Following are detailed observations of the Release 6 to 7 transition, aimed at existing users.
ACCURACY: I've used Release 7 enough to say it seems better than Releases 1-6. I've observed others with similar experiences, including one where accuracy was unacceptable on Release 6 and very good on Release 7. There are still small word errors, as are to be expected so long as I do not pronounce words clearly. Clear pronunciation is less important for me on Release 7 than on Release 6. That is, when I get lazy on Release 7, the results seem better than on Release 6. When I am precise with my pronunciation, results are more accurate on Release 7 than on Release 6. No detailed comparisons yet, just anecdotal evidence. 15% better as suggested? I don't know, and suspect experiences will vary wildly. For a company reliant on statistical techniques, this vague 15% better accuracy statement seems strange.
Tutorial -- not really new, as it was in Release 5 and some earlier releases. A welcome addition for the new user, not very useful if you are a Release 6 user.
Automatic Punctuation -- a new option targeted to novice and casual users that inserts commas and periods based on timing ("acoustic clues") and grammar ("linguistic clues"). You can still dictate commas and periods, and many serious users will want to do so. Purported advantages include preservation of train of thought, less clean-up work if transcribing speech such as a recording of a lecture, helpful for those who tend to forget punctuation, and saves effort in casual dictation. The disadvantage -- it can make a mess of your dictation. It is off by default. Enable/disable from Formatting tab, or by voice "Autopunctuation on/off"
Alternatives for guessed punctuation appear in Correction box.
Periods appear once you start the next sentence or say "New Line/New Paragraph"
Command Browser -- this was rewritten and has a completely different user interface
Better Accuracy -- at least for many persons. Time will tell whether accuracy will be better over the long-haul.
Pocket PC Support -- I'm not sure myself how much of this is new vs. some tweaking of existing interfaces to play .wav files recorded on other devices.
Section 508 Certified -- that either means nothing to you or you know exactly what it means.
Many bug fixes -- Normally this wouldn't be listed as a feature. But most Release 6 users will realize this IS a major feature..
That's all -- everything else is subtle, making the product work better but not deserving of a press release. And there seem to be hundreds of these subtle new features buried in the product.
1. Quick Start -- seems good on paper. But to me, it is "Quick Start/Slower Stop." So far I'm having to shut down my system twice to get a reboot. The first shutdown stops DNS but doesn't complete. So I suggest turning this off until a later release or service release.
It is a new way to launch. Background load can allow a faster start (no users or vocs loaded). The option is offered after setup completes, and the choice can be reversed later in Startup/Shutdown. If enabled, restart Windows to be effective.
The DNS icon stays in system tray, and you can launch DNS from the icon. Open recent users offers recent user/vocabulary combinations.
Once running, right-click lets you access DNS menus, close DragonBar (unloads all users) or exit.
2. After enrollment, "automatic" (can be skipped) vocabulary building based on My Documents directory and/or e-mail folders. May be good in some cases, but won't pick up new words well. I continue to suggest using VocBldr.exe in the Programs directory for vocabulary building.
3. With Release 7 the rules on correction remain fuzzy. DNS tries to figure out itself whether you are editing or there was a misrecognition. Most of the time it gets it right. But if you dictate a word, then go back to change it to a different word that sounds similar (e.g. adding a plural ending), you run the risk of making the recognition worse, not better.
4. Vocabulary optimizer is redone. It didn't work well on Release 6, unknown improvements on Release 7.
5. The built-in command names changed again, generally to be more consistent with each other. In the process, some commands (undocumented) disappeared and other commands are now present. This could overlap your custom commands if you have extended NaturallySpeaking.. You can't easily get rid of the built-in commands, so you need to make new names for the custom commands.
6. For those who like to dictate long passages, then correct them, there are new hot keys for doing corrections. Reading the section in the User Guide on Workflow.
7. More commands, including some key ones such as "Press" and "Type" are available ONLY if the option for NLP (Natural Language Processing) commands is checked. This is the default. To check this, go to Tools, Options, the Startup/Shutdown tab, and verify the option “Enable Natural Language Commands”.
You can delete/keep sets of the NLP commands. Instructions on this later.
8. WordPerfect 10 continues to be supported with NLP commands. WordPerfect 8 and WordPerfect 9 are NOT.
9. A different directory can be set to save backup user files. Option is set Miscellaneous tab of Options dialog, default is same as today. Location can be a portable device or network drive. Backup applied to current user -- won't move existing backups
10. Array microphone support in the form of separate speech models. But do they work well?
11. Network management tools -- "push" base vocabularies, lists of custom words, and commands to systems from a central source. Useful when dealing with multiple machines or users. (Solution Series only) Done through a new NSadmin utility -- a command-line program. Installed words will appear as custom words in VocEditor. Installed commands will appear as User-Defined in Command Browser. Installed vocabularies will appear in Create User and Manage Vocabularies. It appears that copying certain files into the "custom" directory will accomplish the same tasks.
NSadmin can run whether DNS is open or not. If DNS is open, close and re-open the user to see the additions. Instructions in Programs folder.
A limitation -- word properties can't be set unless in base vocabularies.
12. MSI installation can be done -- if MSI doesn't make sense, you don't need to know. I said these were subtle improvements!
13. Option for disabling contractions and abbreviations. This should have been two options, as many want no contractions but still need things like state names in addresses abbreviated. A tiny step forward.
14. Tracking and reporting of options chosen when creating a user, including type of microphone and base vocabulary.
15. Enforces system requirements -- 128MB (256MB Solution Series), 500MHz MINIMUM -- no minimum, no install.
16. Progress has been made with Application-specific and Window-specific commands, but it isn't clear that all problems are solved yet, particularly with Window-specific commands.
17. Redo is available during enrollment.
18. Debug statements can now be included in macros, including setting test values for list variables.
19. New commands -- many of them
- show dictation box, edit selection, edit all
- many new one-word commands implict because Natural Language Commands must be on.
20. Changes (allegedly for consistency) in the treatment of numerals in dictation. Generally it will spell out "one" through "nine" unless the number is part of a measurement. If you use Roman numerals, there are other differences. These changes have been a source of irritation for some long-term users.
21. "Medium" and "Large" vocabularies offered with 50000 and 80000 words in the respective active vocabularies. This is down from 4 vocabulary sizes in Release 6. In practice this is probably better -- after all, I've yet to see anyone with documents using over about 20000 different words. I've seen groups of people using more words -- but not individuals. Key is having the RIGHT words!
The Quick Start Guide is on CD -- unknown if it will be printed. There is a Quick Reference card. No more-or-less complete listing of commands in the manual, as the Natural Language Commands would make a complete listing difficult.
The Natural Language command sets are huge, but there is only token documentation regarding them. The Command Browser, drastically improved in Release 7 over Release 6, is the only place to look at these commands. You can do a look-up by key word (filter) if you only have a rough idea of the command name. Or, you can scroll through the alphabetic list of commands.
Performance Optimizer is a new menu item but is really just a Help extension. It doesn't DO anything, it only points to information and makes suggestions.
Improved Text & Graphics Shortcuts, primarily a "plain text" box to fix something messed up in Release 6.
Different Command Browser interfaces in Preferred than Solution Series
3 modes -- BROWSE, EDIT, and MANAGE
Default Browse of Global Commands
If using by speech, navigate via menus, not buttons
BROWSE -- Single screen displays all commands fitting search criteria (keyword/filter). Entries may contain ellipses, optional and variable elements - buttons "drill down" to get full syntax.
Shows commands for many applications you do not have installed. These can be eliminated from your display by modifying a DNS file (not supported, but easy easily done).
Browse uses a "FILTER" or keyword-- but only within a group of commands. It does not search the descriptions of the commands. It can require many searches -- Global, application-specific, and/or window-specific groups may need to be searched.
To restrict by keyword, click "Filter"
1. Enter keyword(s) one at a time in Choose word filed, then Add/press spacebar
2. Add or remove from list as needed
3. Done or Enter
Training is done in the Browse window. You can Train Now or Train Later -- one can set up list of command names to train at once.
1. Highlight a command
2. Click Train Now or Train Later
3. once list is ready, click Train List
EDIT
Editable commands are displayed in "Script" menus -- including dvc_script commands and sample commands supplied by ScanSoft. Display is by "command grammar" -- usually application.
You can make commands based on other commands, so it is easier to "clone" commands (New Copy). You can create a command based on a command of the same type by highlighting the base command, then New Copy on Script tab/menu. Change the command name as you please.
Or, you can access the blank editor as in DNS6 (voice, Tools) and through Script menu and New button on Script tab
Or, to modify a command highlight and click Edit.
Same command types, enhanced functionality
MANAGE
Importing commands
1. From MANAGE tab, click Import - "Choose a file to import from"
appears
2. Navigate to the location of the command file. Click Open - DNS will give
a status message.
3. On "Importing MyCommands" box, mark the commands you want to import.
4. Click Import
YOU CAN STILL IMPORT .dvc files
You can change Group names and do other management functions much more readily than on Release 6.
Solution Series SCRIPTING FEATURES (Pro, Medical, Legal)
General
There is an increase in built-in commands over Release 6. They make editing documents and using Excel spreadsheets more friendly. These commands seem to be "cleaned up" in Release 7. Many have been added in Outlook. I've only tried a few hundred commands.
Application-specific and Window titles appear to be functional! But Window-specific still has problems :-(
BUILDING/MAINTAINING COMMANDS
Basically same Command Editor
Still can import and use dvc commands
Command Management
Change to an existing or new group - to create a group, highlight the Group name and type or dictate over it.
Change the context where the command will be available.
Also able to change other properties of commands a whole group at a time --
Application-specific, Window title, etc.
Change Group names
1. You can dictate into the scripting box!
2. You can introduce code so that you can test scripting commands that include list variables using the debug facilities. (Examples are included in the new book," Scripting for Dragon NaturallySpeaking 7")
3. If needed, you can make global changes to sets of commands. This must be
done with care, but is particularly valuable if you need to change drive letters,
software versions, user names, etc. which may be embedded within multiple macros.
Do this by exporting to "XML" format, making the changes with your
favorite plain text editor, then importing the changed commands.
1. From Manage tab, choose a group display
2. (all, Dragon, User-Defined are provided by default)
3. Checkmark the commands to export
4. To select all commands in a group, checkmark the group name.
5. Click Export - displays "Choose a file to export to…" dialog box.
You can:
6. Enter new file name and click Save
7. Overwrite or merge into an existing command file
8. Choose .xml instead of .dat for an editable text file - similar to editing
.dvc files.
Many problems that occurred in prior releases have been resolved. ScanSoft has posted descriptions of many known problems with Release 7 on their web site, a welcome change from the days when problems were well-known but not publically acknowledged under prior ownership. Don't let the number of problems fool you -- there are fewer problems on Release 7 than on Release 6. The Release 6 problems just weren't documented. Problem Summary
BACK UP YOUR Release 6 USER FILES BEFORE UPGRADING. (YOU SHOULD HAVE A BACKUP ANYWAY!)
Also, it is good practice to export your custom words. Go to Words, export, and save that small text file. If you have your custom words and a good set of documents for analysis with Vocabulary Builder (vocbldr.exe), you can rebuild a vocabulary quickly.
On Windows-2000/Windows-XP you can theoretically have both DNS 6 and 7 installed. Do at your own risk! When it works, it is very nice to have both available, particularly during your transition. But on some systems, this seems to cause problems. If comfortable installing/uninstalling software, I'd suggest installing Release 7 in a different directory. If that works, and Release 6 still works, you've come out ahead. If there are problems, then uninstall Release 7, uninstall Release 6, and reinstall Release 7 (or Release 6 if you want to revert to it).
Plan on taking a little time to learn Release 7. DO NOT PLAN TO INSTALL IT AND THEN DO YOUR DAILY WORK WITHOUT ANY TIME ALLOCATED TO LEARNING AND TESTING! Release 6 users will be able to do dictation with Release 7 immediately. Users who do their own macros/commands will have to learn the new Command Browser.
Updated March, 2003
top