I’ve been using Dragon Dictate 2.0 for Mac for about two weeks along with Growl. Overall, I’m glad I upgraded although there are still some problems with the system.
Installing the upgrade was very easy. In fact, I still have MacSpeech Dictate 1.5.9 on my computer because while I paid for an upgrade what I got was a new copy of [dd] 2.0. When you go to upgrade one of your profiles from a MacSpeech Dictate profile you will have to redo the training but it doesn’t take long.
Once you have Dragon Dictate 2.0 installed you will notice minor cosmetic changes in the interface. Overall, you should be able to dictate just as you did before. Most of the changes seem to be additions rather than changes or subtractions. Also, Growl version 1.2 can be used to notify recognised text rather than having a window always visible on the screen. Later versions of Growl do not work as well at this time.
I primarily access my computer using Zoom and was hoping that the new Mouse Grid feature would enable me to use my mouse less. While Mouse Grid is fairly easy to use, even for someone with low vision, it depends on there being “clicks” of the mouse. So, I haven’t been able to use it to look around my screen.
Dragon Dictate is much more stable than MacSpeech Dictate. I can now use websites that involve Flash, such as YouTube, with Dragon Dictate running. It is still a good idea to save your profile regularly but crashes seem more infrequent.
The Available Commands Window has had some changes. More choices are now listed. Some of the commands seem shorter. This makes it easier for someone like me whose disability affects their voice and breathing. Most of the commands work beautifully. The only one I’ve had trouble with is “reply to this message” in Mail.
Lisa using Dragon Dictate on her Mac
One thing that has not been fixed is that I’m still experiencing small words like “the” and “A” being recognized when I am not speaking. Admittedly, part of this may be caused by my use of a Plantronics 995 headset, which is not approved. Clearing those words with “scratch that” can cause glitches with what I’m doing. Oddly, muting the microphone with the headset doesn’t always stop this problem so I strongly recommend putting Dragon Dictate to sleep when you won’t be using it for a few minutes.
Overall, I would recommend Dragon Dictate 2.0. The increased stability alone makes dictation easier. Plus, with the increased number of available commands and Mouse Grid I think that Dragon Dictate will be more useful for those who have trouble using their hands rather than just preferring to speak.
- Lisa Connor
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Paul Natsch November 16, 2010 at 3:02 am
Nice review Lisa. I really like MouseGrid although due to my Headmaster Plus I don’t have much use for it. But if my Headmaster Plus stopped working for some reason MouseGrid gives me a way to continue using my Mac until it gets fixed.
The biggest problem I’ve found with Dragon Dictate 2.0 is making application specific commands. It works for some applications but doesn’t for others (like Firefox). Puzzling to say the least. Fortunately I mainly rely on Dragon Dictate 2.0 for dictating and not commanding.
I’m generally pleased with Dragon Dictate 2.0 overall though.
John W. Hess November 17, 2010 at 3:26 am
Good day Lisa. Enjoyed the review and wonder if you have tried Dragon with Voiceover? Mac Speech dictate was completely inaccessible and I am hoping this has changed. Thanks.
Allan Jeffry November 21, 2010 at 1:14 am
Nice review. Thanks a lot Lisa.
Bernhard Meyer December 22, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Thank you for the review, Lisa! I am currently thinking about the upgrade for my disabled dad. Is it possible to import self-programmed application-specific commands from MacSpeech – or do I have to redo that again? My dad is using iRed2 with a USB infrared emitter to control the TV set and x-Lite to make/receive phone calls with specific commands. Thanks for a short note! A merry christmas everyone, Bernhard
Tim Harper December 28, 2010 at 10:58 am
I’m also having difficulties with Dragon Dictate recognizing words when I’m not speaking. It’s enormously frustrating! I’m using the provided headset that they gave me. If I breathe in, breathe out, or cough, then it randomly inserts words without my approval.
I’m also less than pleased with how it works in text fields in Firefox. The correction commands gets things wrong, leaving garbage characters when correcting and putting the cursor in the wrong position. I’m not doing the sin of “mixing keyboard with voiceâ€.
I have been a long-time Windows Dragon customer, so I finally made the switch to the Mac version of DragonDictate. The accuracy is great, but this false recognition of words is enormously frustrating. It seems like the software should train itself to discern between breathing and speech.
I’m still seeing how I like it, but at this point, I’m frustrated enough that I might take advantage of the 30 day moneyback guaranteed offer. Although, it is so nice to not have to boot up Windows in order to use Dragon.
cm January 15, 2011 at 11:48 am
I have been using DragonDictate since it was released after upgrading from using MacSpeech for many years. While it is most definitely an improvement in some areas, it is very disappointing in others.
The good news is that speech recognition is improved in both accuracy and speed.
The bad news is that there are lots of bugs and inconsistencies and incompatibilities. For example, if I create a command that is a bookmark (that is goes to a website) then some words in the commands description (which is what I have to speak) will simply not be recognised. Some of these are pretty common words! Another major personal frustration is that Dragon Dictate is quite incompatible with FileMaker pro as the two of them running together result in the CPU becoming completely overloaded (possibly with some runaway processes).
Of particular concern is the arrogant way the Nuance Corporation treat their customers. It now appears that I did not read the fine print carefully enough and that he wants only take support questions for a product for a short period of time. Obviously for months is too long and I’m now out of support. If I want to submit a question about something that I think is a problem, then know what charge me on a credit card. That is the fastest way to generate ill feeling amongst a customer base. There is a problem brewing here because Nuance are in fact a global monopoly provider of voice solutions.
So in summary, it’s a mixed bag but there is little other choice. It’s an expensive product in that regard. If it had awesome support and a can-do attitude then perhaps you could accept those problems.
Gause Smith,Ed.D. February 18, 2011 at 10:40 am
I have Parkinson’s disease and when I click Iget a line of letters or numbers. Is there any solution?
Gause
Philip Blair March 11, 2011 at 8:57 am
@gause
Would like to answer your question but don’t know what you mean by “click”.
Is that making the sound or clicking the mouse?
I want to know what mode you are in. Spelling mode will give you random letters and numbers but dictation mode rarely. If you are moving from field to field as in Mail, use the command “next field” so that prior input is purged.
The Dictater: MacOS 10.6.6; MBP 2.66 GHz i7 6GB; DD2.0.3; .Audio 995; FMP Adv 11; MSOff11
Philip Blair March 11, 2011 at 9:05 am
@cm
Mostly the problem with Filemaker and DD is fixed with version 2.0.3.
I say mostly because if challenged your cpu can be saturated with a memory leak that exhausts the RAM available. But, I can do a lot of development work with the two programs running simultaneously before restarting.
The conflict with Word 2008 has been resolved as well.
The new custom command features are extraordinary and make it an ideal platform for launching custom features like macros, websites, keyboard command sequences, contextual application and website commands and much more. So that its great for people needing assistive technology.
The Dictater: MacOS 10.6.6; MBP 2.66 GHz i7 6GB; DD2.0.3; .Audio 995; FMP Adv 11; MSOff11
Philip Blair March 11, 2011 at 9:13 am
@lisa
Those extra letters and words that appear on the screen many times can be reduced by decreasing the sensitivity of the mic. Watching the status bar mic can give you an idea if your mic setting is in range. I find that for most of my student a setting of 70% is about right. I personally use the .audio995 and achieve 99% accuracy with rare extra words or sounds.
The Dictater: MacOS 10.6.6; MBP 2.66 GHz i7 6GB; DD2.0.3; .Audio 995; FMP Adv 11; MSOff11
Philip Blair March 11, 2011 at 9:16 am
Email for visually impaired
Is anyone using the voice recording and attaching features of Word 2011.
The Dictater: MacOS 10.6.6; MBP 2.66 GHz i7 6GB; DD2.0.3; .Audio 995; FMP Adv 11; MSOff11