Anybody have any experience with pocket dictate?

I travel a lot and was hoping to use this program to dictate various letters and send it electronically to a transcription service to type up the letter.

Thanks,

jce

I have checked out Pocket Dictate but everyday employ Dragon Naturally Speaking 8.0 Professional version which, among other features, allows for importing of voice files for recognition. The much less expensive preferred version will also input voice files from pocketpc or palm devices.

Here is a link to the web site:

http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/

Here is a link to the features of each version:

ftp://ftp.scansoft.com/pub/doc/natur...DNS8matrix.pdf

As I have dictated and transcribed with Pocket Secretary on a PowerMac 9500 in 1994 then switched to the PC version of DNS in 1995, a huge amount of money has been saved in transcription fees; better than $500 per month each and every month from the time I started dictating and transcribing through DNS.

Pocket Dictate looks like a very competent program if you must have an outside transcription service. For those lurking in the forums, here is the link for PD:

http://www.nch.com.au/pocket/index.html

Regards

BTW, this reply was performed using DNS.

Hi boltar,

Thanks for your reply and sorry for my tardy response.

You are clearly someone who has gotten a handle on the technology.

Some questions for you:

I too use Dragon Naturally Speaking Version 8 but didn't know that I could use it on my Axim x51v. Do you just dictate into your PDA, then sync the file onto your computer, then have Dragon transcribe it?

Also, can the dictated files be sent via e-mail?

Thanks again for your earlier response.

jce

Yes as the answer to both questions, jce.

Chapter 13 of the DNS version 8 manual describes using these voice files in detail. I had the 'Dragon' branded voice recorder about seven years ago but can now use a pocket pc device instead. Only the Preferred and the Profession version will enable pocket pc use as it detects Active Sync and then installs the pocket pc files.

After sync, not only can you transcribe your pocket pc voice files but also archive and email the voice files.

You can also save the dictated voice file while using the Desktop DNS program and either recognize it locally or send that file via email too. I saved them for awhile but they were taking up room and were recognized and transcribed anyway. Saving the voice files are important if you want a 'legal record' of what you said rather than what is transcribed to paper or, as you are thinking of doing, send them to someone else to transcribe.

My purpose for using DNS is to save transcription fees. If you dictate, sync or send the voice files, whoever does your transcription can use DNS to get the job done quicker (although they probably charge by the word, line or page -- not much cost savings unless you employ the transcriptionist ).

Let me know if I can be of additional help.

Regards

boltar

Hi boltar,

Can I run something past you? Say I dictated a note while away from the office onto my PDA and then sent it wirelessly to the transcriptionist. Can she have the program transcribed by Naturally Speaking (version 8) then afterwards listen to the dictation "word by word" and correct any mistakes made by the program?

Cheers,

jce

Absolutely.

Under the Sound menu of the DragonBar, you can 'Transcribe Recording' from an audio file location that you specify and also 'Play That Back' so you can listen to the highlighted transcribed part or all of the voice-recognized file that you imported to proof the transcription.

So...send the file to the transcriptionist, import it into DNS version 8 (Professional or Preferred) using the Sound menu item to Transcribe recording, highlight part or all of the voice-recognized document and listen to it -- I just highlight parts that I want a closer examination of before signing off on the document -- I dictate technical documents that are mission critical so accuracy counts. I also listen to the document so that it 'sounds' correct as I don't quite trust either the grammar checker in Microsoft Word or my ability to correct a written document at 3 AM.

On the Nuance site, the Axim 51v is 'Nuance Certified' to work with Dragon Naturally Speaking and received the highest rating of Accuracy of those pdas tested. Here are some comments noted by Nuance:

"Date tested: 11/05

Model tested: Axim X51

Optimal configuration:

In Settings-System-Microphone disable the AGC (automatic gain control) and set the gain slider from minimum up to 50% (half)

If using Native Voice Recorder:

In Settings-Personal-Input-Options select 11.025 Hz, 16 bit, mono recording format.

If using Scansoft Voice Recorder:

Several installation messages will occur during install - please click thru by confirming every message with OK.

A product update addressing this issue will be available soon.

Turn off power savings mode in:

Start-Settings-System-Power-Advanced-On battery power

DELL MOBILE MIKE:

Allows connection of the 4-conductor Dell mobile microphone. Improves performance beyond the capabilities of the built-in microphone.

Sold as an accessory.

Does not allow the connection of a Dragon certified external headset. "

Well I guess that should help you get started.

Regards,

boltar