Thank you Marty, I will contact you offline.
Sid Schipper <sidinsd@ixpres.com>
spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org wrote:
> Clearly being ventilator dependent represents additional challenges do to
> noises from the ventilator and compromised breath support. DragonDictate
> still remains the solution of choice over NaturallySpeaking for
individuals
> with these issues. If Clint has some unutilized physical mobility I
suggest
> you investigate a couple of other options. Headtracking for cursor
movement
> is very effective for individuals that can move their head efficiently
which
may
> not be the case here. Another amazing development is a video switch that
uses
> advanced image processing to view any scene that the camera is pointed
at. The
> camera can detect fine or gross changes within the scene and use this
> information to control a single switch. This means a user with only very
small
> movements can now efficiently control any device with a switch without
major
> hardware engineering. This switch coupled with a input sensitive browser
might
> lead to a workable solution despite highly
> restricted mobility. Many severely restricted individuals manage to
> accomplish incredible things within a single switch and appropriate
software
> tools. If you are interested in discussing these developments you may
contact
me
> off list.
>
> Marty Tibor
> Synapse
> Speech Recognition and Adaptive Technology
> 3095 Kerner Blvd., Suite S, San Rafael, CA 94901
> toll-free 888-285-9988
> -------
> 40 page accessible text formatted catalog
> http://www.synapseadaptive.com/txt/synapse1999.txt
> -------
> 40 page Adobe Acrobat format catalog
> http://www.synapseadaptive.com/pdf/Synapse40p.pdf (requires Adobe Acrobat
> Reader ver. 4)
> -------
> http://www.naturalspeak.com
> Providers of adaptive and assistive technology solutions.
> -------
> http://www.unixspeech.com
> UNIX, mainframe and Mac speech recognition
> -------
> Speech recognition technical assistance
> Synapse hosts the Dragon NaturallySpeaking Unofficial Information Pages
> http://www.synapseadaptive.com/joel/default.htm
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org
> [mailto:owner-spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org]On Behalf Of
> spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org
> Sent: Friday, July 10, 2893 3:44 PM
> Subject: Re: difficulties with training
>
> Hello, I am new to this discussion group. About two years ago I started
> visiting
> a quadriplegic in a local hospital with my wife. Being a software
developer,
> my
> first thought was to try to get Clint involved with a computer somehow. I
> felt
> that Internet access might enrich his life and make him able to
communicate
> with
> the rest of the world. So, I bought a computer for him and I figured the
> only
> way he could
> use it was via some voice recognition software. At the time the only
> products
> out there were Dragon Direct and Via Voice. I got Dragon Direct
Professional
> edition for him and proceeded to try to get him to the point where he
could
> be
> self sufficient with it.
>
> Clint is a severe quadriplegic who cannot breath without the use of a
> respirator, so he has a tracheal tube, which severely limits his ability
to
> speak. The respiratory therapists have to "hook up his voice", which
means
> they
> adjust the tracheal tube in some way that I do not understand, to allow
> Clint to
> speak. But his speaking is halting and very raspy. It was interesting,
> because
> recently I tried to upgrade
> him to Naturally Speaking and that failed miserably because he cannot
speak
> fast
> enough to say the phrases necessary to make Naturally Speaking work. The
> distinct word feature of the old Voice recognition programs, that most
> people
> find annoying, is exactly what Clint needs.
>
> Moreover, to run Netscape or Internet Explorer it is almost essential
that
> you
> have the ability to use the mouse. The Mouse Grid feature of the Dragon
> Direct
> program is very useful for this and I'm very upset that this feature has
> been
> dropped in later versions of the program.
>
> Unfortunately, I have never really gotten to the point with Clint where
he
> can
> run the computer by himself without my help. I think to do that would
really
> take too much of mine and Clint's time (although he has all the time in
the
> world). He is able to send e-mail with Dragon Direct and my assistance,
and
> his
> e-mail address is cdwilde@ixpres.com if anyone out there would like to
speak
> with him. Meanwhile,
> if anyone out there has worked with severe quadriplegics using Voice
> recognition
> software I'd be interested in hearing their experiences.
> Sid Schipper
>
> > Sandra,
> >
> > Just one more question: am I correct in assuming that your middle
> schoolers
> > are all kids with LD or other disabilities?
> >
> > Let us know when you have a good success story (or a cautionary
> non-success
> > story).
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > In a message dated 11/18/99 3:39:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> > spk2wrt@phoenix.edc.org writes:
> >
> > >
> > > Thanks to our sp. ed. director, Rita Thatcher, and Ann Black at
Central
> > > Wash. State U., we were involved in the LD Tech research project
last
> year.
> > > I do work with students using NaturallySpeaking..However, most of
our
> > > students graduated last year, so I am training some much younger
ones
> > > (middle schoolers) this year. The biggest problem they have is
> developing
> > > the ability to "think and talk" in a coherent way. Perhaps by
starting
> them
> > > young, we can practice that skill so that it will be fluent by high
> school.
> > > The new 3.53, after the "bug fix" is in place, works quickly and
well
> on a
> > > fast Pentium (which I have, thanks to Ann).
> > > Sandra Smith
> > > sandrams@orca.esd114.wednet.edu
>
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