DSPS Connection

May 1998

DragonDictateÔ

Dragon Systems is a leader in voice-activated products for personal computer users with disabilities. DragonDictate (TM), one of their voice recognition programs, is a phenomenal software program designed for students who have difficulty using the regular keyboard for typing or who have written language (grammar, spelling, etc.) learning disabilities. DragonDictate (TM) is a voice activated dictation program that prints words spoken into a microphone onto the computer screen as you speak. It adapts to the voice, and vocabulary of each individual user, and can be adjusted to accommodate noise levels in various work environment.

When a student first uses DragonDictate (TM), the program creates a personal voice file that contains words and pronunciations unique to the student. It adapts to the way each student speaks certain words and continually modifies its internal language models to better reflect individual use of semantics and syntax. Using this adaptability feature, the program improves dictation speed and accuracy over time. Each time a word is spoken that the program finds difficult to decipher, a box appears on the screen with a list of words it thinks that might have said. Then all that must be done is to choose the correct word from the list and continue to dictate.

This program is a wonderful keyboard alternative, and is a leader in voice activated products for PC users with disabilities.

By: Jill Huttenbrauck,
Adjunct Learning Disabilities Specialist