Experience with VoicePower?

Submitted by Cindy on Tue, 12/05/2006 - 13:53.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking (All Versions)

Would someone who has used VoicePower be willing to share their experiences with the program? I've been using Dragon professional for about four years now and just upgraded to version 9 last week. A program like VoicePower would have been very useful when I was struggling to make the transition to voice recognition software. Would it still be useful for someone already adept at using Dragon?

Regarding the commands it provides assistance with: are they the commands that are accessible through Dragon's command browser? Including custom commands? Or are they separate commands created through VoicePower?

Basically I'm trying to figure out whether this program is worth shelling out another $200 after already spending a bundle on Dragon. It would be much more helpful if Dragon already came with these capabilities, considering the cost for the professional product.

Thanks in advance for any input you are willing to share.

Cindy

I'd been a Dragon user for a

Submitted by Anthony on Wed, 12/06/2006 - 02:39.

I'd been a Dragon user for a couple of years and just started using VoicePower about a week ago. I love it. As soon as I installed it it became my preferred method for operating Dragon. I found many commands I wish I had had long ago and just as many more I hadn't thought of. At this point Dragon has become more or less the engine where VoicePower is the control.

I got DNS 9 about the same time as I got VoicePower and exploring VP has gotten my focus, so based on my experience with earlier versions of DNS, you really do get a monumental amount of additional instruction and facility by adding VP. Even as an experienced user I found so much useful information in the Dragon lessons I feel like I'm learning it all anew. The lessons are presented in a very accessible way and what I've been able to get through so far has improved my Dragon use. The side by side feature of VP which allows one to have complete access to VP without losing operational focus in the application one is working in is a real help instructionally as well as functionally.

Another thing I really like about VoicePower is the comprehensive support it gives to applications well beyond what is supported by Dragon by itself. So far I'm extremely pleased.

Anthony

I am an AT specialist.

Submitted by SagaDog on Wed, 12/06/2006 - 20:49.

I am an AT specialist. Currently about 50% of my clientel uses Dragon Naturally Speaking. Alot of them have been users for years but were never "trained" to use Dragon. Upgrading them to Version 9 I usually also recommend Voice Power to them. It is amazing watching experienced users with Voice Power discover many commands and shortcuts that they never knew existed. The Voice Power program offers good reveiw of the basics and more..including application specific commands (Outlook, MS Word, Excell, internet navigation, email). The program window runs in parallel to whatever application you might be running. Allowing you to have immediate access to that applications commands. For the Professional 9 version of Voice Power there are also macros pre set to make Dragon use more efficient.

I also have to say that Ron Katsuranis is very reposive to feedback and suggestions. Which in my experience is very unique to software support.

I would recommend Voice Power for both new and experienced users.