Useing a Mic instead of typing

[enterthelight]

With an iMac G4 the up side down pudding basin type, is it possible to use a mic and speak into it instead of having to type on the keyboard.
I just believe that this would be quicker.
What software would i need and any hardware.

[Dreadnought]

Your are posting in the wrong section!
But anyhow, I heard some good reviews of a software package from IBM for voicerecognizing, don't know how it's called do. The mic also comes with the software! You can use it then in Word and any other program.

[enterthelight]

Ah sorry all about posting in the wrong section.

The so asked me if its possible for her to use one as a mate on her pc has one and the so would like to use the cam and mic to make things easier to type and...!

It just confuses me having so many pen friends why she does not just phone them.:confused:

[Thanatoast]

My big problem with speaking instead of typing is that I don't think that way. When I'm writing a paper, say, I will go back and revise a sentence. And even though I try to write like I speak, I don't just go off the cuff, so my writing, IMO, tends to be more coherent than my speaking. Plus, and this is probably just me, it creates a stupid pressure that wasn't there before. I have to speak it right the first time around. So while the idea might be cool, my writing style, personally, favors typing.

[enterthelight]

Yes i would agree with you there.
If i were to speak it and for it to appear to others as the written form they may not understand what i am trying to say and i might also add lib on the spurr of the moment whereas if i type it and re read it and find something i dont think sounds quite right i just swipe it and re type again.

I have also found that in differant countries some words have other meanings as well.

[Dreadnought]

Well, you can also edit with these programs. They have special commands for it. And it can also only record/type when you press a certain button. Anyhow, you'll probably will need to learn yourself to speak and think different. There must be tutorials that will help you with that process.

[Les Kern]

I tried ViaVoice and iListen. iListen was slicker and way more accurate at the time, but I hear IBM has improved VV considerably. Now for the skinny:
It's a personal thing really. I HATED doing it. Since I type so sssslllloooowwww I can use the time to think. iListen was over 99% accurate, but what came out of me was idiotic, so for me it wasn't worth the time it takes to train. If you're a lucky one who is eloquent AND good at extemporaneous speech AND have a LOT of words to put down it might be a good thing. Otherwise save your cash and get a new iPod in January.

[enterthelight]

Please explain about ipod.
I am not up to speed on ipod and have not followed it since it came out so i am quite ignorant about it.
I thought i was all about music and the fact that one can download lots of singles and play them on the cd player in your truck.
Perhaps i am wrong then and you can use ipod for other things.
Could someone please explain.

The so has lots of pen friends around the world and this Christmass it quite surprised me at how many pen friends wrote to her.
She has said that she would like to hear their voice and speak to them and at the same time and send them information and such like via the computer.

Where as i am just a plain mountain biker who talks to others around the world about biking.

Thanks one and all for your replies, and i would like to wish you all a Happy new year and that you have a very stress free 2004.

[Snowy_River]

Originally posted by Les Kern
I tried ViaVoice and iListen. iListen was slicker and way more accurate at the time, but I hear IBM has improved VV considerably. Now for the skinny:
It's a personal thing really. I HATED doing it. Since I type so sssslllloooowwww I can use the time to think. iListen was over 99% accurate, but what came out of me was idiotic, so for me it wasn't worth the time it takes to train. If you're a lucky one who is eloquent AND good at extemporaneous speech AND have a LOT of words to put down it might be a good thing. Otherwise save your cash and get a new iPod in January.

Actually, it seems that IBM has sold ViaVoice off to a company called ScanSoft. Unfortunately, ScanSoft has shown little indication of providing any real support for the Mac version of ViaVoice. Currently, Panther breaks ViaVoice (though apparently to varying degrees - I've heard of some that it hasn't seemed to effect at all, whereas for me it doesn't work at all... go figure). So, if you're looking for a company that has a decent support record, at this point I'd go with iListen and really stay away from ViaVoice.

[Dippo]

Not to be mean, but typing lessons might be better in the long run than wasting money on voice reg. software.

For the software to work right I have to talk so slow that I could type much faster. I don't know how fast you can "type" with voice software but with some lessons you could easily type 30-40 words per minute.

[laserbeahm]

Originally posted by Thanatoast
My big problem with speaking instead of typing is that I don't think that way. When I'm writing a paper, say, I will go back and revise a sentence. And even though I try to write like I speak, I don't just go off the cuff, so my writing, IMO, tends to be more coherent than my speaking. Plus, and this is probably just me, it creates a stupid pressure that wasn't there before. I have to speak it right the first time around. So while the idea might be cool, my writing style, personally, favors typing.

I totally agree. I also don't write like I speak. I would go back to pen and paper if I had to choose between it and dictation.

Is the problem that you don't type up to speed... or you actually think better when you're speaking. If you're just not the fastest typist in the world, try praciticing more.