1. Training your Dragon
Create a training guide for Dragon NaturallySpeaking dictation software
Wink Harner
Accessing Higher Ground November 2019
Alternative Text Production & Assistive Technology Training – The Foreign Type
Adjunct Professor of Assistive Technology CUNY

2. Key learning outcomes
How to determine which dictation software or app is appropriate for different students in different settings, with different outcomes.
How to set up the program and train others on how to use Dragon Naturally Speaking for single users.
How to set up for Adaptive Technology Lab configurations for multiple users (i.e., set up for multiple voice profiles on a single computer).
From basic training to step-by step lessons dictation practice in Microsoft word, s and filling in PDF forms by voice, to using Dragon NS commands for hands-free voice navigation and math dictation (requiring Math Talk and Scientific Notebook).
Links to training manuals, User Guide and additional training will be available in this workshop.

3. Dictation, dictation, dictation: which to choose?
Dictation app
OS, advantages & disadvantages
GOOGLE DICTATION or Google Voice Typing
Android or Windows OS
Google Docs and Chrome browser only
Easy to set up
Add multiple languages
Requires internet access
Not hands free editing
Good for simple docs, s, notes

4. Dictation, dictation, dictation: which to choose?
Dictation app
OS, advantages & disadvantages
WINDOWS 10.0 DICTATION
Windows OS 10.0
Easy to set up
Use WIN key + H to toggle speech recognition on & off
Set up through CONTROL PANEL
Not hands free editing
Has more extensive supports for editing and commands than Google Voice Typing
Good for simple docs, s, notes.

5. Dictation, dictation, dictation: which to choose?
Dictation app
OS, advantages & disadvantages
READ & WRITE DICTATION
Requires Read & Write installed on the computer.
Uses Google voice typing speech engine & Chrome browser
Requires internet access
Uses Google Docs
Good for simple dictation, s, documents, notes

6. Dictation, dictation, dictation: which to choose?
Dictation app
OS, advantages & disadvantages
READ & WRITE DICTATION
Requires Read & Write installed on the computer.
Uses Google voice typing speech engine & Chrome browser.
Requires internet access.
Uses Google Docs.
Is not hands-free editing.
Good for simple dictation, s, documents, notes & simple formatting.
Available in WIN-OS and iOS for Mac

7. Dictation, dictation, dictation: which to choose?
Dictation app
OS, advantages & disadvantages
KURZWEIL 3000 (Firefly) Dictation
Requires Chrome browser & Internet access
Requires Kurzweil firefly (license)
Available in WIN- OS and iOS
Dictate simple text, punctuation, & simple formatting
Is not hands-free dictation
Able to save in various file formats including: .docx,.rtf, and .kes
(NOTE: .kes files are proprietary to Kurzweil and do not transfer in or out of other file types.

8. Dictating math: Equatio from TextHelp
How does it help?
Allows user to write math digitally
Whom does it help?
Teachers and students who find it difficult inputting equations, graphs and other expressions on a computer.
Provides voice typing to write
Basic fractions like ‘three-quarters’ [¾ ]
Square root signs
Exponents
Other mathematical symbols and expressions
SOURCE: chrome-extension/

9. Dictating math: Equatio from TextHelp
Using speech input for math
Not hands-free – requires the use of mouse and/or keyboard
Transforms handwritten math to text (tablet or tablet PC)
Combines with Read & Write literacy software & reads math expressions out loud
Dictation for math only – must be combined in either Google docs with voice typing, or pasted into Microsoft Word document & used with another dictation program or app
Demo:
Z0nH&index=18&t=0s

10. Dictating math: Equatio from TextHelp
Made to help mathematics and STEM teachers and students at all levels, EquatIO® lets everyone create mathematical equations, formulas, Desmos graphs, and more on their computer or Chromebook.
Type, handwrite, or dictate any expression, with no tricky coding or math languages to master. There’s a huge library of ready-made expressions to save you time, from simple formulas to complex functions. And when you’re done, just add the math to your document with a click.
Works on Windows, Mac or Chromebook devices

11. EQUATIO DEMO
Short demo: Long demo:

12. Dictating Math with Dragon NaturallySpeaking, MathTalk and Scientific Notebook
Whom does it help?
Students who have dyscalculia, a specific learning disability associated with dyslexia and dysgraphia where number sequences, function signs, columns and other math expressions are reversed or inverted.
Students who have a mobility impairment which prevents them from using the keyboard or a pen & paper to write math.
Hands-free math input

13. Dictating Math with Dragon NaturallySpeaking, MathTalk and Scientific Notebook
Levels of math:
Basic math
Pre-algebra
Calculus
Statistics
Trigonometry
Graphing

14. Dictating Math - Dragon NaturallySpeaking, MathTalk & Scientific Notebook
Targeted for:
Students, Teachers, and Professionals
Compatible with:
PC and Mac.  For the Mac, use Boot Camp/Parallels.
SOURCE:
, print, or save work.
Save work as .rtf file and opened in Word.
Voice pre-algebra, algebra, trig, calculus, statistics, graphing and more.
translate math to Braille in Duxbury Braille Translator.
REQUIRES
Dragon® NaturallySpeaking DPI 15 – any version.
MathTalk™
ScientificNotebook™ 5.5

15. USING MathTalk with Dragon NS
Start training with short intro on how to set up mic and establish a voice profile in DNS. Does not require extensive training or knowledge of DNS to be able to use MathTalk, Dragon + Scientific Notebook.
**Introductory demo. Shows how to train the two alphabets and math expressions (Military alphabet & Greek alphabet)
Dictating text with MathTalk:
Training includes:
video training:
User Training Manual: content/uploads/2018/02/MathTalkManual.pdf

16. For more info, questions, demos:
CONTACT
NANCILU MCCLELLAN at METROPLEX VOICE COMPUTING
Mailing Address:
MathTalk™/ Metroplex Voice Computing, Inc. P. O. Box Arlington, Texas 76012
Phone: Fax:

17. Starting to dictate
Having the student learn how to use voice typing with Google, or use the speech to text dictation in Windows or the voice typing in the iOS system is a good place to start acclimating to how dictation works on a computer.
It's important to have a few definitive practice exercises to start with in different programs, for example , a simple document, revising notes from class, or simply reading an existing document back into the computer's voice recognition system to see how it works and to become comfortable with it.
The student will then have an idea of what is useful, what is challenging, and where they might need more support.

18. SETTING UP DRAGON
After installation, license registration (online), restart the computer.
If using a headset mic, always plug mic in before starting Dragon NS
Prevents mic from having to be recalibrated every time Dragon starts
For hands free operation in the future, from the computer START UP menu, select settings for Dragon: ON BUT ASLEEP

19. LEARN THE ICONS IN THE MENU
PROFILE

20. SETTING UP THE MIC
Most headsets can be rotated so you can place the microphone on either the left or the right side of your face.
Experiment to find what works best for you then aim for consistency in your microphone position whenever you use Dragon.
If purchasing headset mics for your adaptive lab, buy extra foam mic covers and change them regularly.

21. SETTING UP THE MIC Positioning and connecting your microphone
If using a headset, adjust it so that it feels stable and comfortable; it shouldn’t press against your temple or glasses.
The microphone’s listening side must face the side of your mouth, not directly in front.
It mustn’t touch hair, facial hair or catch breathing sounds. (On standard headsets, bend the “boom” if needed.)

22. SETTING UP THE MIC IMPORTANT
If you want to bypass your computer’s sound system, you can use a USB microphone, or plug your regular microphone into a USB adapter.
If your computer has only one audio jack (socket) and you want to use a regular two-plug microphone, you must use a USB adapter or a Y-shaped adapter.
When you plug a microphone or adapter into your PC, be sure to push all the way into the audio socket or USB port.

23. Setting up the mic
Some PCs, after you connect a microphone, automatically bring up a small window associated with this “audio system event”. (Its window may be hidden behind other windows.)
Before closing this window, verify that what is highlighted on it is the Microphone and deafening electronic feedback.
If your microphone model has a mute switch item (and not the Line In item). Otherwise, you will experience painful, make sure it is in the ON position!
If you use a Bluetooth microphone: whenever you use Dragon, make sure that it is not only powered up but also active (that is, in “call mode”).
Please see your microphone’s user guide for details, including how to charge the headset and how to pair it if necessary.

24. SETTING UP YOUR VOICE PROFILE
From AUDIO Tab on toolbar menu, select CHECK MICROPHONE, then click NEXT & follow the instructions

25. SETTING UP YOUR VOICE PROFILE
Read the text to configure your mic and the internal volume settings. If you prefer, you can recite poetry, read something else or talk randomly for a couple of minutes. Then click FINISH.

26. SETTING UP YOUR VOICE PROFILE
Step 1:
Launch Dragon (double-click its desktop icon or pick it from the Start menu).
If Dragon has never been used before on this PC, the Profile Creation Wizard opens automatically; otherwise, choose New User Profile in the DragonBar’s Profile menu, then click New.
Step 2:
Answer the questions presented.
The wizard will ask you to specify a “region” so Dragon can choose your profile’s underlying Auto-Formatting options and Vocabulary. For instance, this will affect whether Dragon uses the spelling “colour” instead of “color” and how it writes currencies or units such as lbs, $, USD and AUD (ISO codes).
TIP: Once your profile is created, you are free to customize it, including modifying Auto-Formatting Options and Word Properties as described in this workbook and the Help.

27. RUN INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL
From the HELP drop down menu, select INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL

28. ICONS IN THE MENU
TOOLS
Start with
AUTO-FORMATTING OPTIONS
And OPTIONS

29. ICONS IN THE MENU
AUTO-FORMATTING OPTIONS Checked boxes shown are my personal settings. When finished, click OK

30. ICONS IN THE MENU OPTIONS CORRECTION choices - note: add a short pause
between the command and
text recognition

31. OPTIONS MENU - COMMANDS

32. OPTIONS MENU – APPEARANCE

33. OPTIONS MENU - HOT KEYS

34. OPTIONS MENU – PLAYBACK

35. OPTIONS MENU – MISCELLANEOUS
Recommended settings for MISCELLANEOUS
Have mic on but asleep.
Set SPEED v. ACCURACY to above the half-way mark (closer to “most accurate”). Results are better.
Voice enable menus & buttons.
Launch Dragon in Quick Start mode when Windows starts
Automatically put the mic to sleep.

36. ICONS IN THE MENU
VOCABULARY

37. ICONS IN THE MENU
VOCABULARY

38. ICONS IN THE MENU
MODES

39. ICONS IN THE MENU
AUDIO

40. RESTRICTED (SPECIFIC) DICTATION MODES

41. Controlling the Operating System and Applications
Efficiency and hands-free usage
Recommend going through the workbook in order.
When a lesson directs you to click an item (button, menu...), use your voice, or keyboard shortcuts (underlined letters, Tab, spacebar...).
If hands-free usage is important to you, start by reading the lesson and see the Help about Mouse Grid and commands for moving, clicking, and dragging the mouse.

42. Remarks for Windows10 Use the commands: “open Start screen”
To see the expanded view of the Start screen, say
“show all applications”
To perform actions, you can take advantage of Dragon’s ability to press keys. Say: “press Windows key.”
For the latest on using Dragon with a particular operating system, please see the Support page and Knowledgebase on the Nuance website ( naturallyspeaking).

43. Controlling the computer by voice
At any time, no matter what is visible, you can open a Start menu or desktop item by saying start or open immediately followed by the name of the item.
These two powerful capabilities can each be disabled or enabled from the Options dialog.
You can switch between open windows with commands like switch to Internet Explorer and list windows for Dragon.
To click menus, buttons, and other controls, you can “say what you see.”
By default, Dragon requires the word ‘click’ just before the name of menus, buttons, and other controls: for a button labeled “OK”, say click OK. This can be useful to prevent unintended actions such as clicking Send in an . Dragon offers a similar “Require ‘Click’” option for HTML links.

44. Controlling the computer by voice-2
You can “voice-press” one or more keys by saying press followed by the name of the key(s).
Dragon offers “shortcut commands” to search your computer for items containing the word(s) you specify.
For instance, to find all indexed s containing the words “Canada” and “budget”, you could say search for Canada budget.
If it detected that your PC’s resources would not allow it to perform with both speed and accuracy, Dragon may have disabled its Natural Language Command sets for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and WordPerfect.
If you wish to use Natural Language Commands in one or all of these applications, enable them via the Option dialog.

45. Using Dragon with the Internet
Check the workbook for practice exercises on:
Web shortcuts p. 64
Social Media p. 65
The browser extensions p. 65
Navigating to & within a web page p. 66
Accessing a specific item on a web page p. 67

46. Using Dragon with E-mail
See Workbook p. 69
Short cut commands p. 69
Commands for your installed program p
Web-based & the Dragon extension p. 72

47. Using Dragon with Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word and the Ribbon practice exercises in the Dragon User workbook p. 74
Ribbon interface p. 74
File tab p. 74
Read Mode p. 74
Commands specific to MS Word p. 74
Voice Notations in Word docs p. 77

48. Dragon Workbook Practice
Dragon NS 15.0 Individual Professional user workbook:
gon/guide/gd-dragon-professional-workbook-en-us.pdf
User documentation from HELP menu:

49. DRAGON CHEAT SHEETS
gon/command-cheat-sheet/ct-dragon-professional-individual-en- us.pdf

50. DRAGON VIDEO TRAINING
CHECK TAB FOR INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS

51. Interactive Tutorial for Dragon NaturallySpeaking
Available on the help menu

52. Interactive Tutorial for Dragon NaturallySpeaking

53. FROM THE HELP MENU

54. HELPFUL EXERCISES TO GET STARTED
WHAT CAN I SAY COMMANDS (HELP MENU)
LEARNING PUNCTUATION
CORRECTING, SPELLING, AND TRAINING WORDS/SPELLINGS/PRONUNCIATION
OPENING AND CLOSING PROGRAMS
TRAINING NEW VOCABULARY
CUSTOMIZING VOCABULARY
CONTROLLING THE MIC

55. HELPFUL EXERCISES TO GET STARTED
USING HOT KEYS TO CONTROL MIC
REFER TO WORKBOOK PAGE 36 TO START PRACTICE DICTATION.
FOLLOW THE STEPS
PRACTICE SPEAKING IN WHOLE PHRASES OR THOUGHTS
PRACTICE SPEAKING IN WRITTEN ENGLISH
PRACTICE SPEAKING COMMANDS
USE VOCABULARY EDITOR TO LEARN WHAT YOU CAN SAY
PRACTICE WITH PRICES, UNITS, DATES, TIMES, ADDRESSES

56. HELPFUL EXERCISES TO GET STARTED
PRACTICE WITH THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESTRICTED RECOGNITION MODES
NUMBERS
SPELL
COMMAND
DICTATION

57. HELPFUL EXERCISES TO GET STARTED
PRACTICE CORRECTING WORDS EITHER MISSPELLED OR MISRECOGNIZED
*ALWAYS* USE THE SPELL COMMAND, EITHER SPELL ALOUD INTO THE CORRECTION WINDOW OR TYPE THE CORRECT SPELLING, OR CHOOSE THE CORRECT SPELLING FROM LIST (SAY “CHOOSE 3” OR WHICHEVER # IS CORRECT.
*ALWAYS* TRAIN THE CORRECT PRONUNCTION.
SEE P. 49 IN USER WORKBOOK
PRACTICE EDITING TEXT BY VOICE

58. HELPFUL EXERCISES TO GET STARTED
PRACTICE EXERCISES UP THROUGH P. 59 ON EDITING, REPLACING AND FORMATING TEXT BY VOICE
PRACTICE CONTROLLING COMPUTER BY VOICE
PRACTICE DICTATING MS WORD
PRACTIC DICTATING IN OUTLOOK OR GMAIL (P )
PRACTICE USING DRAGON WITH THE INTERNET (P. 68)

59. DRAGON CHEAT SHEETS Basic dictation and editing Dictating punctuation
Add lines and spaces
New line | Press enter
New paragraph
Press Tab key | Tab key | Tab
Tab <n> times
Dictating punctuation
Period
Comma
Question mark
Exclamation mark
Fixing mistakes
Undo | Undo that
Scratch that
Scratch that <n> times
Delete line
Delete last <n> words
Delete <text>
Resume with <xyz>
Backspace <n>
Correct <xyz>
Correct that

60. DRAGON CHEAT SHEETS
SEE PDF HANDOUT Or Use this link: command-cheat-sheet/ct-dragon-professional-individual-en-us.pdf

61. QUESTIONS Who’s a good candidate for Google Voice Typing?
Who would benefit from using Kurzweil or Read & Write voice typing/dictation?
Who’s a good candidate for an iOS voice recognition program?
Who benefits from Equatio math dictation?
Who benefits from Dragon + MathTalk + Scientific Notebook?
What type of student would benefit from Dragon NaturallySpeaking?

62. QUESTIONS & Answers
What have you always wanted to know about voice recognition (or Dragon NS specifically) but were afraid to ask?
Thank you so much for your time and attention!
Contact: Wink Harner, The ForeignType at Or