Dragon Systems DRAGON NATURALLYSPEAKING ESSENTIALS 4- User manual

Quick Start
Quick Start
03-101-40-01
Essentials
NaturallySpeaking
Dragon
TM

August 1999. Version 4.0.
Dragon Systems® may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter in this document. The furnishing of this
document does not give you any license to these patents. The software is subject to one or more of these U.S. patents: 4,783,803; 4,803,729;
4,805,218; 4,805,219; 4,829,576; 4,829,578; 4,837,831; 4,866,778; 4,903,305; 4,914,703; 5,027,406; 5,202,952; 5,428,707; 5,526,463; 5,680,511;
5,715,367; 5,754,972; 5,765,132; 5,794,189; 5,799,279; 5,809,453; 5,818,423; 5,822,730; 5,850,627; 5,903,864; 5,909,666; 5,915,236; 5,920,836;
5,920,837.
© Copyright 1999 Dragon Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this manual or software may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without the express written consent of Dragon Systems, Inc.
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those
designations appear in this book, and where Dragon Systems is aware of the trademark, the first occurrence of the designation is printed
with a trademark (™) or registered trademark (®) symbol.
Dragon Systems, the Dragon Systems logo, and NaturallySpeaking are registered trademarks and BestMatch, Select-and-Say, Vocabulary
Builder, and Vocabulary Editor are trademarks of Dragon Systems, Inc.
Corel and WordPerfect are registered trademarks of Corel Corporation.
GoldMine is a registered trademark of GoldMine Software Corporation.
Lotus and Lotus Notes are registered trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks and Outlook is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
03-101-40-01
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Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials iii
Contents
Starting Dragon NaturallySpeaking the first time 1
Welcome 2
Creating a user 2
Adjusting your microphone 4
Training Dragon NaturallySpeaking 6
Starting to Dictate 7
Preparing to dictate 7
Dictating 9
What is that small yellow box? 10
How do I add punctuation? 10
How do I start a new paragraph or line? 11
How do I erase the last thing I said? 11
How do I correct mistakes? 12
How do I revise text? 18
How do I undo an unwanted change? 18
How do I capitalize a word? 19
How do I copy text to another program? 19
How do I exit the program? 20
How do I become an expert? 21
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Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials
Dragon NaturallySpeaking®lets you talk to
almost any Windows®program instead of
typing. Use your mouse to click in any
window or text box, and then speak. Your
words are transcribed onto your screen and
into your document.
If the program makes a mistake, you can
correct it with a voice command, or just edit
your work later with the mouse and keyboard.
With Dragon NaturallySpeaking, you can:
■Compose memos and e-mail messages.
Just think about what you want to say, and
then say it into the microphone.
■Write a report or article. Brainstorm out
loud and capture your thoughts on screen.
■“Type up” notes from a meeting. When
you get back to your desk, simply read
your notes into the microphone.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking does more than
type for you. You can also start programs, open
menus, and click buttons by using your voice.
See your Quick Reference card for details.
If you use Internet Explorer to browse the
Web, you can use Dragon NaturallySpeaking
to follow links and go to favorite sites by
voice. See the online Help for details.
Starting Dragon
NaturallySpeaking
the first time
Start Dragon NaturallySpeaking from the
Windows Start menu.
▲ The name of your specific product edition
(NaturallySpeaking Essentials) appears on your Start
menu. The NaturallySpeaking menu may contain other
items not pictured here.
The first time you start Dragon
NaturallySpeaking, you need to create a
“user” before you can begin talking to the
computer. A user stores information the
program needs to recognize your speech (for
example, information about how you
pronounce different words).
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Welcome
The New User Wizard guides you through the
steps of creating a user. You may be able to
complete these steps without difficulty, but if
you have trouble you can find answers to
common questions in the following sections.
▲ The “Select user type” step appears only in Dragon
NaturallySpeaking Preferred and Professional.
Q: How long does it take to create a “user”?
Completing the New User Wizard usually
takes about 45 minutes.
The step in which you “train” Dragon
NaturallySpeaking for your voice may take
only a few minutes or up to 30 minutes,
depending on the speed of your computer.
While completing the wizard, you can take as
many breaks as you want. Just leave the
wizard running (and click the Pause button if
you’re training the program) and continue
when you’re ready.
Creating a user
On the Create User page, enter a name for
your user speech files and choose a speech
model and vocabulary.
Your speech files store all the information
Dragon NaturallySpeaking gathers about you,
such as how you pronounce different words
and which words you use most frequently.
Q: I don’t know which “speech model” to
choose.
A speech model provides Dragon
NaturallySpeaking with acoustical data about
the sound patterns that make up different
words. The wizard chooses a speech model for
you based on your computer’s speed and
available memory (RAM). The
“BestMatch™” speech models can make the
product more accurate but require more
computer memory and a faster processor.
We recommend that you accept the speech
model the program chooses; however, if
you’re age 9 to 15 (or have a high voice), you
should select the “Student” version of the
recommended speech model. Student models
are designed for recognizing higher-pitched
voices.
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Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials
Q: I don’t know which “vocabulary” to
choose.
A vocabulary consists of the words the program
will recognize when you say them and data
about how often different words are used.
The wizard chooses a vocabulary for you
based on your computer’s speed and available
memory (RAM). The “BestMatch”
vocabularies can make the product more
accurate but require more computer memory
and a faster processor.
We recommend that you accept the
vocabulary the program chooses; however, if
you’re age 9 to 15, you should select the
“Student” version of the recommended
vocabulary. Student vocabularies contain more
of the words younger speakers use and
different statistics about how often words are
used.
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Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials
Adjusting your
microphone
The Audio Setup Wizard shows you how to
position your microphone and tests that your
voice can be heard loud and clear.
Your software package may include a headset
microphone or a handheld microphone. The
Audio Setup Wizard prompts you to select the
type of microphone you’ll be using.
If you switch to a different microphone, you
should run the Audio Setup Wizard again to recalibrate
the computer’s audio settings. (On the Dragon
NaturallySpeaking Tools menu, click Audio Setup
Wizard.)
Q: How should I hold my handheld
microphone?
If you’re using a handheld microphone, here
are some tips for positioning it correctly:
■Hold the microphone one to three inches
from your mouth.
■Point the microphone at the side of your
mouth, not at the front (so it won’t pick
up the sounds of your breathing).
■If the volume meter (in the Results box
on the screen) turns red, try holding the
microphone slightly farther from your
mouth.
The next section provides tips for positioning
a headset microphone.
NOTE
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Q: How should I position my headset microphone?
The pictures below show how to position a headset microphone.
Position the microphone in front of
your mouth and a little off to the
side. The microphone should not
touch your mouth, but it can be
almost touching (about a half inch
from your lips).
The side of the microphone that
you should speak into may be
marked with a colored dot or
the word “Talk.”
If you need to move the
microphone out of the way, you
can lift the “boom” up and over
your head, rather than bending it
out of position or removing the
headset.
Whenever you talk to your computer, start by making
sure your microphone is in the right position.
If the microphone is out of place, the program won’t
be able to hear you as clearly and may make more
mistakes.
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Training Dragon
NaturallySpeaking
No two people sound exactly alike, so you
have to spend some time training Dragon
NaturallySpeaking to understand your
pronunciation.
You do this by reading part of a book or a story
aloud into your microphone (you can choose
from several texts). As you read, the program
learns how you pronounce different sounds
and saves this information in your speech
files.
▲ A yellow arrow shows you where to start reading.
Q: I made a mistake. What should I do?
Don’t worry. You should try to read exactly
what you see on the screen, but it’s okay if you
read something incorrectly. The computer will
either ignore the mistake or display the yellow
arrow so you can read the text again. You can
also click Back Up to reread something you
misread, but this is not required.
Q: I’ve read the same word three times, but
the yellow arrow keeps pointing to it.
If you keep reading the same words, and the
yellow arrow won’t advance, just click Skip
Word.
Q: I can’t get beyond the first screen
(“Welcome to the world of continuous speech
recognition”).
To advance through the first two screens, you
must say the sentences without pausing. For
the rest of the screens, it’s okay to pause in the
middle of a sentence.
If you still cannot advance, you can try
running the Audio Setup Wizard again. Click
Cancel to close the training dialog box (and
click “Yes” to close without saving changes),
and then click Back to return to the Adjust
Microphone page. After running the Audio
Setup Wizard again, click Next to return to
the training program.
You can take breaks while you’re
training the computer. Just click Pause.
TIP
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7Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials
Starting to Dictate
f you’re new to Dragon NaturallySpeaking, read this section to learn
the basics.
Dragon NaturallySpeaking can help you write more efficiently, but
making it work well requires some effort from you. Dragon
NaturallySpeaking actually learns about your voice and pronunciation as
you use it. When you use words the program doesn’t know, it will make
mistakes, and you’ll have to stop and correct them.
It may take a while (perhaps even a few weeks) before you feel
comfortable and productive using Dragon NaturallySpeaking.
Preparing to dictate
Follow the steps in this section whenever you want to use Dragon
NaturallySpeaking:
1Start Dragon NaturallySpeaking from the Windows Start menu, if it’s not
already running.
If there’s more than one Dragon NaturallySpeaking user on the
computer, the Open User dialog box appears so that you can choose your
user name.
I
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The microphone icon appears on the taskbar.
▲ The microphone icon is the only thing on the screen that shows you Dragon
NaturallySpeaking is running. Right-click the microphone icon to open the online Help and
other menus.
If this is the first time you have started the program, you’ll need to create a
user. Follow the directions on the screen and see “Starting Dragon NaturallySpeaking the
first time” on page 1.
2Position your microphone correctly. (For tips, see “Adjusting your
microphone” on page 4.)
3Start the program you want to talk to.
When Dragon NaturallySpeaking is running, you can start any program
that appears on your Windows Start menu or desktop by voice. (You can’t
start Dragon NaturallySpeaking by voice, because the program has to be
running before it can hear you.)
Just say “Start” and then the name of the program exactly as it appears
on the Start menu. Try it now by saying “Start WordPad.”
4Turn the microphone on. (If you’re using a handheld microphone, make
sure it’s switched on.)
There are two ways to turn the microphone on:
■Click the red microphone icon on the taskbar.
■Press the plus (+) key on the numeric keypad.
Notice that the microphone icon points upward when the
microphone is on. The computer is now “listening.”
When you have finished talking, turn the microphone off by clicking the
microphone icon again (or pressing the plus key again).
Microphone icon on the taskbar
NOTE
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You can change the keyboard shortcut for turning the microphone on and off.
If you’re using a portable computer, you may want to change the key to something more
convenient, such as a Function key. (On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the
Hotkeys tab to change the keyboard shortcut.)
Once the microphone is on, there’s a “hands-free” way to make it stop
listening. Just say “Go to Sleep.” To reactivate it, say “Wake Up.”
5Click in the window of the program you want to talk to.
Clicking in a window makes it active (the title bar becomes highlighted).
Dragon NaturallySpeaking always types your words into the active
window.
Dictating
Dictate the sentences below. As you speak, remember that you’re
talking to a computer, not a person. This means that you must speak
clearly, enunciating each word.
Talking to a computer is not the same as talking to a person. A person
will probably understand what you are trying to say even if you shout or
whisper.
As Dragon NaturallySpeaking begins working, it may take a few
moments for the first words to appear.
If nothing happens, try repeating the steps in “Preparing to dictate” on
page 7. Make sure you click in the program window before you speak.
Don’t be surprised if there are some mistakes. Often, small adjustments,
such as speaking a bit more clearly, can make a big difference. Try
dictating the same words again and see if speaking more clearly helps
the program get all the words right.
Later in this practice session you’ll learn a way to correct mistakes and, at
the same time, teach the program how to do better.
NOTE
NOTE
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What is that small yellow box?
The small yellow box you see when you dictate is called the Results box.
It displays early “guesses” at what you’re saying while Dragon
NaturallySpeaking figures out your exact words. Its purpose is to provide
visual feedback while the computer processes your speech.
You can drag the Results box anywhere on the screen or make it
disappear when you’re not speaking. (On the Tools menu, click Options,
and then click the Results box tab. Drag the “Auto hide delay” slider to
control how long the box remains visible.)
How do I add punctuation?
You must tell the computer where to put punctuation.
Dictate the sentence below and say “comma” and “period” to add the
punctuation marks.
When talking to a computer [comma] try to say every word clearly without
trailing off at the end of a sentence [period]
Notice that Dragon NaturallySpeaking does some formatting for you. It
automatically capitalizes the first word in a sentence and puts two spaces
after a period. (If you prefer only one space between sentences, you can
change this setting. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click
the Dictation tab. Clear the “Two spaces after period” box.)
To dictate other punctuation, just say the name of the punctuation mark.
You can find a complete list of punctuation marks on your Quick Reference
card.
Results box
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How do I start a new paragraph
or line?
You can start a new paragraph by saying the command “New Paragraph.”
This is the same as pressing the ENTER key twice. To start a new line,
say “New Line.” This is the same as pressing the ENTER key once.
Say “New Paragraph,” and then dictate the sentences below.
Have you noticed how clearly newscasters on TV and the radio speak
[question mark] When you talk to a computer [comma] it helps to speak
as clearly as a newscaster [period]
How do I erase the last thing
I said?
You can erase the last words you dictated by saying “Scratch That.”
Dictate the sentence below (without pausing).
I can delete the last thing I said without touching the mouse or keyboard
When the words appear in your document, pause and then say “Scratch
That” to erase them. Don’t pause between the words “scratch” and
“that.”
When you say “Scratch That,” Dragon NaturallySpeaking erases the last
thing you dictated. This may be a full sentence, a phrase, or just one
word, if that’s all you said before pausing.
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You can say “Scratch That” more than once to keep erasing previous
words or phrases. If you repeat the command, you must pause before
saying it again.
How do I correct mistakes?
Dragon NaturallySpeaking doesn’t know it has made a mistake unless
you correct it. As you correct its mistakes, you actually teach the program
not to make the same mistakes again.
To correct your last word or phrase:
Dictate the paragraph below and watch the screen for mistakes. (If there
are no mistakes, just continue dictating until you see one, for example,
read aloud from a book or magazine. Eventually, a mistake will appear.)
Correcting mistakes helps Dragon NaturallySpeaking learn not to make
the same mistakes again. When I correct a mistake, Dragon
NaturallySpeaking is able to associate my pronunciation with the correct
word. The next time I say the word, Dragon NaturallySpeaking should be
able to recognize it correctly.
When a mistake appears, say “Correct That.” This opens the Correction
dialog box. The box displays the last words Dragon NaturallySpeaking
About “Scratch That”
“Scratch That” is a quick and easy way to erase wrong words, but it
won’t prevent the same mistakes from happening again. Only by
correcting errors in the Correction dialog box can you teach Dragon
NaturallySpeaking not to make the same mistakes again.
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typed into your document. This may be a full sentence, a phrase, or just
one word, if that’s all you said before pausing.
▲ The Correction dialog box shows you a list of the words or phrases it considers the most
likely matches for what you said.
If the “Correct That” command doesn’t work (for example, if the word
“correct” is typed in your document), you may have paused in the
middle of the command.
Start a new paragraph and repeat the exercise. When you see a mistake,
say “Correct That” again, without pausing between the two words.
You can use a keyboard shortcut to open the Correction dialog box.
It’s the minus (-) key on the numeric keypad.
You can resize the
Correction dialog box by
dragging a corner or
side.
Note: The Play Back
button is only in the
Preferred and
Professional editions.
TIP
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Using the Correction dialog box
When the Correction dialog box opens, if the correct word or phrase is in
the list of choices, you can simply choose it.
To choose the correct text:
There are two ways to choose the correct text:
■Say “Choose” and then the number of the correct alternative. For
example, say “Choose 2” (or “Choose Numeral 2”).
■Click the correct alternative, and then click OK (or say “Click OK”).
This closes the Correction dialog box and enters the text into your
document.
If none of the choices exactly matches what you said, you must enter the
correct text.
To enter the correct text:
There are two ways to enter the correct text:
■Start typing the correct word or phrase into the text box. As you
type, the list shows alternatives that match what you’ve typed so far.
■Start spelling the correct word or phrase. Say the letters
continuously and quickly, not one at a time.
When you see the correct choice, you can choose it (by mouse or voice).
If the correct choice doesn’t appear, finish typing or spelling it and then
click OK (or say “Click OK”).
Text box
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When one of the choices in the Correction dialog box is almost correct, you can
select it and use it as a starting point without entering the text into your document. Just
click it or say “Select” (not “Choose”) and then the number of the choice. For example,
say “Select 3” (or “Select Numeral 3”). Then edit the word or phrase.
Teaching the program new words when
making corrections
Often the reason Dragon NaturallySpeaking makes a mistake is that it
doesn’t know the word you’re trying to dictate. Dragon
NaturallySpeaking has a vocabulary that contains the thousands of words
it’s capable of recognizing. If you dictate an unusual name or specialized
term, it may not be in the vocabulary.
By using the Correction dialog box to correct these mistakes, you also
teach the program the new word. If you use “Scratch That” instead, or
edit your document by typing, the program doesn’t learn the word and
won’t recognize it the next time you say it.
Spelling in the Correction dialog box
When you’re spelling in the Correction dialog box, this is what you
can say:
■letters (a–z)
■International Communications Alphabet (alpha, bravo, and so
on)
■numbers (0–9)
■punctuation
■“Cap” (to capitalize the next letter)
■“Double” (to enter the next letter twice, for example,
“Double a”)
■“Space Bar” or “space” (to insert a space)
■“Backspace”
■“apostrophe ess”
■special characters
TIP
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To add a new word when correcting:
1Start dictating the names of people you know. Watch the screen for
errors.
For example, suppose you dictate the name “Ellen Rusinow,” but the
program types “Ellen Ruston Isle.”
2As soon as Dragon NaturallySpeaking makes a mistake, say “Correct
That.”
3In the text box, select just the incorrect words (by mouse or voice).
To select the incorrect words in this example (“Ruston Isle”), you could
say “Select Previous 2 Words.”
4Type or spell the correction. (You can’t dictate whole words into the
Correction dialog box.)
Text bo x
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To spell the correction in this example, say “Cap r u s i n o w”
(remember to say the letters continuously and quickly, not one at a
time).
5When you’re finished, click OK (or say “Click OK”).
The Correction dialog box closes and the corrected text is entered into
your document. Dragon NaturallySpeaking also adds the word to its
vocabulary.
After you correct a word or phrase, you can try saying it again. The
program should get it right this time.
Training the program when making corrections
You’ll notice that the Correction dialog box contains a Train button. This
button is for teaching Dragon NaturallySpeaking how you pronounce
the word it got wrong. Usually, it’s not necessary to train the program to
recognize a word after you make a correction. Whenever you teach the
program a new word, however, it’s a good idea to also teach it
immediately how you pronounce the word. You can find out more in the
online Help.
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