Nuance comm K609AGC3110, K609A-GC3-11.0, K609A-WN9-11.0 manual What should I expect from Dragon?

User Guide

5This guide also includes tips and notes to help you use the software more effectively. Tips and notes appear like this:

NOTE: If you pause correctly, but Dragon still types a command as dictation, you can force it to recognize what you say as a command by holding down the CTRL key.

With Numbers Mode on, Dragon tries to interpret everything you say as a number. If you dictate words, the results will be unpredictable. However, you can still navigate menus and switch between programs by voice when Numbers Mode is on.

What should I expect from Dragon?

One reason to use Dragon is to boost your productivity. Another is to reduce the strain using a computer puts on hands, eyes, shoulders, etc. Maybe you like the idea of being able to lean back in your chair, put your feet up on the desk, and still get work done.

Dragon works by using sophisticated acoustic and statistical models; it can quickly adapt to you in various ways, becoming familiar with the sound of your voice as well as the particular words you use in your dictations. For best results, you should develop simple habits such as positioning your microphone consistently, dictating punctuation, speaking clearly and evenly, pausing briefly before and after voice commands, and taking advantage of the easy tools Dragon offers to optimize accuracy: for instance, adding to Dragon's vocabulary your own jargon, acronyms, phrases or words for which you want a special pronunciation or spelling. Dragon lets you import lists of vocabulary entries all at once; you can even point Dragon to texts that are similar to what you plan to dictate and it will quickly "study" them.

Personalizing Dragon's vocabulary is easy, and very important for productivity, since it preempts recognition errors. (If a word you dictate is not in Dragon's vocabulary, the software cannot transcribe it.) Properly correcting Dragon's errors will also help it learn. The more you use Dragon, the more opportunities the software will have to adapt to you, both in terms of acoustics and in terms of language.

3