People get a little self-conscious when it comes to speech recognition software programmes like Dragon. Being based primarily on the voice, recording sound and having the ability to playback your voice… it’s bound to happen. Most aren’t used to hearing their own voice, let alone use it to transcribe documentation as a substitute for typing. So, you’re not on your own if the thought has crossed your mind… will it pick up my voice?
Many prospective users worry about their accent and the nuances of their speech patterns. The good news is that in most cases you don’t need to speak the Queen’s English or sip a cup of tea with your little finger slightly raised. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, Dragon doesn’t understand English so it’s more concerned with the peaks and troughs of sound waves than if your accent is too thick, your volume is too low or your voice is too deep.
Doing a microphone set up will make allowances for volume. When it comes to speech recognition and learning, the software responds best to consistency. Keeping a uniform volume and natural speaking voice are best. It wasn’t called Dragon NaturallySpeaking for nothing! You don’t need to change the way you say words for Dragon to work but it can be useful in pointing out words it has difficulty recognising. You could adjust the way you say something, but repeating or correcting the word ordinarily solves the problem.
Dragon may encourage you to speak more clearly if you tend to talk quickly. For most users, however, the biggest hurdle will be ensuring your voice and enunciation stays clear towards the end of a busy day. Your vocal chords will take time to adjust to speaking more often in the day as you get used to the software. Yet, it’s also good to be more self-aware when it comes to your delivery.
Have a glass of water on standby when you’ve been doing a lot of dictation. Your vocal chords will adjust as you practice and integrate speech recognition software into your daily routine.