Preditors & Editors ™
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Writing With the Dragon:
A Voice Recognition Primer
An opinion by S.N.Arly.
So you're a writer, and you've heard about voice recognition software. Perhaps you're considering using it, because it sounds like a pretty nifty invention. Then again, you may have maimed yourself along the way and need alternative ways to get your stories out of your head and onto paper.
Most people who get as far as trying out voice recognition software are either curious or desperate. If you're curious, you can probably skip ahead to the next paragraph. If you're in the desperate category, as I was a few years ago, I can already hear the arguments forming. "Voice recognition? No way! I think with my fingers, not with my mouth." Many writers get apoplectic when you even suggest the smallest modification to their routine. Hogwash, I say. The human species is incredibly adaptable, and the muse will not leave you simply because you have changed your ways. It's plain stupid, not brave, to put up with and add to your pain when there are options.
There are a lot of things to keep in mind when considering voice recognition software. I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking (TM), but most of these tips are applicable to any recognition program.
Don't expect it to be perfect, especially not right away. Many people expect voice recognition software to be absolutely perfect from the get go and are then quite disappointed by the results. You will have to spend some time training the program to recognize your voice before you can even start to use the software. Initial training isn't difficult or time consuming. Since no two people pronounce everything exactly the same, the program has to tailor itself to the individual voice, so each user has their own profile. A good program will continue to learn and adapt after the initial training as the voice profile is used and corrections are made. I don't expect my current software to recognize me with100% accuracy. Maybe some of the upgrades down the way will, but until then, I expect to make corrections during my dictation, and with practice there have been fewer. Despite the need for occasional corrections, it is still faster than I used to type on a good day. Again, don't expect to be fast right away. Remember, learning curve.
Train yourself, not just the software. Since I mumble, and I'm not a big fan of speech for communication, I've had to train myself to speak properly. I've learned to enunciate, at least when I'm dictating. I've also learned to speak stories in complete sentences. This may sound frighteningly basic, but for those of us who are biologically wired to create via the written word, speaking a story is a new and clumsy process. Story tellers and story writers are most certainly not the same thing. The first story I wrote with Dragon was an exercise in academic torture. Each sentence and phrase came out about three words at a time with great long pauses in between as I tried to figure out what I was doing. I've never had to think so hard when writing before, or since. Since Dragon NaturallySpeaking (TM) is designed to recognize natural speech, you don't need to talk slower than usual. The software uses context for selecting the proper homonym. It also uses context to attempt to catch misrecognition so you don't have to make corrections. My slow and stilted style from the first few months gave the Dragon quite a challenge.
While you may not have the ideal set up, get as close to ideal as possible. If your system comes out on the low end during the initial sound test, double check the microphone. How far is it from your mouth? Adjust it, and try again. Placement can make a significant difference. Are you talking into the right side of the microphone? Mine was rotated about 45 degrees from true for the first six months or so, and since it recognized my speech with reasonable accuracy I didn't check it for a long time. The recognition improved a lot with proper orientation. Also make sure you're plugged into the right jacks on the computer. Most newer computers don't give you a lot of options in this department, and sockets and plugs tend to be nicely color coded. My computer is a homebrew without the convenient color coding and it has three jacks. One is for a microphone and one is for the speakers. I've never figured out what the extra is for.
I'm using Dragon NaturallySpeaking (TM) Preferred version 3.01. The computer I started with was a 400 MHz Pentium II with only 64 MB of RAM, which isn't ideal, so I didn't operate any other software while using Dragon. Although it did work with my preferred word processor, my system dogged down and recognition was less accurate. I'm now using a 700 MHz Athalon with 256 MB of RAM. Processor speed and memory are the two most significant factors and hard drive space is less of an issue, although voice files can get pretty big. I also started out with the freebie microphone that came with the software, and I ran through my Sound Blaster sound card. I've since upgraded to the Dragon NaturallyClear(TM) USB microphone with built in sound card. The advantage is that its sound card is designed solely for speech, while a regular sound card has to try to manage everything from video games to symphonies, resulting in lower quality speech processing.
I still use Dragon's built in word processor and convert to Word Perfect (TM) when I'm done because I figure it can't hurt to give Dragon every benefit I can.
Know when to save. Every time I close Dragon, it asks if I want to save the changes to my voice files. If I say no, any corrections I made to misrecognized words or new words and names that I have used during the session will not be added to the voice profile. Generally you want to save your voice files as often as possible. I also keep an offsite backup since I've trained the software to recognize a number of unusual, foreign, and science fiction specific words. If I have a sore throat, stuffy nose, or a cold, I don't save my voice files. I've not gotten around to creating a profile for my sick writing days, but this is a good option, particularly when you have an ailment that tends to linger.
Don't give up. I would never say that it is easy to learn to use this software, but it's not any harder than learning to type. Take your time and go slowly. Expect to correct (and remember that it's not always the fault of the program).
Other tips:
To prevent voice strain, always have something to drink on hand, and actually drink it. I use a straw so I don't have to keep adjusting the microphone. Don't try to speak unusually loudly or quietly, and take breaks.
When first starting out, do it when no one else is home. You'll feel less like someone is reading over your shoulder.
Limit external noises such as music or fans. I've found that Dragon gets most annoyed when I hum.
Don't dictate right after eating, especially if you have had chocolate or dairy products which can coat the vocal cords. Gargling with salt water or drinking grapefruit juice sometimes helps.
Let yourself be amused. If Dragon makes a mistake, laugh. It's not the end of the world.
Other notes:
Dragon NaturallySpeaking recognizes two forms of speech. Natural speech for when you are dictating, and command speech for your instructions to the program. Commands work best when issued separate from dictation. You will develop a command tone of voice.
Some of my favorite Dragon commands include:
"What can I say?" To provide a listing of verbal commands
"Correct that" To bring up a correction box for the the last chunk of text dictated
"Scratch that" To remove the last chunk of text dictated from the document.
"Go to sleep" To turn off your microphone until you use the "wake-up" command
"Click file save" Which will give you the file drop-down menu followed by a virtual click on save.
Some of my favorite Dragonisms (errors in recognition) include:
"The whiskers on his muffled pickles." instead of "The whiskers on his muzzle tickled."
"she spur eaten" instead of "she scurried"
"She held her breast for a moment." instead of "She held her breath for a moment."
"His eyes were beast teaching." instead of "His eyes were beseeching."
"Behold I was brought forth in a quickie." instead of "Behold I was brought forth in iniquity."
Other places to look for information on VR:
Dragon Systems
Freedom of Speech
Typing Injury FAQ
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