By Michele O’Neil
Name: Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Manufacturer: Nuance http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/home/
Description:
Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 9 is a computer program that can give students the power to create documents, reports, and e-mails by speaking. This is a fast, easy and amazingly accurate program that can help students produce work over three times faster than typing. They can just use their voice to dictate and edit in Microsoft Word and Excel, and almost all Windows-based applications. They could also, if available, dictate into a handheld device when they are away from school by using a Bluetooth microphone!
Platform:
This computer program is state of the art technology used as an alternative to typing. Instead of using a keyboard, users are able to speak into a microphone and dictate exactly what they want to appear on the screen. It gives the user the ability to produce letters, emails, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets in an efficient and “hands-off” way.
Price:
$199.99 – Volume and Site License discount available
Who Needs this Technology? Why?
In today’s world it has become apparent to educators that the leaders of tomorrow need computer skills to survive. Many school districts offer keyboarding and typing instruction at a young age in order to produce students who are fluent users of technology. There is, however, issues that educators need to think about. What about the students who have fine motor skill issues? What do we do about students who just can’t seem to manipulate a keyboard? Or the students whose ideas flow from their mind but never make it to the page? This computer program is for them! Dragon NaturallySpeaking offers students with these challenges a chance to produce quality work. I can’t tell you how many students I have taught over the years that have a difficult time putting their thoughts on paper. Whether it is a physical disability or a thought processing one, this computer program makes it easy for them to use a word processor. They speak directly into a microphone on their desktops and it magically appears on the screen with 99% accuracy. Students can work at home and in school with ease.
Research and History:
Co-founded in 1982 by Dr. James Baker and Dr. Janet Baker, the company boasts one of the largest speech research organizations of any company in the world. With its world-class team of speech experts, the company builds robust systems for both government and industry as well as for the private sector. The company is well known for its long history of innovations and extensive patent portfolio. However, Dragon Systems, Inc. no longer exists as it was and is now part of the Scansoft family of software products. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 is up to 99% accurate, and sometimes more accurate than typing. It never makes a spelling mistake, and it can actually get smarter the more you use it.
Benefits:
The direct benefits in an inclusion setting could be wide ranged. I imagine that each classroom will be different with different forms of technology and room layouts. In an ideal classroom I picture 4- 5 computers with good processors and ample hard drive space. If this is the scenario than special needs students can utilize the speaking tools on the computer with limited problems. They would first need to be trained for initial use and find a time and place that is suitable. Since the student will be speaking out loud they will need a certain time of the day to work. They will need to learn to talk into the microphone in a low voice. All of these management issues will need to be planned out ahead of time. From there the benefits are endless. Students, who normally could not type, are free to use a word processor like everyone else. It also helps students who can’t get their thoughts onto paper in a more efficient way. I’m sure we have all come across those students that can orally tell great stories, but when they try and transfer them onto paper the story disappears. There are also benefits to students with ADHD who find a pencil and keyboard boring. They could be motivated to write more!
Recommendations:
I think that one of the reasons we don’t see this program already in schools is because some educators are still getting use to having computers in their classrooms. Some might say that it is hard enough to incorporate classroom computers into the daily routine. Others might say it is impossible for a student to talk out loud into a microphone in class. Both bring up good points; however, I believe it can be done. I’m not saying a district should spend thousands on this and begin a new initiative. But it could be implemented on a case by case basis. Offer it to classrooms teachers to try. Listen to their feedback. What was good about it? Why didn’t it work? Maybe we can offer it to students at home to help with their homework. There is no right or wrong answer here. The issue is how can we make this program available for all students who would benefit from its use? I would give classroom teachers the option to use it, and assess the situation from there. It’s worth a try. If it helps just a few students in each school its money well spent.
References
http://www.dragontalk.com/NATURAL.htm
http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/home/
Name: Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Manufacturer: Nuance http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/home/
Description:
Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred 9 is a computer program that can give students the power to create documents, reports, and e-mails by speaking. This is a fast, easy and amazingly accurate program that can help students produce work over three times faster than typing. They can just use their voice to dictate and edit in Microsoft Word and Excel, and almost all Windows-based applications. They could also, if available, dictate into a handheld device when they are away from school by using a Bluetooth microphone!
Platform:
This computer program is state of the art technology used as an alternative to typing. Instead of using a keyboard, users are able to speak into a microphone and dictate exactly what they want to appear on the screen. It gives the user the ability to produce letters, emails, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets in an efficient and “hands-off” way.
Price:
$199.99 – Volume and Site License discount available
Who Needs this Technology? Why?
In today’s world it has become apparent to educators that the leaders of tomorrow need computer skills to survive. Many school districts offer keyboarding and typing instruction at a young age in order to produce students who are fluent users of technology. There is, however, issues that educators need to think about. What about the students who have fine motor skill issues? What do we do about students who just can’t seem to manipulate a keyboard? Or the students whose ideas flow from their mind but never make it to the page? This computer program is for them! Dragon NaturallySpeaking offers students with these challenges a chance to produce quality work. I can’t tell you how many students I have taught over the years that have a difficult time putting their thoughts on paper. Whether it is a physical disability or a thought processing one, this computer program makes it easy for them to use a word processor. They speak directly into a microphone on their desktops and it magically appears on the screen with 99% accuracy. Students can work at home and in school with ease.
Research and History:
Co-founded in 1982 by Dr. James Baker and Dr. Janet Baker, the company boasts one of the largest speech research organizations of any company in the world. With its world-class team of speech experts, the company builds robust systems for both government and industry as well as for the private sector. The company is well known for its long history of innovations and extensive patent portfolio. However, Dragon Systems, Inc. no longer exists as it was and is now part of the Scansoft family of software products. Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9 is up to 99% accurate, and sometimes more accurate than typing. It never makes a spelling mistake, and it can actually get smarter the more you use it.
Benefits:
The direct benefits in an inclusion setting could be wide ranged. I imagine that each classroom will be different with different forms of technology and room layouts. In an ideal classroom I picture 4- 5 computers with good processors and ample hard drive space. If this is the scenario than special needs students can utilize the speaking tools on the computer with limited problems. They would first need to be trained for initial use and find a time and place that is suitable. Since the student will be speaking out loud they will need a certain time of the day to work. They will need to learn to talk into the microphone in a low voice. All of these management issues will need to be planned out ahead of time. From there the benefits are endless. Students, who normally could not type, are free to use a word processor like everyone else. It also helps students who can’t get their thoughts onto paper in a more efficient way. I’m sure we have all come across those students that can orally tell great stories, but when they try and transfer them onto paper the story disappears. There are also benefits to students with ADHD who find a pencil and keyboard boring. They could be motivated to write more!
Recommendations:
I think that one of the reasons we don’t see this program already in schools is because some educators are still getting use to having computers in their classrooms. Some might say that it is hard enough to incorporate classroom computers into the daily routine. Others might say it is impossible for a student to talk out loud into a microphone in class. Both bring up good points; however, I believe it can be done. I’m not saying a district should spend thousands on this and begin a new initiative. But it could be implemented on a case by case basis. Offer it to classrooms teachers to try. Listen to their feedback. What was good about it? Why didn’t it work? Maybe we can offer it to students at home to help with their homework. There is no right or wrong answer here. The issue is how can we make this program available for all students who would benefit from its use? I would give classroom teachers the option to use it, and assess the situation from there. It’s worth a try. If it helps just a few students in each school its money well spent.
References
http://www.dragontalk.com/NATURAL.htm
http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/home/
5 comments:
This seems like a wonderful product for students who have difficulty writing. All classrooms should have this. It would allow students who can not keyboard as fast as their minds go to get all of their ideas down on paper. How many different students can use the program at one time?
It is like any software except it has to learn your voice. My father purchased this software when he decided that he was going to start an internet business, not knowing a thing about computers, the internet, or how to type. I watched him use it to "type" and it was amazing. I can see this being used in a school setting for students who use an Alpha Smart or for students with extreme OT issues. I believe that an entire class could probably use it but it may be more useful for students who have difficulty getting thier ideas on paper.
I remember trying to get my parents to buy this product for me when the Dragon Dictate first came out. I just wanted something to make my job easier:) Sometimes our thoughts are faster than our fingers and this leads to great frustration. This looks like a product that can assist learners in overcoming that frustration and actually motivate as it is a new way of composing to most of them- actually talking and seeing your words appear on the screen!- every user can have their own assistant.
I loved reading about "Dragon Naturally Speaking" it makes me want to go and purchase it! Wouldn't every classroom benefit! Thanks for sharing!
I was actually considering doing my review on this program. It seem like an excellent tool for students that have trouble with writing and typing. My problem was that I didn't think it was practical for a classroom setting. I guess at home or in a smaller setting students would be able to express there thoughts by speaking out and having the computer do the writing. I've been experimenting with podcasting which in a way is another means for students who have the same problems to get their thought and ideas out verbally.
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