Dragon’s voice recognition software is just short of miraculous. Seeing the words appear on screen and transcribing a user’s voice still seems like magic when people see it in action. While the concept may make sense to most computer users, it seems that “seeing is believing” is still the case with Dragon.
Having been in the speech recognition game for so long, it comes as some surprise when people are still skeptical about the software’s out-of-the-box ability. Even some users who have seen other experienced people using it are still hesitant to commit to adopting the programme. Here are some reasons you may be resistant.
1. Does it do what it says on the box?
Yes. Dragon has promised accuracy of up to 99% for almost two decades. While 100% accuracy would be nice, the system isn’t built with an all-seeing vocabulary, which means you will have to add custom entries. The software also deciphers sound patterns and relies on its user’s voice, which can fluctuate based on whether someone has a cold or is tired. The bottom line is that it works and performs even better with a few tweaks and a sound understanding of how to get the best results. This is why training is always recommended.
2. Will I use it enough to justify the purchase?
We tell our users to make a point of putting the headset on when they boot their PCs. It’s important to establish new habits and avoid falling into old ones. Luckily the software is usable from Day 1 and accurate enough to make it a valuable bolt-on productivity tool out-of-the-box. Before you buy Dragon, try to figure out how much document generation you require. We think it’ll save hours and pay for itself in a matter of months, feasible for anyone who writes emails or documents or provides feedback or does occasional drafting. How much you use it is up to you and taking some coaching definitely helps you make the first few hurdles.
3. Will it work with my voice?
Dragon has versions for many different languages. The software adjusts its language model based on regions. Even if your region isn’t represented like in South Africa, you can opt to select the option where an accent isn’t specified. It’s rare that someone isn’t able to have the software adjust to the unique characteristics of their voice. While a thick accent may take a bit more massaging for the system to readjust, it is possible. If you find people struggle to hear what you’re saying over the phone and are concerned, talk to us and we’ll see what we can do.
If you’re in a place where you’re considering Dragon, chances are you don’t need to test or demo the software, unless you have serious reservations about whether it’ll work with your voice (it happens so rarely, it’s almost a non-issue). While there isn’t a demo version of the software, we can arrange a trial* in which you’ll get to launch the software a few times in order to get a feel for your usage. Contact us so we can start saving you hours and hours of your time today.
*We don’t offer a plug-and-play type do-it-yourself trial but are able to assist remotely wherever you are.