"Speech recognition software…science fact or science fiction?"

Many predictions portrayed in popular science fiction of the last 50 years have become a reality. We developed rockets to land people on the moon in the 1960’s; invented mobile phones to text & talk to people miles away in the 1970’s which become commercially available in the 1980’s; created site-to-site tele-transportation devices in the late 1990’s to allow us to travel from one side of the planet to another in less than one minute.

OK…that last statement was fiction, but one of the other great advancements in technology was the invention of speech recognition software allowing us to control computers & mobile devices by voice. FACT. This technology allows us to type letters and control applications in a way that is more natural than using a clunky keyboard and mouse…so which of the following statements about ‘Dragon NaturallySpeaking’ (the industry standard speech recognition software) is FACT and which is FICTION…answers at the end of the blog!

1. Dragon knows in advance what you are going to say.

2. Dragon learns from your mistakes and when you get things right.

3. Dragon can automatically insert commands and full stops into letters without being told.

4. If you record a meeting with lots of people in it, Dragon can translate every persons' speech and colour code the transcription.

5. ‘Dragon NaturallySpeaking v12’ works in conjunction with ‘Thoughtfully Speaking v1’, the world’s first thought-to-text software to make writing e-mails & letters even faster.

6. Dragon can control almost all Windows based applications.

Answers:
1. Although this sounds like a fictional statement, in part, this statement is a fact. Dragon NaturallySpeaking has been programmed to know in general what human voices sound like, how to model the characteristics of a given voice, the basic sounds that make up the English language and the range of ways that different voices make those sounds. It has also been given a basic English vocabulary and some overall statistics about which words are likely to follow which other words. (For example, the word legal is more likely to be followed by citation than by size station)… so when you dictate a sentence, the first few words of that utterance allows Dragon to already start to predict the words/phrases that may follow and therefore Dragon may know in advance what you’re going to say!

2. NaturallySpeaking learns about your voice by listening to you. During the training process, you read out loud some text selections that NaturallySpeaking has stored in its memory. Because it already knows the text that you’re reading, NaturallySpeaking uses this time to model your voice and learn how you pronounce words. NaturallySpeaking goes on learning about your voice every time you use it. When you correct a word or phrase that NaturallySpeaking has guessed wrong, NaturallySpeaking adjusts its settings to make the mistake less likely in the future. Dragon also learns (when you don’t make a correction), that the pattern & context of the words/phrases dictated in a document or e-mail and uses this context in future recognitions…so this statement is a fact.

3. Whilst this statement is actually a fact (Dragon has a Natural Punctuation feature which inserts commands and full stops automatically), we generally turn this feature off allowing the user to insert these punctuation marks themselves when & where specifically required.

4. Unfortunately, the current power of speech recognition technology cannot perform transcription from multiple simultaneous sources i.e. lots of people in a meeting talking at the same time. Dragon is trained to listen to one specific voice (yours!) and so the level of recognition accuracy would be very low if Dragon attempted to use the same voice file/model for different people...so this is fiction. However, Dragon users ARE able to make audio recordings into a digital recorder, whilst in a meeting, which can then be downloaded onto their PC.  Dragon can then turn this audio into a text document automatically. It’s like having your very own PA!

5. Whilst there have be great advancements in technology that can monitor brain activity and turn the electrical impulses into basic actions, we are not at the stage that a computer can translate your thoughts into text on the screen (also, there is no such software as ‘Thoughtfully Speaking’…but if there is in the future, you read it here first!) so this statement is unfortunately fiction.

6. Fact. Out of the box, Dragon is able to dictate text into main stream applications such MS Word, WordPerfect, Outlook, Excel, Internet Explorer etc. and control these applications using voice commands built into the software. For applications that don’t already have voice commands, the Professional, Legal and Medical versions of Dragon allow you to create new voice commands to access the menu, buttons, text fields and other components that make up your application. In this way you can customise Dragon to operate your specific software by voice. Furthermore, Dragon has a feature called the ‘Dictation Box’ which can be used to insert text into non-standard applications such as some web-based systems and Citrix based applications.

Freedom of Speech Ltd provide Dragon NaturallySpeaking software, training and on-going technical support. Whether you’re a solicitor looking to reduce the time to takes to type an e-mail or dictate a letter, a medical professional looking to create patient notes or simply a computer user that doesn’t want to use a keyboard and mouse to operate their PC, Dragon NaturallySpeaking is the solution for you. FACT.

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"BETTS Show - January 2014"

Last week we had the opportunity to attend the BETTS show in London and so we wanted to share our experience with you.

The BETT show is a yearly technology awareness event held in the Excel Centre, London.  Founded in 1985 it was formally known at the British Educational Training and Technology show.

The first show was held in January 1985 at the Barbican Centre, London. The event has grown over the years and opens its doors to around 30 thousand visitors from over 100 countries. In 2013 the show was hosted in the Excel Centre, London to accommodate the amount of visitors walking through the doors.

There are around 700 technology companies who market their products to schools, colleges and other educational establishments. With seminars taking place throughout the events schedule, visitors are kept entertained during their visit.

One of the most popular seminars this year was a talk by the voice of Apple’s ‘Siri’ who is the voice activated assistant available on the iPad and iPhone. Siri’s speech caused a massive hype on Twitter and as a result the hash tag Bett2014 (#Bett2014) was the 4th most popular trend on Twitter.

Students from primary, secondary and higher education are also involved and are encouraged to interact with the technology exhibited.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the BETT show. It is a busy, thriving environment with people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to learn about new technology. The atmosphere is one of passion and enthusiasm to provide the best for tomorrow. Our future, the children.

If you would like to be a part of the BETT show next year then keep an eye on the BETTs website for registration instructions. The dates next year have already been realised so registration is sure to follow soon.

www.bettshow.com
Tel: 020-3627-3650

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"To be trained or not to be trained…that is the question!"

You’ve just received your latest assistive technology software or digital audio recorder to help you write letters, manage your daily tasks, control your in-house database or record your dictated speech. However, without training on how to use it… 

???   How useful will your solution actually be to you   ???

???   Does it work with your applications   ???

???   Will you be able to use it to its full capability   ???

We asked an experienced software trainer at Freedom of Speech Ltd, who is (amongst other qualifications) a Dragon Certified Instructor and Texthelp Certified Trainer to comment on these, and other questions. This is what they had to say:

“I would estimate that a user would only be 50% effective in their understanding of a new software application without formal training i.e. if they just had the manual or Help file to refer to. Imagine asking a new car owner who had not received driving lessons to drive from London to Edinburgh! A good trainer is able to show you all of the features of an application or device so that you can use the it effectively. Unfortunately, many software applications are supplied with lengthy and not very user friendly manuals leaving you no further forward.”

“A good trainer condenses how an application works into understandable, ‘bite sizes chunks’ of information and teaches you at your own pace ensuring you have understood a topic before moving onto the next one.“

“They will also ensure that you are shown all of the functionality of a new application and how it works in your system. For instance, a good Dragon NaturallySpeaking trainer will create new voice commands to operate your in-house applications by voice. An experienced Mind Manager trainer will show you how to create visual project maps for the specific topics you need to work on.”

If you do receive training, what qualifications should the trainer have?

“Ensure that the trainer has the appropriate qualifications or experience for the specific applications and devices that they are training you on.”

“For example, if you are going to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking ‘speech recognition’ software, ensure that your trainer is a Dragon Certified Instructor (normally known by the acronym DCI). They should be able to provide a copy of their DCI certificate to prove it. If you are going to use Texthelp Read & Write ‘text-to-speech’ software, ensure that your trainer is a Texthelp Certified Trainer. They should be able to provide a copy of their Texthelp training certificate to prove it.”

“By doing so, you have the reassurance that they have the necessary knowledge and experience to teach you how to use your solution effectively and in your environment.”

Do all training companies in the UK offer a high level of qualification and experience?

“Unfortunately not. There are a number of training companies in the UK who simply sell cheap training and provide sub-standard courses that are either not long enough (i.e. just a couple of hours!), provided by non-qualified staff (who don’t know their subject matter well) or do not meet the user’s specific needs. I often receive feedback from clients that have approached us after receiving poor quality training from other companies and feel like they can’t use their software properly. We are then able to turn their experience into a positive and effective one.”

What advice do you have when considering buying training services?

“My advice is that, when you in a position to book your training, phone a reputable training company, such as Freedom of Speech Ltd, and ask them to confirm their qualifications & experience (don’t be afraid to ask for copies of their training certificates). Ask them how they will tailor their training to your requirements. If you are in doubt, simply approach another training company that can provide you with a more suitable trainer.“

Do I have to use the company recommended in my assessment report?

“If you have been through the Access to Work scheme and have been provided with an assessment and subsequent report, you do not have to necessarily be trained by the company suggested in the report. You are able to phone the list of companies given (you should have a choice of at least 3) or other reputable company and see which one is most suited to your needs.”

What other services should I expect from a training company?

“Ask the company before you buy training from them, what technical support they offer after the training courses are complete. Many companies do not offer support on the product they train on. If you have a problem or query, who would then contact to help? As an example, if you bought a new car, you would expect a warranty with it to ensure the car keeps running after you have bought it…why should software training be any different?”

“Ensure that the training company has a dedicated technical support helpdesk (which is not normally something that 1 person companies can provide) that you can phone with any training or technical queries you have. Freedom of Speech Ltd provide this service as a standard part of their training service, free for 12 months after training.”

Freedom of Speech Ltd only employee qualified, experienced software trainers. We offer technical support after each training course to ensure that your software & hardware solutions work today, tomorrow and into the future. Contact us for pricing and availability…and even copies of our training qualifications and client feedback!

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"What happens in an Internet minute of time?"

Do you want to know what happens for every Internet minute that passes? If so, click the image below to reveal some amazing facts about the devices, applications and social media sites we use on a daily basis.

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"Dyslexia New Year Tips"

Welcome to 2014 and happy New Year!

Returning to work in the New Year is always a new experience. A new diary, a new calendar, a new rota at work…. Many things to manage and organise which for those with Dyslexia can be difficult.

So to help you, we have put together our most useful tips and strategies to help you keep organised and efficient in 2014.

STAY ORGANISED

Organisation is a process, not something that will be achieved and completed. Think of it as “being organised” or “staying organised” rather than “getting organised”.

Being organised optimises time, reduces stress and means that you will have more mental energy because you’re having fewer worries about forgetting something.

Choose a diary that has a day per page with the date written out in full and time slots. Use the bookmark so you know the day you’re on.

When taking notes or writing in your diary, try to draw images rather than words if it helps to remind you of the task at a later date.

Post it notes are your friends! They can be very useful to place on your door to remind you what you need to remember that day. Available in all the colours of the rainbow, perhaps you can have a different colour for each type of reminder? Green – household reminders, Red – work reminders, Yellow – Reminders for the children.
 

Highlighters should also be a close companion to you. Colour coding has been proven to help with organising as it makes notes pop out of the page and is attractive to the eye.

Put a notice board on your wall and use it to pin your important paperwork on. IE. A household bill that needs to be paid or a project dead line.

File your paperwork as you go. A small pile of paper work is much easier to manage and file away correctly than 6 months’ worth of paperwork. Filing cabinets are great if you know how to make them function for you. You may want to organise your files alphabetically or by category.  The most important thing is to keep it simple and easy on the eye. 





 

EFFICIENCY IN THE OFFICE

Don’t wait until you’re frazzled – schedule your breaks, no matter how brief they may be.




 

Stay on schedule. If you planned to take a 15 minute break at 12pm, you’d be better backing away from your desk at 12:01pm. The same goes for ending your breaks. Stay on time and you’ll find it easier to move in and out of your focused work mode without losing forward motion.

Taking down a phone message can be quite problematic to Dyslexics. Sometimes the telephone number ends up jumbled or you don’t quite get the message correct. It can quickly become a very stressful and frustrating task. Invest in a dictation machine. When taking messages, just press the record button and simply repeat their details as they say them and the information will be stored for you to listen back to and take note of the message in your own time.

MANAGING DISTRACTIONS

There will always be the call you MUST take, a fire alarm in the building or a colleague who needs your help. Interruptions happen, so focus on managing them so they have less impact on your tasks.

Acknowledge the interruption – the best interruptions are the ones we see coming. The worst tend to open our door without knocking and spill coffee all over important papers.  No matter the interruption, it’s not worth your time to get annoyed.  Doing so will just make it that much harder to return to work once the interruption is over.

Bookmark your idea – In the moments after the phone rings for the first time or you’ve said “come in” to the person knocking at your office door, you have a chance to note exactly where you were before the interruption. Part of the interruption process is to have sticky notes available to hand before the phone rings or somewhere you can bookmark your idea.

Minimise your immediate involvement – Many interruptions require more than just a one word answer. Colleagues require more than just a discussion, they want an action. The trick of staying productive is to just schedule your action for a later time.  If a colleague requires an immediate action, then say “I’ll have it for you in 20 minutes, when I’ve completed my own action”.  Follow through with quality & others will respect you for setting your own boundaries.

There are many other strategies and software that can assist with Dyslexia. If you would like further information, please contact Freedom of Speech.

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“What can Inspiration do for you? Taming mind mapping software – Part 1”

Mind mapping software is a great way to eliminate barriers to learning. This is an often-faced challenge for special needs students and their teams of parents, teachers and aides. Inspiration 9 mind mapping software allows you to structure your thoughts in a visual map.

If you are currently using Inspiration 9 software (or know someone who does) to create simple mind maps, read on…here are five tips to customise this software specifically for special needs users.

Tip 1: Eliminate issues of visual stress

It’s very common for students with Specific Learning Difficulties to suffer from visual stress, particularly when working with a white canvas. To eliminate this, Inspiration 9 gives students the ability to easily customise the colour palette and choose a background colour they’re more comfortable with. 

Simply right-click on the mouse and choose ‘Background Colour’ to create a softer backdrop.

 Tip 2: Re-discover the locations of Notes

As a default in Inspiration 9, once you click away from a note the notes icon will disappear. This can sometimes disorientate a student once they has several notes associated with different symbols. This results in the question, “Which symbols actually have notes?”

To keep notes permanently in view, go to View -> Quick Controls -> Always Show. This will permanently show all the notes icons.

 Tip 3: Use audio with Text-to-Speech

This built-in feature of Inspiration 9 allows text associated with symbols and notes to be read back to the user. This is great for auditory learners and students looking to work at their own pace. To use text-to-speech, just click on the following button in the main toolbar:

If the student can’t see the “Listen” icon, enable it by having him go to Utility -> Preferences -> Audio Tool and then click ‘Listen Tool’.

Tip 4: Quickly capture ideas using the Record Sound tool

This tool is a great quick ‘ideas’ capture tool for students who are reluctant writers or suffer from limited memory capacity issues. Each recording can last up to 60 seconds and is attached to a specific symbol.

To enable this feature go to: Utility -> Preferences–> Audio Tool and the click ‘Record Sound’. To add a recording to a symbol, right click on the mouse and choose Insert Video or Sound -> Record Sound.

Tip 5: Use the “Help” videos

It isn’t uncommon for a student to be burning the midnight oil on an assignment and get stuck on how to use a particular feature in Inspiration–but their tutor isn’t awake or available! Help is at hand, though, in the form of over sixty short video tutorials included with Inspiration 9.

Focused on specific features of Inspiration (e.g. ‘Using the RapidFire Tool’), these resources are available within the software. As long as students are online, they can access these 2-minute videos by going to ‘Learn to Use’ in the starter menu and choosing ‘Training Videos’.

We hope you find these tips useful and this has given you a flavour of the more powerful benefits of using this really productive application…watch this space for future instalments.

Inspiration mind mapping software is available from Freedom of Speech. We have qualified trainers available to train you in your workplace or home. Contact us for pricing and availability.

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