > > Perhaps now would be a good time for your friend to be evaluated by an OT > to determine function, strengths and weaknesses. Some rehab clinics and > major hospitals have centers where people go and test various equipment > before making the choice. This is most important if the person is receiving > government funding. > > Best Wishes > > > > In a message dated 1/25/2010 4:59:25 P.M. Central Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > Hi everyone, > > I have a friend that wants to get a computer the problem is we don't know > what would work best for him because he is legally blind so he would need > something to read everything for him and also some kind of speech > recognition for him to control the computer. He had a accident when he > was young and because of complications his arm and hand functions are > similar to a higher level quad. > > We need to know the following. > > 1 PC or Mac or what? > > 2 What kind of dictation or speech recognition would be best? > > 3 What kind of reading software would be best? > > Answers to these questions and any other ideas or suggestions would be > greatly appreciated. > > Thanks > Todd > > I check the archives once in awhile but I haven't received emails from the > quad-list > for several years because I've been busy with other things and haven't had > time to > keep up with it. > >
