User manual NUANCE DRAGON NATURALLYSPEAKING ESSENTIALS 4 - QUICK START

Quick Start NaturallySpeaking Essentials Dragon TM 03-101-40-01 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 (TM) 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 Contents Starting Dragon NaturallySpeaking the first time 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 1 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials iii QUICK START 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: s Starting Dragon NaturallySpeaking the first time Start Dragon NaturallySpeaking from the Windows Start menu. 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. v The name of your specific product edition (NaturallySpeaking Essentials) appears on your Start menu. The NaturallySpeaking menu may contain other items not pictured here. s s 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. 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). Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 1 QUICK START 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. Creating a user On the Create User page, enter a name for your user speech files and choose a speech model and vocabulary. v The "Select user type" step appears only in Dragon NaturallySpeaking Preferred and Professional. 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 "BestMatchTM" 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. 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. 2 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials QUICK START 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. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 3 QUICK START 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. Q: How should I hold my handheld microphone? If you're using a handheld microphone, here are some tips for positioning it correctly: s s 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. s The next section provides tips for positioning a headset microphone. 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. NOTE 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.) 4 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials QUICK START Q: How should I position my headset microphone? The pictures below show how to position a headset microphone. 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. 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. 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). Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 5 QUICK START 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. 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. TIP You can take breaks while you're training the computer. Just click Pause. v 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. 6 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials Starting to Dictate I 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: 1 Start 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. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 7 QUICK START The microphone icon appears on the taskbar. Microphone icon on the taskbar v 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. NOTE 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. 2 Position your microphone correctly. (For tips, see "Adjusting your microphone" on page 4.) Start 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." 3 4 Turn 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: s s 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). 8 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials QUICK START NOTE 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." 5 Click 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. NOTE 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. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 9 QUICK START 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. Results box 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. 10 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials QUICK START 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. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 11 QUICK START 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. 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. 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 12 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials QUICK START typed into your document. This may be a full sentence, a phrase, or just one word, if that's all you said before pausing. 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. v 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. TIP You can use a keyboard shortcut to open the Correction dialog box. It's the minus (-) key on the numeric keypad. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 13 QUICK START 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. Text box To choose the correct text: There are two ways to choose the correct text: s s 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: s s 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"). 14 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials QUICK START Spelling in the Correction dialog box When you're spelling in the Correction dialog box, this is what you can say: s s s s s s s s s s letters (a­z) International Communications Alphabet (alpha, bravo, and so on) numbers (0­9) 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 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. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 15 QUICK START To add a new word when correcting: 1 Start 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." 2 As soon as Dragon NaturallySpeaking makes a mistake, say "Correct That." Text box 3 In 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." 4 Type or spell the correction. (You can't dictate whole words into the Correction dialog box.) 16 Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials QUICK START 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). 5 When 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. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Essentials 17