Pros and Cons of using speech to Text Voice Recognition Programs

This article could save you money on buying all different programs by explaining some of the pros and cons of using speech to text programs. By using these types of programs you should find it easier to earn money writing articles on the internet and save you a lot of time in the process.

Speech to Text can also be used for the home business person for keeping all sorts of documents and records. This is also very useful for those with a disability or arthritis in their hands as it records everything you say into text without the use of a keyboard. This also reduces the use of strain on your hands when using the mouse. (Sorry I do not think it will help you to play games)

There are several programs and recorders that you can use to dictate your articles into a word program with the use of a microphone and speakers. It is so simple to use although the programs need you to do a fair bit of training so that the computer can understand the way each person speaks.

It can also be used by multiple users on one computer. Keep in mind that some people find it easier to train it to understand the way they speak easier than others.

• Speech to text program
• Microphone
• Speakers
• A clear voice
• A quiet room
• Recorder

If you are speaking directly into your computer you can use a headset, although you need to make sure not to have the microphone too close to your mouth. This will lessen the sounds of interference more than a microphone standing on your computer desk.

You can also use a recording device that you can dictate into while out walking, or when the creative ideas pop into your head so you do not forget them. Then you will need to upload these recordings into your speech to text program on your computer.

Why use speech to text

By using speech to text you will save more time especially those people not as quick at typing. Most people can talk faster than they can type.

The majority of programs will work with Notepad, word pad, Microsoft office, Open Office and also work with your email and Internet Explorer.

Commands

Speech to text programs recognize the way you speak. After specific training the program will learn special commands like ''delete last sentence'' ''start notepad,'' ''correct a word'' and many other commands.

Training it to suit your requirements

With time and patience you can set it up to your suit your personal preferences doing things your way with your own special settings and wording. This could also be used for difficult medical records and hard to spell words.

Dragon Naturally Speaking is a popular program which has been around for many years and has made many improvements since then. This program has a home version that does not work with excel or power point which the Premium version does.

There are many other speech to text programs to try some are even offered as free to download from the internet.

Personally I have a lisp and found that when using Naturally Speaking with a small desk microphone or a head set I could not get it to understand me correctly even after several training sessions, which was very frustrating.

Windows 7 Speech Recognition

I recently bought a new all in one HP 310 Computer with a touch screen and found that this program is working well for me. The HP all in one computer has inbuilt speakers and microphone which picks up my voice even with the TV on low in same room. The program is on the Home Premium windows; to find this go to start, click on control panel and look for speech recognition. This program is free and works without clashing with other programs.

The screen on this computer has inbuilt speakers and microphone so there was nothing extra to buy and less clutter on my desk

I did a couple of training sessions and am amazed as to the ease of how it has understood what I have to say.

• It is so much quicker
• You can dictate while out walking with a recorder
• less stress on your fingers
• It works with most programs, documents and emails
• Help prevent back pain as you spend less time at your computer
• With correct commands it can open and close programs
• It does many short cut commands without toughing your computer

Cons of using a Speech to Text program

• You need to have patience
• Takes time to train it to understand you
• Some programs work better than others
• Your speech could affect the result of using voice recognition

Mac Users

You can Also buy programs to suit the mac users. So do not panic you have not been forgotten.

Conclusion

If you are busy and need to work faster on your computer then a speech to text voice recognition program is well worth trying. Even if you are not the best speaker; a little bit more practice on your part will improve the way it listens and interprets your commands.